The project combines Swedish knowledge and local Georgian experience, and covers the technological development, start-up and changing of biogas digesters. The concept has been further developed with the aid of a grant from DemoEnvironment.
The existing biogas digester technology inGeorgianeeded to be adapted to the climatic, seismological and social conditions of theCaucasusregion. Improvements were needed in terms of efficiency, health, safety and sustainable farming.
The buyer of the equipment, the Georgian project partner, was Bioenergy NGO. The Swedish project partner was SWECO International AB, and sub-contractors were Biosystems and JTI.
There are problems with deforestation as well as soil and water pollution in Georgia. Wood is used for fuel in the rural areas, resulting in deforestation. This leads to infrastructure damage from rainfall-induced landslides. Manure and organic waste from small farms is stored and spread inappropriately, resulting in soil and water pollution.
The introduction of upgraded biogas digesters can help solving these problems since:
Based on the description above, BioEnergy recived
SEK 1 950 000 from DemoEnvironment for constructing and building two upgraded biogas digesters in Georgia, one in the region of Khoni (on 10 m3) and the other in the Kasp region (on 50 m3).
The grant from DemoEnvironment was used to cover costs regarding equipment, knowledge transfer, consultancy and travel costs.
Knowledge transfer and consultancy was achieved from Sweco through, for example:
The demonstration project promoted biogas technology and lead to improved soil production.
The construction of the two biogas digesters lead to the promotion of biogas technology. The biogas digesters are available for study and promotional visits in order for the technology to be spread within the country.
At the monastery in Khoni, where one of the biogas digesters were constructed and organic fertiliser was used alone since spring 2009, the soil productivity is 53 % higher.
The awareness of biogas plants will continue to be raised trough study visits, exhibitions and publicity. The training material used will be useful in further education, and training participants will disseminate information, particularly to the isolated rural areas of Georgia.
Photo: Stefan Berry
Telefon: 08-681 91 00