Trubus Magazine - Village inhabitants have utilised cow manure as source of biogas. In terms of energy requirements, they are able to fulfill the needs.

Yusmin has not bought an LPG cylinder since the last 6 years for his cooking purposes. The resident of Jetak Village, Getasan Sub District, Semarang District, Central Java have been relying on cattle manures as the source of raw materials. The gas is distributed to the stove through the hose on daily basis. Therefore, he no longer needs to spend his money on LPG cylinder. He is able to save Rp 60,000 monthly on his household expenditures.

Utilisation of cow manures as a fuel substitute to LPGs

Substituting the kerosene

Piyem feels content with the benefits of biogas obtained simply by collecting the cow manures. The cattle manures which are normally considered as waste become beneficial. Yusmin describes that so far there have been 137 digesters installed in this cool village. Whereas, initially he was the only biogas user in the village. The interest of the 71-year old grandfather to biogas came up since 2008.

Yusmin has led Jetak Village as the second winner of 2016 Energy Independent Village Competition

At the time he saw a colleague from another village who was able to meet his gas requirements by relying on cow manures. “I was immediately struck as cow manures in my home mostly end up as fertiliser,” he said. However, the Head of Ngudi Mulyo Farmers’ Group Association had to forget his intention, as he has to have 4 cows to construct a biogas installation. Meanwhile, he only had 2 cows.

It was not until 2010, when Yusmin’s dream came into being. He participated on a BIRU (Domestic Biogas) Programme implemented by Yayasan Rumah Energi (YRE). “I was interested to own biogas installation because in addition to the source of fuel, it will also able to mitigate the environmental pollution,” he said. Acording to the Instructor of Bioenergy and Biosurfactant, at the Graduate School in Institut Pertanian Bogor, Sri Wahyuni, S.E., M.P., biogas energy content is comparable to fossil fuel.

The presence of biogas may also substitute kerosene, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), as well as other fossil fuel. Heating value of a 1 m3 biogas is equivalent to 0.6-0.8 liters of kerosene. To produce a 1 kwh of electricity, it takes 0.62 – 1 m3 of biogas. Biogas contains 75% methane. Yusmin then invited village inhabitants to also install a biogas reactor. Unfortunately, only 3 village inhabitants who showed interest to the benefits of such renewable energy.

Biogas may also be utilised to run a grass chopping machine

Yusmin did not lose hope and continued with his desires. He had to campaign the benefits of biogas to the village inhabitants in every ocassion, especially during a farmer’s group meeting. “I wish to enhance the people’s awareness on the importance of renewable energy as source of energy fuel which we extracted from the environment is depleting,” he said. Yusmin accomodated the cow manures every morning and late afternoon into a slurry pit.

Ampas biogas dapat digunakan sebagai pupuk organik

Simple process

Yusmin channels the manures into a-6 m3 capacity reactor. Inside the reactor, the cow manure then goes through a fermentation process. This fermentation process produces the methane gas which is accumulated in a gas storage chamber. The gas is then distributed to the stoves through a pipeline. Meanwhile, the end product of the decomposition process is in the form of ready to use odourless manures.

Subterranean biogas reactor

He uses the fertiliser as the source of nutrition for his chilli crops. The nutrient content elements in the fertiliser include cellulose, lignin, and protein. He also utilises the remaining water from the biogas sludge as an organic pesticides. According to Yusmin, biogas provides numerous benefits for the users. “In addition to fuel and source of fertiliser, operations and maintenance of the installation are also uncomplicated,” he said. The risk of leakage is also negligible.

Yusmin’s success to utilise the biogas gradually attracts more interests from the villagers. The fact that Yusmin can also operate the grass chopping machine simply by using biogas has also enhanced the people’s interests. “My home is now free from foul odours due to the deposits of cow manures,” he said. Slowly the people start to follow Yusmin. Now there are 150 households which have utilised the biogas as fuel.

Yusmin further describes that the village surrounding is now cleaner as the issues of waste accumulation have been resolved. It is understandable as majority of the village inhabitants are dairy farmers. Previously the presence of animal wastes have frequently emerged as serious problems, but it is no longer the case. The interesting part is, now those who only have 2 cows can now install the biogas reactor. Thanks to the biogas utilisation, Yusmin has successfully brought Jetak Village to fame at the provincial level. He has successfully fetched the second winner on 2016 Energy Independent Village Competition during the 66th annivesary of Central Java Province.

Previously, he has also fetched a title on similar competition in 2012. Even though Yusmin has led Jetak Village to an independent energy village, he did not stop campaigning the biogas utilisation. His dream is to lead the entire village people to a complete biogas adoption. Therefore, they do not have to rely on liquified petroleum gas anymore. Their cow sheds can now fulfill those needs. (Andari Titisari)

(Source: Trubus Magazine, Edition No. 570 – May 2017/XLVIII)