Jakarta, CNN Indonesia – Biogas technolgy is nothing new to Indonesia. As an applied technology which utilises the animal manures is so far recognised as the simplest alternative to implement within the community.

Nonetheles, there are challenges which hinder the application of biogas as the fuel, specifically the cost of the technology and its installation.

Anggoro Bren Wiratsongko of Yayasan Rumah Energi siad that the weak purchasing power of the community is one reason why the adaptation of biogas technology is lagging. Technology and installation of a biogas reactor provided by Rumah Energi arguably is not the most affordable one. A-6 m3 reactor capacity costs between Rp 12 millions to Rp 15 millions.

“That is exactly the challenge, absence of cash funds,” uttered Bren when we met him at the Youth Scientist Fair event in Jungle Land, Bogor, on Monday (8/14).

Biogas reactor is available in a range of capacity starting from 2 m3 and up to 12 m3, however the most popular one is the 6 m3 capacity. For a 6 m3 capacity reactor, it requires the supply of manures of 5 cows in which each animal is expected to excrete between 12-15 kg of manures. The manures are not necessarily cow manures, it can be from other animals such as goats, pigs, or chickens. A reactor with this capacity may produce a gas for lighting purposes or up to 4 hour non-stop cooking activities.

In order to work around the scarcity of cash funds, Rumah Energi started to offer a micro finance system in the form of a soft loan. Bren said this method is chosen as it helps to ease the repayment while it enables the people to utilise biogas as the production tool.

“The community has shown a pretty strong interests as evidenced by 21 thousand installation of biogas reactors from 2009 to mid-2017. This is an indication that the market does exist,” he said.

However, Bren showed a concern that some target farmers and cattle farmers are unable to manage their finance appropriately. As a result, not all of them use the biogas technology to turn the reactors into production tool to add household income.

Rumah Energi which is known as BIRU (Domestic Biogas) has targeted farmers and cattle farmers which are perceived as owners of cattle animals. However, they do not limit the participants of other parties shall they demonstrate the interest on this technology.

In addition to the source of clean and affordable source of energy, biogas reactor provided by BIRU programme, also produces biogas sludge or bio-slurry which is normally used as fertilisers in farming grounds, a mixture of compost, or sold in the market.

“Those who apply bio-slurry has reported a 30 percent increase in their crop yields, from 6 tons to 9 tons for rice paddy,” he revealed proudly.

Bren and his colleagues at Rumah Energy is promoting intensely the micro finance system to the community in order to increase the accessibility of the biogas reactor within the community. (evn)

(Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/teknologi/20170814200635-199-234731/kotoran-hewan-dan-upaya-membirukan-kehidupan/)