The workshop is only one step in a collaborative process seeking to (i) consolidate the use of biodigester technology in Costa Rica and (ii) accelerate the adoption of biogas solutions by small and medium-scale livestock farmers in the country.

The workshop gathered farmers, officials from public agencies promoting biodigester technology, suppliers of biodigesters and researchers of different disciplines. Aim of the workshop is to design concrete actions for addressing challenging fields in the implementation of the technology for family farms in Costa Rica. Biodigester technology is an economically viable and sound solutions for family farmers. However, the adoption of biogas solutions by small and medium-scale livestock farmers in the country is not easy to achieve. 

On the first day they visited a dairy farm, which already installed a bio digester and worked together on an understanding of the adoption process to the local conditions in the context of Costa Rica. During this mutual approach, they identified challenges for the implementation of bio digester technology in Costa Rica. On the second day they are aiming to design the concrete actions for addressing the evaluated challenges for bio digester technology. 

Background on this  SEPS exchange activity can be found here:
https://www.wisions.net/projects/exchange-consolidating-the-adoption-of-small-and-medium-scale-biogas-techno

Find out more about the activities of Asociación Costarricense de Biogás

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Our three collaboration partners Green Empowerment, Tonibung (Malaysia) and Sibat(Phillipines) further pursued their commitment to spread open source knowledge on the crucial technology of ELC systems for micro-hydro systems and offered an intensive 2-week course for the knowledge exchange. The organization and execution of the in-person exchange was held at Tonibung and GE's Centre for Renewable Energy and Technology (CREATE) and involved an impressive program for participants from different regions of Southeast Asia. 

The participants could learn in theory lessons about the design theory behind ELCs, together with hands-on built-out sessions of ELC technology, so that the participants received a complete insight into the technology. All of the participants showed commitment and enthusiasm to lean about ELC technology and maintained their motivation throughout more than 3 hours of theory lessons each morning and additionally 10-12 hours of practice sessions every day. 

After absolving this course the participants were equipped with complete knowledge of all necessary components and how to build devices off the shelf in any country. Also the participants discussed collaboration opportunities with academic institutions and research organizations in order to step forward and continuing innovations in this technology. Even one participant committed to establish a manufacturing branch in his home workshop dedicated to ELC development. Generally speaking, the participants found the knowledge exchange useful in ensuring that there was a balance between the theoretical and practical elements of ELC design, assembly, and troubleshooting. There was also appreciation that time was given to allowing participants to share about their experiences in their own countries. 

Find out more about the knowledge exchange her:  Exchange: Strengthening Open-Source ELC Development in Southeast Asia (SEPS16)

After holding trainings and workshops on biogas technology in Sri Lanka for participants from Malaysia and the Philippines (see News from March 2018 and News from October 2018 ), the third and final training on the technology hold place now in Nampasan Village (Sabah State, Malaysia).  The aim of this training was to design and install a tubular gas biogas digester based on already installed examples in Latin America. With slight improvements to the local conditions in Malaysia on the geomembrane , the biodigester got more durable and puncture resistant to the environmental circumstances.  Also the usage of kitchen waste for the biodigesters had to be considered, therefore improved geomembrane has been chosen to use. 

The trainers were practitioners from former trainings on biogas digester technology and were supposed to work with the local community members to install biogas digesters in the village.  The trainees included staff of KOPEL, PACOS Trust and TONIBUNG CREATE as well as from the local NGO CLEAR. The first day was focused on the theoretical knowledge transfer on the design of the digesters considered the amount of waste and the need for the created fuel. Following this, the theoretical knowledge got applied and both the trainers and trainees installed biogas digesters. For practical reasons the location was at the pig farm of CLEAR, where the biogas digester could directly showcase its capabilities. The results of this installed biogas digester are impressive: 230 liters of biol and 3.095 liters of biogas per day, which is enough to cook for 10 hours or to cook for 5 hours and burn 2 gas lamps for 6 hours each! 

Read more about the project here:  Exchange: Waste to Wisdom: Supporting Biodigester Practitioners in South East Asia (SEPS15)