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Title:	Evaluating benefits of low-cost household digesters for rural andean communities
Author:	Garfi, Marianna; Ferrer Martí, Laia; Velo García, Enrique; Ferrer Martí, Ivet
Other authors:	Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Hidràulica, Marítima i Ambiental; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Mecànica; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament de Màquines i Motors Tèrmics; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. GEMMA - Grup d'Enginyeria i Microbiologia del Medi Ambient; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. EOLI - Enginyeria d'Organització i Logística Industrial
Abstract:	Low-cost household digesters are a promising appropriate technology which can help reducing the pressure on the environment due to deforestation and greenhouse gases emissions. The biogas and biofertilizer produced can alleviate poverty, by improving health conditions, increasing crops productivity and saving working time and burden for women and children. The aim of this study is to evaluate low-cost digesters technical, environmental and socio-economic impacts in rural communities of the Peruvian Andes, where a pilot project was developed during the last 3 years. Although the benefits are restricted by the performance of anaerobic digestion at high altitude, the results show that the digesters improve household living conditions and economy, while reducing environmental impacts. Biogas production covers around 60% of fuel needs for cooking, leading to 50–60% decrease in firewood consumption (i.e. deforestation) and greenhouse gases emissions; the annual income is increased by 3–5.5% due to fertilizer savings and potato sales. These values could be improved by enhancing digesters performance and the sustainability of the technology.
Abstract:	Peer Reviewed
Subject(s):	-Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Desenvolupament humà i sostenible::Desenvolupament sostenible::Energia i sostenibilitat -Sustainable development -Appropriate technology -Biogas -Biofertilizer -Climate change -Project assessment -Low-cost tubular digester -Desenvolupament sostenible
Rights:	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Spain http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/
Document type:	Article - Published version Article
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