The Potential for Urban Anaerobic Digestion in Quelimane : A model and feasibility assessment of a small scale system implementation Minor Field Study

Abstract: The Municipality of Quelimane, the fourth biggest city in Mozambique, aims to apply an EcoCity concept in the city. Therefore, the municipality initiated a waste-to-energy project in order to improve the lacking waste management, valorize resources and lessen the burden on the environment. The purpose of the current project was to investigate the potential for implementing a waste-to-energy system in Quelimane. In particular, the technology of anaerobic digestion. This technology had been identified as the best alternative based on local conditions according to a study performed by students at KTH, the municipality of Quelimane and GreenLight about waste-to-energy in Quelimane the spring of 2015. The present project was performed during eight weeks in Mozambique; five weeks in the capital Maputo and three weeks on-site in Quelimane, where the collection of data mainly was made in Quelimane. The gathered information resulted in a model for a small scale anaerobic digestion system in Quelimane. An assessment of the potential for an implementation of an anaerobic digestion system in Quelimane was determined using a feasibility assessment tool. The study was performed using the following methods: literature study, interviews, surveys, on-site observations, modelling and by using a feasibility assessment tool. The analysis performed with the feasibility tool identified the socio-cultural attitude towards the technology and the willingness among the residents to use the end products as key factors for a successful implementation. The attitude towards the technology was determined as mainly positive and the willingness to use the end product high. The strong involvement and initiative from the municipality were also identified as key factors and determined as positive. The environmental, policy and legal and the technological aspects of the system are other identified key factors were mainly identified as positive according to the feasibility assessment tool. However, there is currently no end user for the small scale plant and no established funding for the project. This altogether results in a current marginally high potential for the implementation of a small scale anaerobic digestion plant, with good chances to increase the potential in the future.