Sustainable biogas production from waste in potential states in Nigeria – alternative source of energy

ABSTRACT

Most states in Nigeria are faced with the challenge of ensuring a sustainable energy supply and safe waste management. Anaerobic digestion meets the requirements of sustainable alternative fuels and is also an environmental disposal method. Producing clean alternative biogas energy from waste is also one of the best ways to meet these challenges. This study uses a bottom-up resource-oriented approach to assess the biogas potential in Nigeria through the use of organic waste. The objective is to analyse the potential in utilising the available organic waste during anaerobic digestion. The analysis summarises several studies on this issue from 2001 to 2019, and their conclusions are highlighted and used to infer the importance of converting these organic wastes into biogas. The environmental impact of the process is so great that it must be taken into account. However, Nigeria does not have an appropriate and suitable source separation scheme and should invest in waste separation. Source separation or central separation, as the environmental impacts associated with waste management and biogas production, must be considered. The results show the considerable potential of biogas over the next three decades due to rising waste generation and proposed deployment of infrastructure for improving waste collection efficiency.

KEYWORDS:

• Biogas
• sustainable and renewable energy
• post-harvest waste
• alternative source of energy
• organic fraction

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to appreciate the Management of Covenant University for their financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Emeka Emmanuel Okoro has varied Oil & Gas industry experience covering research and academia. He has authored/ co-authored over 62 publications including Society of Petroleum Engineers papers and journal articles, and has a copyright on Invert Emulsion Mud Calculator. Emeka holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, a master's in Gas Engineering and a doctorate in Petroleum Engineering. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at Covenant University, Nigeria. His areas of core competence are Natural Gas Engineering, Oil and Gas Field Environment, Oil field additives and utilization of Wastes, Drilling Engineering and Geomechanics which relates to Wellbore Instability in Well Construction. He has extensive research experience with Shell Aret Adams Chair in Petroleum Engineering UNIPORT enabling him to blend theory with actual field experience.

Engr Ikechukwu Stanley Okafor (PhD) is a seasoned Petroleum Engineer with progressive experience in Reservoir and Well Engineering. He obtained his bachelors, master and doctorate degrees from the Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Port Harcourt. He was a World Bank Scholar and a beneficiary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund research grant for his PhD study at the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence in Oilfield Chemicals Research, University of Port Harcourt. As a self-motivated, proactive and result oriented professional, he is committed to knowledge acquisition and transfer through learning and teaching, research and development in the areas of reservoir engineering, chemical wellbore instability, petrophysics, oilfield chemicals, renewable energy and sustainable development, and in the mitigation of climatic change through the reduction of anthropogenic carbon, using innovative carbon capture and sequestration technologies. A Registered Engineer with COREN, (R 38, 212), member Nigeria Society of Engineers (40779), he is also an Associate Environmental Professional of the National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP – A1301), and a professional member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (4874961). He is skilled in collaborating with team members to achieve targeted objectives and have made significant contributions to knowledge through papers published in high Impact journals, and presentations at conferences. He is a lecturer in the Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja.

Dr Kevin Chinwuba Igwilo has teaching and working experience, he has authored/ co-authored over 40 publications. He has served as Drilling Fluid Instructor for Schlumberger (UAE), Drilling Fluids Consultant Engineer for Baker Hughes Inc., MI SWACO UK, M-I Drilling Fluids, Baroid Drilling Fluids and many others. His currently an Associate Professor and Head of Petroleum Engineering Department at Federal University of Technology Owerri Imo State, Nigeria.

Dr Kale Barbara Orodu started her career in Reservoir Fluid Laboratory (RFL) as a Fluid Analyst undertaking: Studies on PVT Analysis and Phase Behaviour, Compositional Analysis of Oil and Gas, Stock Tank Oil Analysis, Comprehensive Water Analysis, Onsite Gas Compositional Analysis, Crude Assay, Miscible EOR Studies, and Reservoir Management Studies for Shell, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Agip and Sclumberger. She thereafter went for further studies in Covenant University and commenced as an academia with over 15 publications.

Engr (Dr) Mamudu Angela holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Covenant University, a master’s degree in Oil and Gas Engineering from the University of Aberdeen Scotland and a doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering (Crude Oil Refining) from World Bank African Centre of Excellence in Oilfield Chemical Research, University of Port- Harcourt. Her passion for the Oil and Gas downstream led her to begin a career with Shell Nigeria Gas as a Process Engineer. She has also worked with several companies which include Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) where she was exposed (hands on) to the various processes in the refinery, RMRDC (Raw material and development council), Schlumberger UK, Delta Afrik for Chevron Nigeria Limited and NLNG Centre for Gas Refining and Petrochemicals where she received training on modular refineries after which she served as a mid-party for NLNG to help improve the mode of operations of illegal refineries to modular refineries. Engr. Mamudu is a corporate member of Nigerian Chemical Engineering Society (NSCHE), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). She is also a Chartered Engineer registered by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). She returned to her alma mater where she currently lectures in the Chemical and Petroleum engineering department. She has authored or co-authored over 15 publications.