Fragmented biogas programs affect barriers to biodigester dissemination
Ibnu Budiman
Wageningen University
Abstract
The use of firewood for energy sources for cooking contributes to socio-ecological issues. Alternatively, biogas is considered an environmental-friendly energy source generated from waste, forest plants and other organic sources. However, until 2015, only 1.24 percent of households utilized biogas for cooking fuel. This research aims to explore the landscape of biogas governance in Indonesia, its fragmentation, and its consequences for biodigester dissemination. This qualitative study found that there is fragmentation within small-medium scale national biogas programs in Indonesia. Seven national government biogas programs have similar governance arrangement and characteristics; scattered in different departments within the ministry, using the grant approach and vendor, coordinating with local government, and do not have proper training and M&E. Meanwhile, the NGO program-BIRU utilizes semi-commercial approach; collaborating with multiple stakeholders (governments, construction partner organizations, cooperatives, and private sectors-companies and banks); and has standardized training and after sale services. Within those biogas programs, there are multiple barriers along the supply chain process of biodigester dissemination (production and consumption-related to socio-cultural issues) and governance aspects. Barriers to production and consumption relate to the governance aspect of biogas programs. Fragmented governance affected the capability of each program to tackle barriers in biogas digester dissemination and triggered innovation in different biogas programs.
Keywords: bioenergy, biogas, governance, program, fragmentation
Topic: Renewable Energy