EJERS, European Journal of Engineering Research and Science

Vol. 4, No. 12, December 2019

Assessment of Waste to Energy Potential in the Central

Zone of Afghanistan
Abdul Ghani Noori, Agha Mohammad Fazli

 unknown and their efficient usage is not suggested in the

Abstract—The central zone of Afghanistan has enough cattle country. Animal manure is the main energy source along
to be considered for generating biogas. The cattle population in with crop residues and wood in the country. In Afghanistan,
the zone was 634,524, 647,229 and 633,362 heads in 2012-13, the women and children make the manure cake and then the
2014-15 and 2016-17, respectively. As a result of field
sun dried manure cakes are used for cooking and space
experiments, the fresh manure generation of cattle in the zone
is 19 kg head-1 day-1, fraction recoverable of the generated heating. They burn this animal manure directly, which is not
cattle manure is 80% and the proportion of dry matter of the the efficient way for using it. As an alternative, this manure
manure is 23.7%. Based on these manure parameters, about can be used for biogas production, which provides better
834,320, 851,026 and 832,792 tons of dry matter recoverable and clean fuel than the animal dung. Burning this manure in
could be generated in the mentioned three years, respectively. the open fire stove causes indoors air pollutants and other
By using a biogas digester, this dry matter recoverable could
respiratory diseases, but biogas is a cleaner, odorless and
be enough for generating about 86,769,319, 88,506,691 and
86,610,419 m3 of biogas in 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2016-17, smokeless fuel. In addition to it, biogas can be also used for
respectively. The amount of generated biogas is equivalent of lighting and refrigeration. Cattles are the very dominant
1,735, 1,770 and 1,732 TJ of energy in the mentioned years, animals, kept by most of the families in all over the country.
respectively. In the case study of Kabul province, it was found Generating biogas from cattle manure has two very
that till now biogas plants are not constructed in the zone. For dominant advantages; first, biogas is a cleaner fuel than
financial evaluation of biogas utilization, a dairy of 24 cattle
cattle manure; second, the digested cattle manure which is
was selected. It was determined that the manure from 24 cattle
can generate about 9 m3 per day (3,285 m3 per year) of biogas called slurry is a very harmless fertilizer for the agriculture.
in a 24 m3 DSAC-Model biogas digester. By comparing biogas However, the utilization of biogas is very common in our
energy value from the equivalent energy of LPG, biogas has surrounding countries such as, India, China, Nepal and
value of 66,521.25 Afg per year (978 USD per year). By Pakistan [1]; the people of Afghanistan are unfamiliar with
considering the requirements of cooking and lighting of a this source of renewable energy. To take the advantage of
family of 8 members, the generated biogas (9 m3/day) in the
this renewable energy source in Afghanistan, it is required
mentioned dairy farm can be enough for two families.
Considering the situation of the zone DSAC-Model biogas to find its potential and techno-economically analysis it for a
plant was considered suitable among various types of it. The zone. For this purpose, a study on the biogas energy
techno-financial analyze result was quite attractive. For this potential of cattle manure and techno-economic analysis of
case, the NPV was 2,664.6 USD, B/C 2.37, IRR was 33% and biogas utilization in the central zone (Kabul, Parwan,
the discounted payback period (PP) was 4.09 years (4 years Kapisa, Logar and Wardak) of Afghanistan were conducted.
and about one month). As all these financial indicators are in
the acceptable range, therefore the biogas generation with
DSAC-Model biogas plant in the central zone of Afghanistan is
beneficent. II. LITERATURE REVIEW
A. Livestock in Afghanistan
Index Terms—Cattle Manure, Biogas Energy, Central Zone,
Afghanistan. Afghanistan is an agricultural country. In the agriculture
GDP, 50% share goes to the livestock products. The
livestock population has fluctuated over the past 30 years,
I. INTRODUCTION from about 4 million cattle and over 30 million sheep and
Biomass energy plays a vital role in the total energy goats to 3.7 million cattle and around 16 million sheep and
supply chain of Afghanistan. The country has a lot of goats in drought years [2]. In Afghan agriculture sector,
biomass energy resources like animal manure, fuelwood, animals play an important role. Nearly, 79% of rural
charcoal, crop residues, and etc. As of now the utilization of households and 94% of nomads (Kochyan) population keep
these resources is very inefficient. Mostly, open burning and some kind of animal like cattle, oxen, horses, donkeys,
inefficient cook stoves are used in the households. As a camels, goats, sheep, and poultry not only for meat, dairy
result, the degradation of resources and health problems are products, and eggs, but also for providing the cooking fuel
occurred. The energy potential of these biomass resources is and fertilizer [3]. Nowadays, in the agriculture sector of the
country, there are a lot of small scale dairies in the urban
and suburban areas, which is a good way of revenues to the
Published on December 30, 2019. formers. The cattle manures produced in the dairies are used
A. G. Noori is with Energy Engineering Department, Engineering for domestic cooking and as fertilizer for the crops in the
Faculty, Kandahar University, Afghanistan. (e-mail:
[email protected]). rural households. The main livestock kept by afghan people
A. M. Fazli is with Energy Engineering Department, Engineering are cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys and camels [1].
Faculty, Kandahar University, Afghanistan. (e-mail: The manures of cattle are a very potential source for
[email protected]).

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 EJERS, European Journal of Engineering Research and Science
Vol. 4, No. 12, December 2019

generating biogas. Biogas generation is very common in the gas holding capacity of this model is 33 percent of the total
world. Globally about 30 million households use biogas for capacity of the digester [7]. DSAC-Model biogas plant is a
cooking, heating, and lighting [4]. Most of these populations rectangular fixed dome digester, shown in Fig.2. It was
are in China (25 million biogas digesters), India (nearly 4 modified from the Chines and Indian models and used in the
million biogas digesters), Nepal (200,000 biogas digesters), Philippines. The structure of this plant is totally from
and Vietnam (150,000 biogas digesters). In contrast 75 concrete, bricks and other similar locally available materials,
biogas digesters was in operation in Afghanistan in 2010 so its structure is more durable. The plant is adaptable for
[5]. Based on the number of animal from statistics of 2008- small, medium and large scale applications with low cost
9, the theoretical biogas potential in Afghanistan was about investment. It is environmental-friendly and can reduce the
1,408 million cubic meters (32 trillion Btu) per year, which pollution from 60% to 80%. In addition to that, it is self-
is double of the energy consumption in 2005 (18 trillion stirring and can produce 35% to 60% biogas of the digester
Btu) [6]. By using cattle manure, nearly 896,000 domestic volume. [8].
biogas plants could be installed in Afghanistan and about
26% of the households could be revived by the efficient and
clean fuel in 2008-9.
B. Biogas Technology
Biogas is produced by the microorganisms through the
anaerobic fermentation of biodegradable biomass. In this
process, the organic fraction of biomass is digested by
bacteria in an anaerobic environment. As a result, CH4, CO2,
H2 and the decomposed mass are produced. Depend on the
feeding materials and its degradable fraction, biogas has
different composition, about 50% to 70% is methane (CH 4),
30% to 40% carbon dioxide (CO2), 5% to 10% hydrogen Fig. 1. Fixed dome (Deenbandhu) biogas plant technical drawing [9]
(H2), 1% to 2% nitrogen (N2), 0.3% water vapor (H2O) and
hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in traces. Methane is a combustible
gas. Its net calorific value is 20 MJ per m3 and the air to fuel
ratio, required for its combustion is 5.7. About, 700C°
temperature is required for its ignition and the density of
methane is 0.94 kg per m3 [7].
C. Fixed Dome Biogas Plant
Fixed dome biogas plant is a single unit, where the dome
acts as a gasholder and there is no moving part. This plant is
constructed underground, which helps to avoid the effects of
the temperature variations and let the upper space to be used
for other activates [7]. The common types of fixed dome Fig. 2. DSAC-Model biogas plant technical drawing [9]
biogas plants are Janatha, Deenbandhu and DSAC-Model.
Janatha biogas plant is an Indian design, which is masonry
D. Floating Drum Biogas Plant
structure at all. The inlet and out let structures of the plant
have a tank shape, from which the animal manure is fed and The floating drum biogas plant is constructed
the digested slurry is extracted, respectively. The gas underground from bricks and a metal circular dome, shown
produced in the result of slurry digestion in the digester, in Fig.3. A partition wall is constructed in the middle of the
digester to avoid the mixing of fresh and digested slurry.
goes up and collected in the dome. When the produced gas
The gas produced is collected in the metal structure. This
increases, it pushes the digested slurry to the outlet and also
metal structure is moveable. When the volume of the
helps to pressurize the gas going out through the gas outlet.
produced gas is increased, it goes up and the gas is
As this is fixed structure, the gas pressure is not constant withdrawal through the gas out let and then drops down.
like in the floating type [7]. Deenbandhu biogas plant is the This drum is rotated horizontally to break the scum
improved version of the Janatha biogas plant, shown in formation in the digester. For the vertical moment of the
Fig.1. It was developed in India by Action for Food drum, a central guide frame is used. The cost of the drum is
Production (AFPRO) in 1984. This plant can be constructed counted around 60 percent of the overall plant costs. The
with locally available materials. The construction cost of weight of the drum helps to provide the gas with a constant
this model is cheap (30 - 45 percent then Janatha). The pressure. The inlet and outlet tanks of the plant are the same
losses through the inlet chamber are less and its practical as in the fixed dome biogas plant. The gas pipe is provided
retention time (RT) is close to the theoretical retention time in the top of the plant. This type is widely used in India [7].
(RT). The structure of this model is composed of two
spheres, having different diameters, joint at their bases.
There is no need for the masonry walls around the digesters.
The inlet and out let of this plant is the similar to the Janatha
biogas plant. To avoid the entrance of slurry to the gas
outlet, it is constructed 150 mm below the slurry outlet. The

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Vol. 4, No. 12, December 2019

Biogas storage dome rise from the top of digester, f (m) =

1/3 x W (6)

Radius of the of the biogas storage dome, R (m) = (W 2 +

4f2) / 8f (7)

Central angle of the dome arc, ø (degree) = 2 x tan-1{(W /

2) / (R – f)} (8)

Biogas storage volume (m3) = L x (R2 / 2) {∏/180 x ø – sin

(ø)} (9)

Fig. 3. Floating drum biogas plant technical drawing [10] Inlet tank volume (m3) = Slurry volume (m3/day) (10)

Height of inlet pipe and manhole in the digester (m) = 1 / 2

III. METHODOLOGY x (H) (11)
A. Determining Biogas Energy Potential
Width of manhole (m) = 0.4 x W (12)
The animal manure is composed of organic material,
moisture and ash. In the anaerobic environment, it is Outlet tank volume(m3) = 1/3x{Digester volume (m3)} (13)
decomposed and produces CH4, CO2 and stabilized organic
materials (SOM). The energy potential of animal manure
through biogas production is estimated by the following
equations [11].

EPmanure = ABPmanure x LHVbiogas (1)

Where,

ABPmanure = Σ (DMR x VS x Ybiogas) (2)

DMR = DM x NA x FR x 365 (3)

In the above equations,

EPmanur = Annual energy potential of animal manure (TJ/y)
ABPmanure = Annual amount of biogas from recoverable
manure (NM3/y) Fig. 4. DSAC-Model biogas plant technical parameters [8]
LHVbiogas = Lower heating value of animal manure (TJ/M3)
DMR = Annual amount of dry mater recoverable (kg/y) C. Method for Financial Analysis
VS = Fraction of volatile solids in the dry mater (kg VS/kg The financial analysis determines the suitability of
DM) investment. Usually, it is used to evaluate whether a project
Ybiogas = Biogas yield (NM3/kg VS) is stable and profitable enough to be invested in or not.
DM = Amount of dry mater (kg per head per day) These indicators are net present value (NPV), benefit to cost
NA = Number of animals ratio (B/C), internal rate of return (IRR) and payback period
FR = Fraction of animal manure recoverable (PP) [12].
B. Method for Sizing DSAC-Model Biogas Plant  Net present value (NPV): is the summation of
There are two approaches to size the biogas digester, discounted net cash flow of the project.
determining the size of digester for a specific amount of
slurry to be treated or determining the size of digester for a N
specific amount of biogas needed. If the slurry to be
digested is known the following equations can be used to
NPV = A
n 0
n (1  i )  n (14)

size the DSAC-Model biogas plant [8].

Where,
Slurry volume (m3/day) = Animal manure (m3/day) x 2 N/n = period of time (years)
(manure to water ratio = 1:1) (4) An = annual income
i = interest rate
Digester volume (m3) = Slurry volume (m3/day) x RT (days)
(5) NPV excel command =NPV (i%, series of inflow) + out
flow (15)
As the DSAC-Model biogas plant is a rectangular digester
so based on the space availability, the length (L), width (W) If
and height (H) of the digester can be determined. NPV > 0 (Accept the investment)

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 EJERS, European Journal of Engineering Research and Science
Vol. 4, No. 12, December 2019

NPV = 0 (Remain indifferent) of the country, most cattle are kept in the Kapisa province
NPV < 0 (Reject the investment) followed by Parwan, Kabul, Logar and Wardak. In 2012-13,
2014-15 and 2016-17 the total cattle population in the
 Benefit to cost ratio (B/C): is the ratio of the net benefit central zone of Afghanistan was 634,524, 647,229 and
and expenses over the life time of the project. It is 633,362 head of cattle, respectively. In Table I, it is shown
calculated in present or it the beginning of the that there is an increase of cattle population from 2012-13 to
investment period. 2014-15 and back a decrease from 2014-15 to 2016-17 [13].

N TABLE I: CATTLE POPULATION IN THE CENTRAL ZONE OF AFGHANISTAN

 b (1  i) n [13]
B= n (16) Years Kabul Parwan Kapisa Logar Wardak
n 0
2012-13 99,636 173,052 199,272 83,904 78,660
2014-15 101,631 176,517 203,262 85,584 80,235
Where,
2016-17 99,454 172,735 198,907 83,750 78,516
N/n = period of time (years)
bn = annual benefits
i = interest rate B. Cattle Manure Parameters
For estimating biogas potential of cattle manure and
N

 c (1  i) n energy potential of biogas, it is needed to find different

C= n (17) characteristics of cattle manure, such as fresh manure
n 0 generation per head per day, recoverable fraction of the
fresh manure, fraction of dry matter, fraction of volatile
Where, solids, biogas yield and the calorific value of biogas. For
N/n = period of time (years) determining these parameters, a dairy was selected in Kabul
cn = annual cost province of Afghanistan during data collection in
i = interest rate December- 2018. There were 24 cattle in the dairy. The
If, cattle manure was collected twice daily, the fresh manure of
B/C > 1 (Accept the investment) these cattle was measured and its sample was taken for
B/C = 1 (Remain indifferent) determining the cattle manure parameters. The field
B/C < 1 (Reject the investment) measurements showed that, the average per head per day
fresh cattle manure production is 19 kg, and its recoverable
 Internal rate of return (IRR): is the discount rate which
fraction is 80 percent of total produced cattle manure. The
is used in capital budgeting, it equals the net present
recoverable fraction is so high compare to other countries,
value of the project cash flow to zero. The higher the
because Afghanistan does not have grazing areas for cow
IRR, the most attractive will be the investment. IRR is
feeding, so they are always farmed in selected small areas.
calculated from the net cash flow of the project by excel
On the other hand, cattle manure has energy and fertilizer
as in the below equation. value in Afghanistan and cows standing areas are brick
covered in most places, which help to collect the maximum
IRR excel command = IRR (rang, guess) (18) amount of cattle manure. In comparison, the collection
efficiency of cattle manure is 50 percent in Sri Lanka [14];
IRR > MARR (Accept the investment)
60 percent in India [15] and 80 percent in Thailand [16].
IRR = MARR (Remain indifferent)
The proportion of dry matter resulted from the field test is
IRR < MARR (Reject the investment)
23.7 %. The other parameters are taken from previous study
Minimum acceptable rate of return (MARR) is the interest on biomass energy potential in other countries, such as cattle
rate by which the money is borrowed for investment. manure volatile solids percentage 52 percent [1], biogas
yield 0.2 m3 per kg of volatile solids, and calorific value of
 Payback period (PP): The required period of time to 20 MJ per m3 of biogas, shown in Table II [14].
recover the cost of an investment. The shorter the PP,
TABLE II: CATTLE MANURE PARAMETERS
the beneficent will be the investment.
Parameters Value
Fresh manure generation (kg head-1 day-1) 19
PP (years) =
Initial investment (19) Fraction recoverable 0.8
Uniform annual benefits
Proportion of dry matter (%) 23.7
Fraction of volatile solid (kg VS kg-1 DM)* 0.52
Biogas yield (m3 kg-1 VS) * 0.2
IV. BIOGAS ENERGY POTENTIAL IN THE CENTRAL ZONE OF
Calorific value of biogas (MJ m-3) [14] 20
AFGHANISTAN
A. Cattle Population
C. Annual Dry Matter Recoverable from the Manure
In the central zone of Afghanistan, groups of cattle are
The dry matter recoverable was estimated based on the
kept in dairy forms as well as in the households for
cattle manure parameters described in Table II. The total dry
producing milk. Keeping a group of cattle makes it easy to
matter recoverable in the central zone of Afghanistan in
collect their daily manure for biogas generation. In this zone

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 EJERS, European Journal of Engineering Research and Science
Vol. 4, No. 12, December 2019

2012-13, 2014-15 and 2016-17 was 834,320, 851,026 and TABLE IV: ANNUAL BIOGAS POTENTIAL IN THE CENTRAL ZONE OF
AFGHANISTAN (, 000 M3)
832,792 tons respectively. As most of the cattle population
Years Kabul Parwan Kapisa Logar Wardak
is concentrated in the Kapisa province followed by Parwan
2012-13 13,625 23,664 27,250 11,474 10,757
and hence the dry matter recoverable is also high in these 2014-15 13,898 24,138 27,795 11,703 10,972
two provinces compared to Kabul, logar and Wardak
2016-17 13,600 23,621 27,200 11,453 10,737
provinces. In Table III, it is shown that the dry matter
recoverable has been increased by 2% from 2012-13 to
2014-15. And is back decreased by about 2.14% from 2014- E. Annual Biogas Energy Potential
15 to 2016-17. The estimated dry matter recoverable is used The annual biogas energy potential is estimated from the
as fertilizer for the crops and fuel for cooking and space annual biogas potential of cattle manure and the biogas
heating. There is no any study and data for Afghanistan to calorific value, discussed in the previous sections.
show the fraction of cattle manure used as fertilizer and for In central zone of Afghanistan, the biogas potential in
energy. The cattle manure cakes are sun dried, before using 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2016-17 was 86,769,319, 88,506,691
as fuel. Table III shows the annual dry mater recoverable and 86,610,419 m3, respectively. With a calorific value of
from the cattle manure in the central zone of Afghanistan. 20 MJ per m3 [14], the estimated biogas energy potential of
cattle manure in the mentioned years was 1,735, 1,770 and
TABLE III: ANNUAL DRY MATTER RECOVERABLE FROM THE CATTLE
MANURE IN CENTRAL ZONE OF AFGHANISTAN (, 000 TON)
1,732 TJ, respectively, which shows a 2% increase from
Years Kabul Parwan Kapisa Logar Wardak 2012-13 to 2014-15 and back a 2.14% decrease from 2014-
2012-13 131 228 262 110 103 15 to 2016-17. From the five provinces of the central zone,
2014-15 134 232 267 113 105 the highest biogas energy could be generated in the Kapisa
2016-17 131 227 262 110 103 province (about 544 TJ in 2016-17) followed by Parwan
province (about 472 TJ in 2016-17), Kabul province (about
272 TJ in 2016-17), Logar province (about 229 TJ in 2016-
D. Annual Biogas Potential
17) and Wardak province (about 215 TJ in 2016-17).
By considering the cattle manure parameters and the dry Table V, shows the annual biogas energy potential in the
matter recoverable, the biogas potential of cattle manure is five provinces of the central zone of Afghanistan in the three
estimated for the three selected years. As the biogas selected years.
potential depends on the cattle population and cattle manure
parameters; therefor, the most biogas productive provinces TABLE V: ANNUAL BIOGAS ENERGY POTENTIAL IN THE CENTRAL ZONE OF
AFGHANISTAN (TJ)
in the central zone of the country are the most cattle
Years Kabul Parwan Kapisa Logar Wardak
populated provinces Kapisa and Parwan. In 2012-13,
2012-13 13,625 23,664 27,250 11,474 10,757
27,250,000 m3 and 23,664,000 m3 of biogas could be 2014-15 13,898 24,138 27,795 11,703 10,972
generated from the cattle manure in the Kapisa and Parwan
2016-17 13,600 23,621 27,200 11,453 10,737
provinces, respectively. Kabul, Logar and Wardak provinces
are less cattle populated compared to Kapisa and Parwan. In TABLE VI: BIOGAS ENERGY POTENTIAL OF CATTLE MANURE IN
2012-13, about 13,625,000 m3, 11,474,000 m3 and THE CENTRAL ZONE OF AFGHANISTAN
10,757,000 m3 of biogas could be generated in these Years 2012-13 2014-15 2016-17
provinces respectively. No. of cattle [13] 634,524 647,229 633,362
The total biogas potential in the central zone of Manure generated 19 19 19
(kg head-1 day-1)
Afghanistan in 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2016-17 was 0.8 0.8 0.8
Fraction recoverable
86,769,319, 88,506,691 and 86,610,419 m3, respectively.
Proportion of dry 23.7 23.7 23.7
Table IV shows a 2% increase from 2012-13 to 2014-15 and matter (%)
back 2.14% decrease from 2014-15 to 2016-17 as it was in Dry matter 834,320 851,026 832,792
the cattle population and dry matter recoverable of the cattle recoverable (ton year-
1
)
manure. Fraction of volatile 0.52 0.52 0.52
A double burner biogas stove consumes 0.44 m3 of biogas solid (kg VS kg-1
per hour and a biogas lamps consumes 0.14 m3 of biogas per DM)
Biogas yield (m3 kg-1 0.2 0.2 0.2
hour [8]. For an eight-member family In Afghanistan, the VS)
average family size is 7.4 persons [17] about 4.44 m3 of Biogas potential(m3 86,769,319 88,506,691 86,610,419
biogas will be required per day (4 lamps for 4 hours per day year-1)
per family and one double gas burner for 5 hours per day per Calorific value of 0.00002 0.00002 0.00002
biogas (TJ m-3)
family). The estimated biogas of 2016-17 could be enough Annual energy 1,735 1,770 1,732
for 53,443 families of the central zone of Afghanistan or in potential (TJ year-1)
other words, 53,443 family size biogas plants could be
constructed in the central zone of Afghanistan in that year.
From these 8,329 biogas plants could be constructed in V. TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BIOGAS PLANT (A
Kabul, 14,575 in Parwan, 16,784 in Kapisa, 7,067 in Logar CASE STUDY)
and 6,625 in Wardak province of Afghanistan. The usage of For this case study, a dairy was selected in Kabul
biogas can help in reduction of CO2 emission, and decrease province. Considering the environmental situation, material
the import of LPG. On the other hand, the families can save availability and experts in construction, DSAC-Model
money and enjoy clean fuel usage and better health. biogas plant was considered suitable among the other types

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Vol. 4, No. 12, December 2019

of the plants like Janatha, Deenbandhu and floating drum. described in section C of the methodology is used for
About 24 cattle were farmed in the dairy selected for this analyzing these parameters and are shown in Table VII. As
study. The required parameters of the cattle manure were all these indicators are in the acceptable ranges, therefore
measured on sit in December, 2018. Based on the cattle the investment in the biogas generation from cattle manure
population and their manure generation potential, the in the central zone of Afghanistan is beneficent.
techno-financial analysis of the identified suitable biogas
TABLE VII: FINANCIAL PARAMETERS OF THE BIOGAS PLANT
plant was carried out. The DSAC-Model biogas plant was
Financial parameters Values Acceptance standard
designed based on the design method described in section B NPV 2,664.6 USD NPV > 0
of methodology. For this case the dairy needs 24m3 digester B/C 2.37 B/C > 1
which costs about 1,949 USD. By considering the number IRR 33% IRR > MARR (15%)
PP 4.09 Years PP > Economic life time
of cattle, the daily biogas generation of the plant would be
9m3.
To find the serviceability of the daily generated biogas, VI. CONCLUSION
biogas technologies and their burning rate are required. In
this case, biogas cook stoves and lamps are focused. A This study was completed with the achievement of two
double burner biogas stove consumes 0.44 m3 of biogas per main objectives. The first objective was to assess the biogas
hour and a biogas lamps consumes 0.14 m3 of biogas per energy potential of cattle manure in the central zone of
hour [8]. In Afghanistan the average family size is 7.4 Afghanistan. In the central zone of the country, the total
people [17]. In this case, one double burner biogas stove for cattle population was 634,524, 647,229 and 633,362 head of
5 hours daily cooking and 4 biogas lamps for 4 hours in the cattle in 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2016-17, respectively.
night was assumed for a family of 8 members. Based on the Based on the manure parameters determined from the field
above parameters, the family requires 2.24 m3 of biogas for and experiments shown in Table II, about 834,320, 851,026
daily cooking and 2.2 m3 of biogas for lighting and its total and 832,792 ton of dry matter recoverable could be
daily biogas requirement is 4.44 m3. As the daily biogas generated in the mentioned three years, respectively. By
generation potential is 9 m3, so it can fulfill the cooking and using a biogas digester, about 86,769,319, 88,506,691, and
lighting requirements of two families of 8 members or a 86,610,419 m3 of biogas could be generated in 2012-13,
single family of 16 members in the central zone of 2014-15 and 2016-17, respectively. The amount of
Afghanistan. generated biogas is equivalent of 1,735, 1,770 and 1,732 TJ
To find the annual benefit of the biogas plant, it is of energy in the mentioned years, respectively.
required to find the unit cost of biogas generated from the The second objective of the study was to analyze techno-
biogas plant. The unit cost of biogas can be estimated from economic aspects of the biogas utilization in the central zone
its equivalent fuelwood or LPG. 1m3 of biogas equals to of Afghanistan. From the field observations, it was noted
3.47 kg of fuelwood or 0.45 kg of LPG [8]. As the biogas that biogas plants are not currently used in the central zone.
potential of the plant is 9m3 daily and 3,285 m3 per year, For the evaluation of biogas utilization in the zone, a dairy
which equals to 11,398.95 kg of fuelwood or 1,478.25 kg of form was selected in Kabul province. Based on the cattle
LPG per year. In Kabul, the cost of fuelwood was 8.63 Afg population in the dairy (24 cattle) and manure parameters, it
per kg (0.15 USD per kg) and the cost of LPG was 45 Afg was determined that about 9 m3 per day (3,285 m3 biogas
per kg (0.66 USD per kg) in December, 2018. Based on the per year) of biogas can be generated in a 24 m3 DSAC-
fuelwood cost, the estimated cost of biogas is 98,372.94 Afg Model biogas digester. By comparing biogas energy value
per year (1,710 USD per year) and based on the LPG cost from the equivalent energy of LPG, it was determined that
the estimated biogas cost is 66,521.25 Afg per year (978 the generated biogas has value of 66,521.25 Afg per year
USD per year). Here we will take the biogas cost based on (978 USD per year). The per day generated biogas (9 m3) in
the LPG cost 66,521.25 Afg per year (978 USD per year), the mentioned dairy farm could be enough for lighting and
which is the annual revenue for the biogas plant owner. cooking requirements of a single family of 16 members or
Based on the plant type and construction, the life time of the two families of 8 members. For central zone situations,
plant is assumed 20 years. After the first year 4.83 percent various biogas plant types of the neighboring countries were
main inflation rate is applied to the annual cost of the biogas discussed and among them, the DSAC-Model biogas plant
[18]. was considered suitable and its techno-financial analysis
The financial analysis of the biogas plant is based on the was carried out for the mentioned dairy case. The techno-
investment in the biogas plant, serviceability period, annual financial analyze result was quite attractive, for this case the
revenue, inflation rate, corporate taxes and interest rate in NPV was 2,664.6 USD, B/C 2.37, IRR 33% and the
Kabul, Afghanistan. The total investment for the 24 m3 discounted payback period (PP) was 4.09 years (4 years and
DSAC-Model biogas plant is 132,533Afg (1,949 USD) and about one month). As all these financial indicators are in the
the annual biogas revenue is 66,521.25 Afg per year (978 acceptable range, therefore the biogas generation with
USD per year) which is interested by 4.83 percent mean DSAC-Model of plant is beneficent and attractive in the
inflation rate of Afghanistan every next year. The corporate central zone of Afghanistan.
taxes rate is 20 percent [19], and the interest rate is 15
percent in Afghanistan [18]. Based on these parameters, the
net present value (NPV), benefit to cost ratio (B/C), internal
rate of return (IRR) and the discounted payback period (PP)
of the biogas plant are estimated. The estimation method,

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejers.2019.4.12.1698 147

 EJERS, European Journal of Engineering Research and Science
Vol. 4, No. 12, December 2019

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Renewable Energy Laboratory. He obtained his bachelor of engineering degree in
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Racelis, D. A., Rathnasiri, P. G., & Yingyuad, R. (2005). An several prizes for being as a best teacher, best leader and best researcher
assessment of the potential for non-plantation biomass resources in from Kandahar University and other organization.
selected Asian countries for 2010. Biomass and Bioenergy, 29(3),
153-166. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2005.03.004 Agha Mohammad Fazli a citizen of Kandahar,
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United States of America prentice Hall. He obtained his bachelor of engineering degree in
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http://cso.gov.af/en/page/1500/4722, Accessed on: 08/11/2018 energy technology from Asian Institute of
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A. G. T., Bhattacharya, S. C., & Abdul Salam, P. (2005). Assessment He started his job as a faculty in the Energy
of sustainable energy potential of non-plantation biomass resources in Engineering Department of Engineering Faculty,
Sri Lanka. Biomass and Bioenergy, 29(3), 199-213. doi: Kandahar University in 2009. He teaches variety of
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2005.03.008 courses ’such as, solar photovoltaic, hydropower, biomass energy and
[15] Ravindranath, N. H., Somashekar, H. I., Nagaraja, M. S., Sudha, P., combustion technologies & material. Besides teaching, Mr. Fazli is an
Sangeetha, G., Bhattacharya, S. C., & Abdul Salam, P. (2005). active researcher in his field of specialization and conducted several
Assessment of sustainable non-plantation biomass resources potential research projects funded by Higher Education Development Program
for energy in India. Biomass and Bioenergy, 29(3), 178-190. doi: (HEDP) in recent years.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2005.03.005 Mr. Fazli is member in the discipline and academic promotions
[16] Sajjakulnukit, B., Yingyuad, R., Maneekhao, V., Pongnarintasut, V., committees of Kandahar University. In addition to that, he also has
Bhattacharya, S. C., & Abdul Salam, P. (2005). Assessment of membership in the Afghanistan Renewable Energy Union (AREU). During
sustainable energy potential of non-plantation biomass resources in his academic life, several prizes has been awarded to him for being as an
active head of department and best teacher from Kandahar University.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejers.2019.4.12.1698 148