A study conducted by Researchers at the Brew-Hammond Energy Centre has found that animal manure may be Ghana’s most promising resource for producing clean energy from biomass. The research, conducted using a scientific decision-making model, compared five different biomass resources: crop residue, animal manure, forest residue, energy crops, and municipal solid waste.

Bioenergy, energy derived from organic materials like plants, waste, or manure, is becoming increasingly important in Ghana’s efforts to find sustainable energy alternatives. However, choosing the best resource for bioenergy is a complex task. It involves balancing multiple factors such as environmental impact, cost, and social acceptability.

The research led by Prof. Francis Kemausuor and  Rejoice Ntiriwaa Ossei-Bremang, reviewed 13 sub-criteria under three major categories, social, environmental, and economic factors. Each factor was assigned a weight based on its importance. When the model was applied to Ghana’s situation, animal manure came out on top, followed by energy crops, municipal solid waste, forest residue, and crop residue.

According to the study, this method could be useful for government agencies, environmental planners, and investors looking to make smart, sustainable energy decisions. 

For Further Technical Reading: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10669-021-09810-6