Assessing the Cost-Efficiency and Willingness to Adopt Biogas as a Sustainable Source of Renewable Energy: The Case of Senior High Schools in the Greater Accra Region

Abstract

Energy is an indispensable component of human living. Renewable energy (RE) is regarded as a strategic approach to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Biogas is regarded as one of the most reliable forms of renewable energy capable of addressing the energy needs of many institutions. Research indicates that Ghana has enough potential in terms of feedstock for the generation of biogas at both institutional and household level. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the cost efficiency and willingness to adopt biogas technology as a sustainable source of renewable energy for boarding Senior High Schools in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The study was guided by a theoretical framework that focused on the technology adoption process, diffusion of innovations and a technology acceptance model. In all, forty-four schools were sampled for quantitative and qualitative research. Forty schools did not have biogas plants and were studied using the probability approach while four schools which had biogas plants were purposively selected and qualitatively analysed. Six biogas installers, commercial biogas to electricity operator, two regulatory agencies and a research institution also participated in the study. The findings of the study indicated that there is a high potential for Senior High Schools to generate enough biogas for cooking and heating based on the mean population of 1,054 students from the 40 schools sampled, with more than 80% of the students being boarders. The main sources of cooking/heating energy at the school level were LPG at 25.9%, firewood at 10.3% and charcoal at 10.3%. Eighty-eight (88) percent of institutions without biogas expressed their willingness to adopt biogas technology but are constrained by access to finance and institutional bottlenecks. Cost efficiency variables indicate that initial cost of adopting biogas as a supplementary energy for cooking, averages GHS 8,000. Biogas has the potential to reduce waste and supplement energy for cooking purposes. These two elements constitute major budget allocations of Senior High Schools. The main constraints in adopting biogas technology as observed by user institutions were the high initial installation and maintenance cost, low gas production and accessing technical experts for routine maintenance. The study recommends government financial support in the form of subsidies to help provide biogas systems at minimum cost. This will facilitate more schools to adopt biogas technology and reduce the financial burden they incur in waste management and energy consumption.