Biogas and greenhouse gas emission reduction in Bangladesh : an analysis of utilisation pathways, emission benefits, and policy implications
Mamun, Abdullah-Al (2026)
Kandidaatintyö
2026
School of Energy Systems, Energiatekniikka
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2026050639563
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2026050639563
Tiivistelmä
Bangladesh is an agrarian country, and it produces massive amounts of agricultural residues and livestock manure annually. Though it is widely accepted that organic waste is a potential source of greenhouse gas emissions, its conversion to biogas through anaerobic digestion and its end-use potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is still in its infancy. This thesis is concerned with the end-use potential of biogas in Bangladesh, and its application in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is examined. The raw material availability and its theoretical potential for biogas production are considered background information.
Using secondary data from BBS (2023), DLS (2023-2024), peer-reviewed literature, and international databases, a quantitative estimation framework is used. The quantitative estimation framework suggests that biogas generated from animal waste and crop residues could potentially replace 8.2 Mt CO₂eq of GHG emissions associated with household cooking fuels in the form of firewood and kerosene usage on an annual basis. Similarly, electricity generation using biogas with 30 percent conversion efficiency could potentially replace 4.76 Mt CO₂eq per annum in place of the national grid electricity supply (EEF = 0.53 tCO₂/MWh). Biofertilizer production using digestate could replace 0.95 Mt CO₂eq of GHG emissions associated with chemical fertilizers used in agriculture. Thus, full utilization potential of biogas could result in reducing Bangladesh’s energy sector GHG emissions up to 13.2 Mt CO₂eq per annum by 2030, i.e., more than 13 percent of total energy sector GHG emissions.
The study concludes that household cooking substitution is the most effective end-use pathway in the near term, providing the highest reduction in GHG emissions per unit of investment in Bangladesh at the current level of biogas development. Rural electricity generation from livestock manure biogas is the most scalable end-use pathway in the medium term. The policy recommendations include scaling up the IDCOL domestic biogas programme, requiring biogas digesters in commercial livestock farms, and creating carbon finance mechanisms to monetize the quantified emission reduction benefits.
Using secondary data from BBS (2023), DLS (2023-2024), peer-reviewed literature, and international databases, a quantitative estimation framework is used. The quantitative estimation framework suggests that biogas generated from animal waste and crop residues could potentially replace 8.2 Mt CO₂eq of GHG emissions associated with household cooking fuels in the form of firewood and kerosene usage on an annual basis. Similarly, electricity generation using biogas with 30 percent conversion efficiency could potentially replace 4.76 Mt CO₂eq per annum in place of the national grid electricity supply (EEF = 0.53 tCO₂/MWh). Biofertilizer production using digestate could replace 0.95 Mt CO₂eq of GHG emissions associated with chemical fertilizers used in agriculture. Thus, full utilization potential of biogas could result in reducing Bangladesh’s energy sector GHG emissions up to 13.2 Mt CO₂eq per annum by 2030, i.e., more than 13 percent of total energy sector GHG emissions.
The study concludes that household cooking substitution is the most effective end-use pathway in the near term, providing the highest reduction in GHG emissions per unit of investment in Bangladesh at the current level of biogas development. Rural electricity generation from livestock manure biogas is the most scalable end-use pathway in the medium term. The policy recommendations include scaling up the IDCOL domestic biogas programme, requiring biogas digesters in commercial livestock farms, and creating carbon finance mechanisms to monetize the quantified emission reduction benefits.