Biogas initiative for agriculture in Bali and Flores funded by carbon offset
In Indonesia, more than 25 million rural households rely on traditional biomass fuels. Biogas digesters emerged as a renewable energy source to replace firewood stoves, but they are not being deployed fast enough. At the current rate it would take 1,000 years to reach the country’s need of two million digesters. As a solution, the implementing organisation developed cheap and user-friendly biogas digesters. As part of the IKI Small Grants project, these improved digesters are installed on 40 coffee and chocolate farmers in Bali and Flores. In a training programme, the farmers not only learn how to operate and maintain the biogas digesters but also how they can effectively adapt their farming practices to climate change and use co-products of the biogas production as organic fertilizer.
INITIAL SITUATION
In Indonesia, more than 25 million rural households rely on traditional biomass fuels. Firewood harvesting accounts for 25-42% of the total emissions from deforestation in Asia. Biogas digesters emerged as a renewable energy source to replace firewood stoves, which not only reduce emissions from untreated manure, wood harvesting, and carbon soot but also reduce health risks associated with indoor house pollution. Moreover, biogas digesters produce organic fertilizer, which can replace synthetic fertilizers – a big contributor of emissions in the agriculture sector.
TARGET GROUP
40 coffee and chocolate farmers in Bali and Flores have been selected in cooperation with the local farmers’ collective to participate in project activities. While the farmers are the direct target group of the project, their families benefit from reduced indoor air pollution.
VIDEOS FROM THE PROJECT
APPROACH AND ACTIVITIES
In practical field trainings, the farmers not only learn how to operate and maintain the biogas digesters but also how they can effectively adapt to climate change. This educational program works in collaboration with the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics to combine traditional agricultural knowledge with the latest climate science. The project is also preparing a feasibility study on a carbon offset system that can generate additional benefits for the target group and enable a sustainable and long-term project financing.
LATEST PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS AND IMPACTS
- Project finalized.
- Installed 42 biogas digesters across three islands
- Conducted four climate field schools
- Hosted a policy dialogue at the Indonesia Sustainable Energy Week in Jakarta
- Elaborated a feasibility study
- Conducted the Indonesian Carbon Market Workshop in Jakarta
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
Besides accessible webinars, GIZ’s connections to resourceful people have contributed to the project activities and su-re.co’s long-term success. First, under the guidance of GIZ, Su-re.co improved the initial blockchain plan to a more feasible and long-term strategy related to carbon offset and remote monitoring. GIZ also opened a collaboration for biogas digesters in another project area, namely Liberia and other countries in west Africa.
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
Founded in 2015, su-re.co (Sustainability and Resilience Co) is a think-do-be tank based in Bali, Indonesia. su-re.co started their first coffee project to fulfil the promise “Don’t just study but do something”. su-re.co commits to buy coffee and cacao farmers who continue with their good agricultural practices while scaling up scientifically supported activities and policies. As a Think-tank with a scientific background and strategic planning, su-re.co works on international research and consulting projects on environmental issues, including climate change and energy projects. As a Do-tank, they work directly with national and local policymakers, smallholder farmers communities, and international organizations while simultaneously creating a business at grand through climate smart products such as coffee, cocoa, and biogas. Thus, su-re.co generates insight to help the public and private sector work hand-in-hand on tackling climate change.
PRESS AND MEDIA COVERAGE
In December 2021, su-re.co presented its project and some of the current project highlights in a meeting with the German Environment Ministry (BMU) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The team members explained the background of their work and shared a short insight into the practical implementation by visiting a user of the biogas digesters. For the implementation of the project, su-re.co is working closely with GIZ Indonesia, which is providing technical support. It is available in English.