Potential of Biogas Production from Animal Waste in Rural Areas of West Eyvan County, Ilam Province

The inaccessibility of natural gas, the high price of fossil fuels and shortage of fuel stations in major part of rural areas caused the huge glut of solid biomass (wood coal) for provision of energy demand by rural households. The consumption of fossil fuels resulted in various environmental impacts, in which, the depletion of natural resources and jungles is the most obvious one. Biogas as an important energy source is produced by anaerobic digestion of organic wastes such as animal waste. Due to the high heating value of biogas than the direct burning of biomass, it can be used as an alternative to energy resource in rural areas. In this study, the potential of average annual biogas production from the accessible livestock waste in each rural houshod at West Eyvan County, Ilam province, was investigated as 9343.44 m3 (energy equivalent of 35505.07 kWh). Also, the average energy consumption from wood, petroleum and liquid gas was calculated as 37374.6 kWh). Therefore, in the case of biogas production, each average household (4 people) 1 can supply all its thermal requirements.