Rural electrification in livestock-dominated regions of Sub-Saharan Africa remains constrained by high grid extension costs and dependence on diesel-based generation. This study investigates the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of converting cattle dung into electricity through a decentralized biomass waste-to-energy (WtE) system in Madu, Uganda. Livestock waste availability, biogas potential, digester performance, energy output, and system economics were evaluated using field data and established conversion models. Results indicate that dung from 120 cattle can sustain continuous biogas production, yielding approximately 99,000 m 3 of methane annually. The biogas-powered combined heat and power system generated 18–19 MWh of electricity per month, alongside significant thermal energy recovery. The system demonstrated stable operation with a hydraulic retention time of 35 days and no observed process instability. Economic analysis revealed a levelized cost of electricity of 0.064 USD kWh − 1 and a simple payback period of six years, substantially outperforming diesel-based rural electricity generation. Environmental assessment showed avoided emissions of approximately 183 tCO 2 yr − 1 , in addition to improved waste management and nutrient recycling benefits. The findings confirm that cattle-dung-based WtE systems offer a technically reliable, economically competitive, and environmentally sustainable solution for rural electrification. Integrating such systems into rural energy planning and climate mitigation frameworks could significantly enhance energy access and support low-carbon development in livestock-rich rural communities.
Uzorka et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: