Application of GIS in Introducing Community-Based Biogas Plants from Dairy Farm Waste: Potential of Renewable Energy for Rural Areas in Bangladesh

Dairy production is one of the most important economic sectors in Bangladesh. However, the traditional management of dairy cow manure and other wastes results in air pollution, eutrophication of surface water, and soil contamination, highlighting the urgent need for more sustainable waste management solutions. To address the environmental problems of dairy waste management, this research explored the potential of community-based biogas production from dairy cow manure in Bangladesh. This study proposed introducing community-based biogas plants using a geographic information system (GIS). The study first applied a restriction analysis to identify sensitive areas, followed by a suitability analysis to determine feasible locations for biogas plants, considering geographical, social, economic, and environmental factors. The final suitable areas were identified by combining the restriction and suitability maps. The spatial distribution of dairy farms was analyzed through a cluster analysis, identifying significant clusters for potential biogas production. A baseline and proposed scenario were designed for five clusters based on the input and output capacities of the biogas plants, estimating the location and capacity for each cluster. The study also calculated electricity generation from the proposed scenario and the net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction potential of the biogas plants. The findings provide a land-use framework for implementing biogas plants that considers environmental and socio-economic criteria. Five biogas plants were found to be technically and spatially feasible for electricity generation. These plants can collectively produce 31 million m3 of biogas annually, generating approximately 200.60 GWh of energy with a total electricity capacity of 9.8 MW/year in Bangladesh. Implementing these biogas plants is expected to increase renewable energy production by at least 1.25%. Furthermore, the total GHG emission reduction potential is estimated at 104.26 Gg/year CO2eq through the annual treatment of 61.38 thousand tons of dairy manure.