Harnessing Horsepower from Horse Manure at the EARTH Centre in South Africa: Biogas Initiative Improve the Facility’s Operational Sustainability

Charles Rashama, Tonderayi Matambo (), Asheal Mutungwazi, Christian Riann and Godwell Nhamo
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Charles Rashama: Centre for Competency in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Cnr Pioneer and Christian De Wet Roads, Private Bag X6, Florida 1710, South Africa
Tonderayi Matambo: Centre for Competency in Environmental Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Cnr Pioneer and Christian De Wet Roads, Private Bag X6, Florida 1710, South Africa
Asheal Mutungwazi: Infrastructure Services Department: Major Projects, Mount Isa City Council, 23 West Street, Mount Isa, QLD 4825, Australia
Christian Riann: Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, University of South Africa, Cnr Pioneer and Christian De Wet Roads, Private Bag X6, Florida 1710, South Africa
Godwell Nhamo: Institute for Corporate Citizenship, College of Economic and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, Preller Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria 0002, South Africa

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: This study investigated the sustainability aspects of implementing a small-scale biogas digester project at the EARTH Centre, a horse-riding facility for the disabled, in South Africa. Firstly, an energy audit of the facility was conducted. From this exercise, energy-saving opportunities through anaerobic digestion of horse manure were identified. Biomethane potential tests (BMPs) were then performed using the Automatic Methane potential test system II (AMPTS II) of BioProcess Control (Lund, Sweden). The horse manure BMP result was 106 L/kg.VS with the biogas averaging a methane content of 40%. This BMP was lower than that of common substrates such as cow manure which can range from 150–210 L/kg.VS. The gas production rate was almost constant in the first 13 days indicating a long hydrolysis period for horse manure. The microbial species in the digester did not change much during the incubation period although small changes were visible in the proportions of each species as the reaction progressed from start to finish. The energy audit showed that 47% of the EARTH Centre’s energy requirements, which equated to 14,372 kWh/year, could be secured from biogas or solar instead of obtaining it from the national grid which is powered mainly by unsustainable coal-fired systems. As a starting point, a 10 cubic meter biogas digester was installed to produce 5512 kWh of energy per year in the form of biogas. To boost biogas production and continue running the system smoothly, it was evident that the horse manure-fed digester would require regular spiking with cow manure as a bioaugmentation strategy. The digester also produced bio-fertiliser and several sustainable development goals were fulfilled by this project. Current efforts are focused on process optimization of this technology at the Earth Centre to further improve the sustainability of the whole business.

Keywords: horse manure; biogas; sustainability; anaerobic digestion; energy savings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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