Abstract
Biogas is a promising renewable technology to alleviate energy poverty. Pakistan has a capacity of 5 million bio digesters that can be installed in different farming areas. However, this target has never been achieved because many barriers hamper the biogas industry development. In previous studies, some researchers have indicated these barriers in different geographical contexts: however, these barriers are rarely examined in Pakistan. To fulfill the research gap, this study prioritizes potential barriers. Using a literature review and a modified Delphi technique, we identify 25 sub-barriers and catalog them into 5 main categories. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) prioritizes the main barriers and sub-barriers based on potential. Grey Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (G-TOPSIS) ranks the practical alternatives to combat these barriers. The study findings specify that the “financial barrier” is the top-ranked barrier among the main categories, followed by technical, socio-cultural, institutional and administrative, and environmental barriers. The overall ranking shows that the “high starting price tag” is ranked first among all sub-barriers in all categories. It has been proposed that “appropriate financial incentives” and “promotion of customized technology” would be feasible alternative solutions to combat the issues. Based on the research findings, some policy recommendations were suggested for biogas uptake in Pakistan. This study may assist policymakers, stakeholders, and government institutions in accelerating the potential of biogas energy to alleviate energy poverty in rural areas of Pakistan.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the first author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- AHP:
-
Analytical Hagiarchy Process
- CI:
-
Consistency Index
- CR:
-
Consistency ratio
- AEDB:
-
Alternative Energy Development Board
- AZRI:
-
Arid Zone Research Institution
- GOP:
-
Government of Pakistan
- G-TOPSIS:
-
Grey Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution
- IAEA:
-
International Atomic Energy Agency
- IEA:
-
Inter-national Energy Agency
- PCAT:
-
Pakistan Council of Appropriate Technology
- PBI:
-
Punjab Bioenergy Institute
- PCRET:
-
Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technology
- R&D:
-
Research & Development
- REAP:
-
Renewable & Alternative Energy Association of Pakistan
- RETs:
-
Renewable Energy Technology
- SWOC:
-
Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Challenge
- SWOT:
-
Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat
- UN:
-
United Nations
References
Abbas I, Liu J, Noor RS et al (2020) Development and performance evaluation of small size household portable biogas plant for domestic use. Biomass Convers Biorefinery 12:3107–3119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00956-y
Adeyeye KA, Ijumba N, Colton JS (2021) A techno-economic model for wind energy costs analysis for low wind speed areas. Processes 9:1463. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9081463
Adhikari M, Pahari BR, Shrestha R (2020) Identification, classification and prioritization of rural electrification barriers of Nepal using AHP. J Eng Appl Sci 15:1844–1850
Agarwal S, Darbar S, Saha S, Singh RP (2023) Microbiological digestion of agricultural biomass: prospects and challenges in generating clean and green energy. Agric Waste Manag Bioresour Circ Econ Perspect:105–130
Ahmad M, Jabeen G, Irfan M et al (2020) Modeling causal interactions between energy investment , pollutant emissions , and economic growth: China study. Biophys Econ Sustain 7:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41247-019-0066-7
Ahmad M, Khan I, Khan MQS et al (2023) Households’ perception-based factors influencing biogas adoption: Innovation diffusion framework. Energy 263:126155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.126155
Ahmad M, Wu Y (2022) Household-based factors affecting uptake of biogas plants in Bangladesh: Implications for sustainable development. Renew Energy 194:858–867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.05.135
Ahmed N, Qamar S, Jabeen G et al (2022) Systematic analysis of factors affecting biogas technology acceptance: Insights from the diffusion of innovation. Sustain Energy Technol Assessments 52:102122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2022.102122
Akinbami JFK, Ilori MO, Oyebisi TO et al (2001) Biogas energy use in Nigeria: current status, future prospects and policy implications. Renew Sustain energy Rev 5:97–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1364-0321(00)00005-8
Ali R, Hussain RI, Hussain DS (2023a) How and when does renewable energy affect investors willing to invest? Int J Energy Sect Manag 17:25–40. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-06-2021-0025
Ali S, Xu H, Al-amin AQ, Ahmad N (2019) Energy sources choice and environmental sustainability disputes: an evolutional graph model approach. Qual Quant 53:561–581
Ali S, Yan Q, Irfan M, Chen Z (2022) Evaluating barriers on biogas technology adoption in China : the moderating role of awareness and technology understanding. Front Environ Sci 10:1–16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.887084
Ali S, Yan Q, Irfan M, Fahad S (2023b) Relating biogas technology and environmental impact assessment: a roadmap towards clean energy for environmental sustainability. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30:72832–72853. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27553-6
Ali S, Yan Q, Razzaq A et al (2023c) Modeling factors of biogas technology adoption : a roadmap towards environmental sustainability and green revolution. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30:11838–11860. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22894-0
Amir SM, Liu Y, Shah AA et al (2020) Empirical study on influencing factors of biogas technology adoption in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Energy Environ 31:308–329. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305X19865536
Ammenberg J, Anderberg S, Lönnqvist T et al (2018) Biogas in the transport sector—actor and policy analysis focusing on the demand side in the Stockholm region. Resour Conserv Recycl 129:70–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.10.010
Archibong EE (2023) Production of biogas using water waste products (Water Hyacinth and Cow Dung). Biomed Sci Clin Res 2:128–143
Arshad M, Ansari AR, Qadir R et al (2022) Green electricity generation from biogas of cattle manure: An assessment of potential and feasibility in Pakistan. Front Energy Res 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2022.911485
Arshad M, Bano I, Khan N et al (2018) Electricity generation from biogas of poultry waste : An assessment of potential and feasibility in Pakistan. Renew Sustain energy Rev 81:1241–1246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.007
Ashraf S, Luqman M, Yousaf Z, Yaqoob A (2019) Determinants of Biogas Technology Adoption in Pakistan. Pak J Sci Ind Res A: Phys Sci 62:113–123
Bai D, Jain V, Tripathi M et al (2022) Performance of biogas plant analysis and policy implications: Evidence from the commercial sources. Energy Policy 169:113173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113173
Bakhshi Z, Jauffur S, Frigon D (2018) Assessing energy benefits of operating anaerobic digesters at low temperature with solids pre-ozonation. Renew Energy 115:1303–1311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.08.080
Bansal M, Saini RP, Khatod DK (2013) Development of cooking sector in rural areas in India—A review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 17:44–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.09.014
Batool K, Zhao ZY, Atif F, Dilanchiev A (2022) Nexus between energy poverty and technological innovations: a pathway for addressing energy sustainability. Front Environ Sci 10:1–18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.888080
Batool K, Zhao ZY, Irfan M, Żywiołek J (2023) Assessing the role of sustainable strategies in alleviating energy poverty: an environmental sustainability paradigm. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30:67109–67130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27076-0
Bharadwaj B, Pullar D, To LS, Leary J (2021) Why firewood? Exploring the co-benefits, socio-ecological interactions and indigenous knowledge surrounding cooking practice in rural Nepal. Energy Res Soc Sci 75:101932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.101932
Bhide A, Monroy CR (2011) Energy poverty: A special focus on energy poverty in India and renewable energy technologies. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 15:1057–1066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.11.044
Bong CPC, Ho WS, Hashim H et al (2017) Review on the renewable energy and solid waste management policies towards biogas development in Malaysia. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 70:988–998
Chen Y, Hu W, Chen P, Ruan R (2017) Household biogas CDM project development in rural China. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 67:184–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.052
Chen Z, Yu B, Li Y et al (2022) Assessing the potential and utilization of solar energy at the building-scale in Shanghai. Sustain Cities Soc 82:103917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.103917
Cheng S, Zhao M, Mang H-P et al (2017) Development and application of biogas project for domestic sewage treatment in rural China: opportunities and challenges. J Water, Sanit Hyg Dev 7:576–588
Clemens H, Bailis R, Nyambane A, Ndung’u V (2018) Africa biogas partnership program: a review of clean cooking implementation through market development in East Africa. Energy Sustain Dev 46:23–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2018.05.012
D’Aquino CA, Pereira BA, Sawatani TF et al (2022) Biogas potential from slums as a sustainable and resilient route for renewable energy diffusion in urban areas and organic waste management in vulnerable communities in São Paulo. Sustainability 14:7016. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127016
Daim T, Yates D, Peng Y, Jimenez B (2009) Technology assessment for clean energy technologies: The case of the Pacific Northwest. Technol Soc 31:232–243
Diouf B, Miezan E (2019) The biogas initiative in develo** countries, from technical potential to failure: the case study of Senegal. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 101:248–254
Dölle K, Hughes T, Kurzmann DE (2020) From fossil fuels to renewable biogas production from biomass based feedstock—a review of anaerobic digester systems. J Energy Res Rev 5:1–37. https://doi.org/10.9734/jenrr/2020/v5i330147
Duan W, Khurshid A, Nazir N, Calin AC (2022) Pakistan’s energy sector—from a power outage to sustainable supply. Examining the role of China–Pakistan economic corridor. Energy Environ 33:1636–1662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09385
Elyasi SN, He L, Tsapekos P et al (2021) Could biological biogas upgrading be a sustainable substitution for water scrubbing technology? A case study in Denmark. Energy Convers Manag 245:114550
Eswaran N, Parameswaran S, Johnson TS (2021) Biofuels biofuels and sustainability. Biofuels and Biodiesel 2290:317–342. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1323-8_20
Fareed MI, Rehman MAU, Ahmad S, Ghaffar I (2019) Techno-economic feasibility of biogas plants in Pakistan. Acta Sci Microbiol 2:85–90. https://doi.org/10.31080/asmi.2019.02.0377
Feiz R, Metson GS, Wretman J, Ammenberg J (2022) Key factors for site-selection of biogas plants in Sweden. J Clean Prod 354:131671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131671
Gelani HE, Dastgeer F, Idrees Z et al (2022) Barriers in the progress of domestic biogas plants in rural Pakistan. Int J Sustain Energy 41:713–729. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2021.1976179
Ghimire LP, Kim Y (2018) An analysis on barriers to renewable energy development in the context of Nepal using AHP. Renew Energy 129:446–456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.06.011
Ghimire PC (2013) SNV supported domestic biogas programmes in Asia and Africa. Renew energy 49:90–94
Gottfried O, De Clercq D, Blair E et al (2018) SWOT-AHP-TOWS analysis of private investment behavior in the Chinese biogas sector. J Clean Prod 184:632–647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.173
Gu B, Fan L, Ying Z et al (2016) Socioeconomic constraints on the technological choices in rural sewage treatment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:20360–20367
Gustafsson M, Anderberg S (2021) Dimensions and characteristics of biogas policies–Modelling the European policy landscape. Renew Sustain energy Rev 135:110200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110200
Gustafsson M, Anderberg S (2022) Biogas policies and production development in Europe : a comparative analysis of eight countries. Biofuels 13(8):931–944. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2022.2034380
Gutierrez O, Duan H, Wu Z, Sharma KR (2022) Mechanisms, source, and factors that affect methane emissions. Quantif Model Fugitive Greenh Gas Emiss from Urban Water Syst 43. https://doi.org/10.2166/9781789060461_043
Habib S, Kmj I, Amir S et al (2021) Renewable energy potential in Pakistan and barriers to its development for overcoming power crisis. J Contemp Issues Bus Gov 27:2204–1990
Haque HME, Dhakal S, Mostafa SMG (2020) An assessment of opportunities and challenges for cross-border electricity trade for Bangladesh using SWOT-AHP approach. Energy Policy 137:111118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111118
Hasan ASMM, Kabir MA, Hoq MT et al (2022) Drivers and barriers to the implementation of biogas technologies in Bangladesh. Biofuels 13:643–655. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2020.1841362
Hirl K, Murnen H, Richard TL (2022) Syngas and Biogas. Renew Fuels 195. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009072366.009
Hite EB (2021) Inside the climate frontier: intersecting indigenous rights and hydropower development in Costa Rica. University of Colorado at Boulder ProQuest Dissertations Publishing
Huba E, Fall PA, Sanogo O et al (2007) Feasibility study for a national domestic biogas programme in Burkina Faso. Eschborn Dtsch Gesellschaft fuer Tech Zusammenarbeit GmbH. https://energypedia.info/images/3/3e/Domestic_Biogas_Program_in_Burkina_Faso.pdf. Accessed 2 Jul 2022
Huda ST, Chiony MS, Hamzazafarmalick M et al (2020) Pre-feasibility study of a biogas pant for cattle farms based in Pakistan pre-feasibility study of a biogas pant for cattle farms based in Pakistan. European J Adv Eng Technol 7:11–16
Idris MNM, Hashim H, Leduc S et al (2021) Deploying bioenergy for decarbonizing Malaysian energy sectors and alleviating renewable energy poverty. Energy 232:120967
Ijoma GN, Mutungwazi A, Mannie T et al (2022) Addressing the water-energy nexus: a focus on the barriers and potentials of harnessing wastewater treatment processes for biogas production in Sub Saharan Africa. Heliyon 8:e09385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09385
Imran M, Zahid A, Mouneer S et al (2022) Relationship between household dynamics, biomass consumption, and carbon emissions in Pakistan. Sustainability 14:6762. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116762
IRENA (2020) Statistical Review of World Energy International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html. Accessed 26 Jun 2022
Irfan M, Elavarasan RM, Ahmad M et al (2022) Prioritizing and overcoming biomass energy barriers: Application of AHP and G-TOPSIS approaches. Technol Forecast Soc Change 177:121524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121524
Irfan M, Zhao Z-Y, Ahmad M, Mukeshimana M (2019) Solar energy development in Pakistan: barriers and policy recommendations. Sustainability 11:1206. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11041206
Kabera T, Nishimwe H, Imanantirenganya I, Mbonyi MK (2016) Impact and effectiveness of Rwanda’s National Domestic Biogas programme. Int J Environ Stud 73:402–421. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2016.1165480
Kamp LM, Bermúdez Forn E (2016) Ethiopia’s emerging domestic biogas sector: current status, bottlenecks and drivers. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 60:475–488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.01.068
Kanda W, Zanatta H, Magnusson T et al (2022) Policy coherence in a fragmented context: the case of biogas systems in Brazil. Energy Res Soc Sci 87:102454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102454
Kelebe HE (2018) Returns, setbacks, and future prospects of bio-energy promotion in northern Ethiopia: the case of family-sized biogas energy. Energy Sustain Soc 8:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-018-0171-2
Khalid F, Kefu Y, Akram R, Batool K (2023) Linking corporate social responsibility and energy poverty: an environmental sustainability paradigm. Energy Environ. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305X231169009
Khan EU, Martin AR (2016) Review of biogas digester technology in rural Bangladesh. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 62:247–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.04.044
Khan MU, Ahmad M, Sultan M et al (2021) Biogas production potential from livestock manure in Pakistan. Sustain 13:1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126751
Khan S, Nisar A, Wu B et al (2022) Bioenergy production in Pakistan: potential, progress, and prospect. Sci Total Environ 814:152872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152872
Kimutai SK, Siagi ZO, Wambua PM (2022) Determinants of household energy utilization and changing behaviour in Kenya: structural equation modelling approach. Eur J Energy Res 2:1–9. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063194
Ko WH, Lu MY (2020) Evaluation of the professional competence of kitchen staff to avoid food waste using the modified delphi method. Sustain 12:1–11. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198078
Kucher O, Hutsol T, Glowacki S et al (2022) Energy potential of biogas production in Ukraine. Energies 15:1710. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15051710
Kumar L, Hossain MS, Assad MEH, Manoo MU (2022) Technological advancements and challenges of geothermal energy systems: a comprehensive review. Energies 15:9058. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15239058
Kumar P, Rao S, Yadama GN (2019) Energy poverty in India. Encycl Soc Work 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1298
Kuo J, Dow J (2017) Biogas production from anaerobic digestion of food waste and relevant air quality implications. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 67:1000–1011. https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2017.1316326
Landi M, Sovacool BK, Eidsness J (2013) Cooking with gas: Policy lessons from Rwanda’s National Domestic Biogas Program (NDBP). Energy Sustain Dev 17:347–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2013.03.007
Liang J, Irfan M, Ikram M, Zimon D (2022) Evaluating natural resources volatility in an emerging economy: The influence of solar energy development barriers. Resour Policy 78:102858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.102858
Luo B, Khan AA, Ali MAS, Yu J (2021) An evaluation of influencing factors and public attitudes for the adoption of biogas system in rural communities to overcome energy crisis: A case study of Pakistan. Sci Total Environ 778:146208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146208
Mahmudul HM, Rasul MG, Akbar D et al (2021) A comprehensive review of the recent development and challenges of a solar-assisted biodigester system. Sci Total Environ. 753:141920
Maletič D, Maletič M, Lovrenčić V et al (2014) An Application of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Sensitivity Analysis for Maintenance Policy Selection. Organizacija 47:177–188. https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2014-0016
Manrai R, Gupta KP (2022) Investor’s perceptions on artificial intelligence (AI) technology adoption in investment services in India. J Financ Serv Mark 28:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41264-021-00134-9
Martin M (2015) Potential of biogas expansion in Sweden: identifying the gap between potential studies and producer perspectives. Biofuels 6:233–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2015.1090769
Mateescu C, Dima AD (2020) Critical analysis of key barriers and challenges to the growth of the biogas sector: a case study for Romania. Biomass Convers Biorefin 12:5989–6002. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-01054-9
Mengistu MG, Simane B, Eshete G, Workneh TS (2015) A review on biogas technology and its contributions to sustainable rural livelihood in Ethiopia. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 48:306–316
Mengistu MG, Simane B, Eshete G, Workneh TS (2016) Factors affecting households’ decisions in biogas technology adoption, the case of Ofla and Mecha Districts, northern Ethiopia. Renew Energy 93:215–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.02.066
Mittal S, Ahlgren EO, Shukla PR (2018) Barriers to biogas dissemination in India: a review. Energy Policy 112:361–370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2017.10.027
Mohammed AS, Atnaw SM, Desta M (2022) The biogas technology development in ethiopia: the status, and the role of private sectors, academic institutions, and research centers. In: Energy and Environment in the Tropics. Springer, pp 227–243
Mudassar M (2021) Economic and environmental benefits of biogas plant and its impact on female health in Punjab. Int J Altern Fuels Energy 5(2):21–33. https://psmjournals.org/index.php/ijafe/article/view/583
Mukeshimana MC, Zhao ZY, Ahmad M, Irfan M (2021) Analysis on barriers to biogas dissemination in Rwanda: AHP approach. Renew Energy 163:1127–1137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.09.051
Mushtaq K, Zaidi AA, Askari SJ (2017) Financial aspect for commercial production of portable biogas plant in Pakistan. Doctoral Congress in Engineering. FEUP, Porto, Portugal, pp 12–14
Mwirigi J, Balana BB, Mugisha J et al (2014) Socio-economic hurdles to widespread adoption of small-scale biogas digesters in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review. Biomass and Bioenergy 70:17–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.02.018
Mwirigi JW, Makenzi PM, Ochola WO (2009) Socio-economic constraints to adoption and sustainability of biogas technology by farmers in Nakuru Districts, Kenya. Energy Sustain Dev 13:106–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2009.05.002
Namugenyi I, Coenen L, Scholderer J (2022) Realising the transition to bioenergy: Integrating entrepreneurial business models into the biogas socio-technical system in Uganda. J Clean Prod 333:130135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.130135
Nawab F, Abd Hamid AS, Arif M et al (2022) Solar–Biogas Microgrid: A Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Rural Communities in Pakistan. Sustainability 14:11124. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811124
NEPRA (2021) National Electric Power Regular Authority’s (NEPRA) annual report 2020–21. https://nepra.org.pk/publications/Annual%20Reports/Annual%20Report%202021-22.pdf. Accessed 17 May 2022
Nevzorova T, Kutcherov V (2019) Barriers to the wider implementation of biogas as a source of energy : a state-of-the-art review. Energy Strateg Rev 26:100414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2019.100414
Numata M, Sugiyama M, Mogi G (2020) Barrier analysis for the deployment of renewable-based mini-grids in Myanmar using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Energies 13:1400. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13061400
Obaideen K, Abdelkareem MA, Wilberforce T et al (2022) Biogas role in achievement of the sustainable development goals: Evaluation, Challenges, and Guidelines. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 131:104207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2022.104207
Obileke K, Onyeaka H, Nwokolo N (2021) Materials for the design and construction of household biogas digesters for biogas production: a review. Int J Energy Res 45:3761–3779. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.6120
Osei-Marfo M, Duncan AE, Barnie S et al (2022) Institutional Involvement and Collaboration in Disseminating Biogas Technology in Ghana. J Energy 2022:9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1165136
Paramonova K, Mazancová J, Roubík H (2022) Dis-adoption of small-scale biogas plants in Vietnam: what is their fate? Environ Sci Pollut Res 30:2329–2339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24047-9
Parawira W (2009) Biogas technology in sub-Saharan Africa: status, prospects and constraints. Rev Environ Sci Bio/Technology 8:187–200
Patinvoh RJ, Taherzadeh MJ (2019) Challenges of biogas implementation in develo** countries. Curr Opin Environ Sci Heal 12:30–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2019.09.006
Paul R, Silkina A, Melville L et al (2023) Optimisation of ultrasound pretreatment of microalgal biomass for effective biogas production through anaerobic digestion process. Energies 16:553
PES (2015) Pakistan Economic Survey 2014–15. https://www.finance.gov.pk/survey_2023.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2022
PES (2016) Pakistan Economic Survey 2015–16. https://www.finance.gov.pk/survey_2023.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2022
PES (2017) Pakistan Economic Survey 2016–17. https://www.finance.gov.pk/survey_2023.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2022
PES (2018) Pakistan Economic Survey 2017–18. https://www.finance.gov.pk/survey_2023.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2022
PES (2019) Pakistan Economic Survey 2018–19. https://www.finance.gov.pk/survey_2023.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2022
PES (2020) Pakistan Economic Survey 2019–20. https://www.finance.gov.pk/survey_2023.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2022
PES (2021) Pakista Economic Survey 2020–21. https://www.finance.gov.pk/survey_2023.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2022
PES (2022) Pakistan Economic Survey 2021–22. https://www.finance.gov.pk/survey_2023.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2022
Pilloni M, Hamed TA (2021) Small-size biogas technology applications for rural areas in the context of develo** countries. Anaerob Dig built Environ. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96857
Pizarro-Loaiza CA, Antón A, Torrellas M et al (2021) Environmental, social and health benefits of alternative renewable energy sources. Case study for household biogas digesters in rural areas. J Clean Prod 297:126722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126722
Qaiser I (2022) A comparison of renewable and sustainable energy sector of the South Asian countries: An application of SWOT methodology. Renew Energy 181:417–425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.09.066
Raha D, Mahanta P, Clarke ML (2014) The implementation of decentralised biogas plants in Assam, NE India: The impact and effectiveness of the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme. Energy Policy 68:80–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.12.048
Rao KU, Ravindranath NH (2002) Policies to overcome barriers to the spread of bioenergy technologies in India. Energy Sustain Dev 6:59–73
Rashidi NA, Chai YH, Yusup S (2022) Biomass energy in Malaysia: current scenario, policies, and implementation challenges. Bioenergy Res 15:1371–1386
Rehman A, Ma H, Ozturk I, Radulescu M (2022) Revealing the dynamic effects of fossil fuel energy, nuclear energy, renewable energy, and carbon emissions on Pakistan’s economic growth. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29:48784–48794
Reysset M (2021) Comprehensive overview of biogas for sanitation options–training of trainers. Gates Open Res 5:26
Roopnarain A, Adeleke R (2017) Current status, hurdles and future prospects of biogas digestion technology in Africa. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 67:1162–1179
Rufí-Salís M, Petit-Boix A, Leipold S et al (2022) Increasing resource circularity in wastewater treatment: Environmental implications of technological upgrades. Sci Total Environ 838:156422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156422
Rupf GV, Bahri PA, De Boer K, McHenry MP (2015) Barriers and opportunities of biogas dissemination in Sub-Saharan Africa and lessons learned from Rwanda, Tanzania, China, India, and Nepal. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 52:468–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.07.107
Saaty RW (1987) The analytic hierarchy process-what it is and how it is used. Math Model 9:161–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/0270-0255(87)90473-8
Sadath AC, Acharya RH (2017) Assessing the extent and intensity of energy poverty using Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index: Empirical evidence from households in India. Energy Policy 102:540–550
Sarker SA, Wang S, Adnan KMM, Sattar MN (2020) Economic feasibility and determinants of biogas technology adoption: Evidence from Bangladesh. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 123:109766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.109766
Satchwell AJ, Scown CD, Smith SJ et al (2018) Accelerating the deployment of anaerobic digestion to meet zero waste goals. Environ Sci Technol 52:13663–13669
Shah SAA, Longsheng C (2022) Evaluating renewable and sustainable energy impeding factors using an integrated fuzzy-grey decision approach. Sustain Energy Technol Assessments 51:101905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101905
Shaikh SA, Shaikh AM, Shaikh MF et al (2022) Technical and Economical Evaluation of Solar PV System for Domestic Load in Pakistan: An Overlook Contributor to High Tariff and Load Shedding. Sir Syed Univ Res. J Eng Technol 12:23–30. https://doi.org/10.33317/ssurj.313
Shakoor U, Ali SA, Rashid M, Irfan M (2020) Performance Evaluation and Adaption of Biogas Plant Users among Rural Households of Pakistan. I J Innov Creat Change 14(12):1097–1116
Shane A, Gheewala SH, Kasali G (2015) Potential, Barriers and Prospects of Biogas Production in Zambia. J Sustain Energy Environ 6:21–27
Shang M, Hou H (2009) Studies on effect of peracetic acid pretreatment on anaerobic fermentation biogas production from sludge. In: 2009 Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference. IEEE, pp 1–3
Shen Y, Linville JL, Urgun-Demirtas M et al (2015) An overview of biogas production and utilization at full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the United States: Challenges and opportunities towards energy-neutral WWTPs. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 50:346–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.04.129
Sime G (2020) The domestication and functionality of biogas Technical and socioeconomic constraints to the domestication and functionality of biogas technology in rural areas of southern Ethiopia. Cogent Eng 7:1765686. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2020.1765686
Sindhu S, Nehra V, Luthra S (2017) Solar energy deployment for sustainable future of India: Hybrid SWOC-AHP analysis. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 72:1138–1151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.10.033
Situmeang R, Mazancov J (2022) Technological , economic , social and environmental barriers to adoption of small-scale biogas plants: case of Indonesia. Energies 15:5105. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15145105
Sivapriya SV, Anne Sherin A (2022) Causes and consequences of dam failures—case study. In: Sustainable Practices and Innovations in Civil Engineering: Select Proceedings of SPICE 2021. Springer, pp 155–159
Solangi YA, Longsheng C, Shah SAA (2021) Assessing and overcoming the renewable energy barriers for sustainable development in Pakistan: An integrated AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS approach. Renew energy 173(173):209–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021
Solangi YA, Tan Q, Mirjat NH et al (2019) An integrated Delphi-AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS approach toward ranking and selection of renewable energy resources in Pakistan. Processes 7:1–31. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7020118
Soto-Montes-de-Oca G, Cruz-Bello GM, Quiroz-Rosas LE, Flores-Gutiérrez S (2022) The challenge of integrating subnational governments in multilevel climate governance: the case of Mexico. Territ Polit Gov 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/21622671.2022.2106298
Sovacool BK, Kryman M, Smith T (2015) Scaling and commercializing mobile biogas systems in Kenya: a qualitative pilot study. Renew Energy 76:115–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2014.10.070
Stolecka K, Rusin A (2021) Potential hazards posed by biogas plants. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 135:110225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110225
Subhanullah M, Ullah S, Javed MF et al (2022) Assessment and impacts of air pollution from brick kilns on public health in Northern Pakistan. Atmosphere (Basel) 13:1231. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13081231
Tan-Soetedjo JNM, Ramadhany P, Prasetyo S (2022) Manure Waste Management to Produce and Utilize Biogas Efficiently and Effectively in a Smart Eco-Social Village in Bandung. Asia Pacific J Manag Educ 5:58–71. https://doi.org/10.32535/apjme.v5i3.1907
Tariq M, Mehmood A, Abbas Y et al (2022) Enhancement of Anaerobic digestion of cow manure through inoculation under mesophilic conditions. BioEnergy Res 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-022-10547-6
Tembo A, Rahman MM, Jerin T (2022) Barriers to development and adoption of biogas in Mokambo peri-urban of Mufulira, Zambia: how does local government fail to provide renewable energy? Biofuels 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2022.2156055
Tigabu AD, Berkhout F, van Beukering P (2015) Technology innovation systems and technology diffusion: Adoption of bio-digestion in an emerging innovation system in Rwanda. Technol Forecast Soc Change 90:318–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2013.10.011
Uddin R, Shaikh AJ, Khan HR et al (2021) Renewable energy perspectives of Pakistan and Turkey : current analysis and policy recommendations. Sustainability 13:3349. https://doi.org/10.3390/su1306334
Uddin W, Khan B, Shaukat N et al (2016) Biogas potential for electric power generation in Pakistan: A survey. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 54:25–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.09.083
Udeagha MC, Ngepah N (2022) Disaggregating the environmental effects of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption in South Africa: fresh evidence from the novel dynamic ARDL simulations approach. Econ Chang Restruct 55:1767–1814. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10644-021-09368-y
Ullah A, Saqib SE, Kächele H (2022) Determinants of farmers’ awareness and adoption of extension recommended wheat varieties in the rainfed areas of Pakistan. Sustainability 14:3194. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063194
Ullah S, Khan M, Yoon SM (2021) Measuring energy poverty and its impact on economic growth in Pakistan. Sustain 13:10969. https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910969
Ur Rehman SA, Cai Y, Mirjat NH et al (2019) Energy-environment-economy nexus in Pakistan: Lessons from a PAK-TIMES model. Energy Policy 126:200–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.10.031
Vijay VK, Kapoor R, Trivedi A, Vijay V (2015) In: Ravindra P (ed) Biogas as clean fuel for cooking and transportation needs in India BT - Advances in Bioprocess Technology. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 257–275
Wang Z, Ali S, Akbar A, Rasool F (2020) Determining the influencing factors of biogas technology adoption intention in Pakistan: the moderating role of social media. Int J Environ Res Public Health 17:2311. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072311
Washim Akram M, Arman Arefin M, Nusrat A (2022) Prospect of green power generation as a solution to energy crisis in Bangladesh. Energy Syst 13:749–787. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12667-020-00421-9
Williams NB, Quilliam RS, Campbell B et al (2022a) Challenging perceptions of socio-cultural rejection of a taboo technology: Narratives of imagined transitions to domestic toilet-linked biogas in India. Energy Res Soc Sci 92:102802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102802
Williams NB, Quilliam RS, Campbell B et al (2022b) Taboos, toilets and biogas: Socio-technical pathways to acceptance of a sustainable household technology. Energy Res Soc Sci 86:102448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102448
Xu L, Wang Y, Solangi YA et al (2019) Off-grid solar PV power generation system in Sindh, Pakistan: A techno-economic feasibility analysis. Processess 7:308. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7050308
Yaqoo H, Teoh YH, Din ZU et al (2021) The potential of sustainable biogas production from biomass waste for power generation in Pakistan. J Clean Prod 307:127250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127250
Yasmin I, Akram W, Adeel S, Chandio AA (2022) Non-adoption decision of biogas in rural Pakistan: use of multinomial logit model. Environ Sci Pollut Res 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19539-7
Yasmin N, Grundmann P (2019) Adoption and diffusion of renewable energy – The case of biogas as alternative fuel for cooking in Pakistan. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 101:255–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.10.011
Yasmin N, Grundmann P (2020) Home-cooked energy transitions: women empowerment and biogas-based cooking technology in Pakistan. Energy Policy 137:111074
Zeng S, Tanveer A, Fu X et al (2022) Modeling the influence of critical factors on the adoption of green energy technologies. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 168:112817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112817
Funding
No funding was received for conducting this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Kiran Batool, Zhen-Yu Zhao, Naila Nureen, and Muhammad Irfan. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Kiran Batool and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval
This research study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki guidelines. The Institutional Review Board of North China Electric Power University has approved the study (protocol code 39715-4).
Consent to participate
Informed consent was obtained from all respondents belonging to this research study.
Consent for publication
Consent for publication is provided.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Ta Yeong Wu
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary information
ESM 1
Appendix 1: Table A. Experts' demographic information. Appendix 2: Table B1. Please rank the opinion's significance on a Saaty 1–9 scale. Table B2. Pairwise comparison matrix of financial sub-barriers. Table B3. Pairwise comparison matrix of technical sub-barriers. Table B3. Pairwise comparison matrix of technical sub-barriers. Table B5. Pairwise comparison matrix of institutional & administrative sub-barriers. Table B6. Pairwise comparison matrix of environmental sub-barriers.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Batool, ., Zhao, ZY., Nureen, N. et al. Assessing and prioritizing biogas barriers to alleviate energy poverty in Pakistan: an integrated AHP and G-TOPSIS model. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 94669–94693 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28767-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28767-4