Executive summary

This research evaluates the potential of a decentralized waste-to-energy solution in rural Ghana using anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of fruit waste and beet molasses. The study aimed to assess technical feasibility and process stability for a secondary school in Bedabour, Ghana.

The methodology involved conducting biological methane potential (BMP) assays to identify the optimal mixture for methane yield. The highest yield was achieved with a blend of 75% fruit waste and 25% molasses. This mixture was then tested in a semi-continuous reactor.

A key finding was that despite the high methane yield, the process faced significant instability due to acidification, and three low-cost mitigation strategies were unable to maintain long-term stability. The conclusion highlights that while AcoD has great potential, its implementation in environments with low buffering capacity requires substrates with higher alkalinity or carefully controlled organic loading rates to ensure consistent performance.