Biogas Technology for Rural Energy Security: An investigation of uptake and diffusion in Meskan District, Southern Ethiopia
Published in Earth & Environment
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44274-025-00404-6
Behind the Research
Empowering rural communities through Biogas innovation in Southern Ethiopia
Access to clean and sustainable energy continues to be one of the most urgent issues in rural Africa. In several regions of Ethiopia, families continue to rely on traditional biomass fuels like firewood, crop leftovers, and animal waste for cooking and heating. Although these energy sources are essential for everyday life, they entail significant costs, especially for women and children who encounter health hazards from indoor air pollution, time scarcity from gathering fuelwood, and the deterioration of local ecosystems. My newly published article, “Biogas Technology for Rural Energy Security: An investigation of uptake and diffusion in Meskan District, Southern Ethiopia,” investigates how Biogas technology can act as a transformative solution for clean energy accessibility, gender empowerment, and sustainable rural livelihoods.
The story behind the study
This study emerged from a thorough observation of the daily challenges faced by rural families in the Meskan district, where dependence on conventional fuels limited development prospects and reinforced gender disparities. I aimed to comprehend why the uptake of Biogas technology stayed restricted despite its established advantages, and which social, economic, and institutional elements affected its spread. Utilizing household surveys, focus group discussions, and statistical analysis, the research pinpointed the key factors facilitating and hindering Biogas adoption, encompassing household income, livestock ownership, awareness levels, and availability of extension services. It also demonstrated how gender relations influence decision-making regarding energy options and resource utilization.
Originality and scientific contribution
The research's innovation exist in its comprehensive method, connecting the spread of Biogas technology to rural energy stability, gender dynamics, and socio-economic change. It adds to the literature by offering empirical evidence from a micro-level context, demonstrating how behavioral and institutional factors influence technology adoption in developing areas. The research enhances comprehension of clean energy shifts in rural systems, providing a framework that other scholars can modify for various contexts. It also offers important perspectives for policymakers and development professionals aiming to enhance renewable energy initiatives in line with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
Impact and Community relevance
Outside of academia, this study directly relates to the experiences of rural communities. Advancing Biogas technology not only lowers indoor air pollution and curbs deforestation but also saves time for women and children, boosts agricultural productivity with organic fertilizers, and aids in mitigating climate change. The results endorse the creation of gender-sensitive policies and initiatives that emphasize inclusivity and sustainability in energy strategizing. Grasping the real-life elements influencing adoption can make development initiatives more impactful, fair, and revolutionary.
Final Remark
This project represents not just an academic advancement, it embodies a vision for a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient rural Ethiopia and the globe. It serves as a reminder that the journey toward sustainable energy shifts starts at home, where scientific knowledge intersects with social transformation.
Follow the Topic
-
Discover Environment
This is a transdisciplinary, open-access journal that provides a leading platform for the rapid dissemination of knowledge and advances covering the research and innovation that is taking place across the environmental sector.
Related Collections
With Collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility.
Environmental Pollutants: Origins, Pathways, Impacts, and Sustainable Solutions
Pollution is a critical threat to ecosystems, human health, and the planet’s future. From industrial waste in China to microplastics in the Mediterranean and PFAS contamination in the U.S., pollutants spread across air, water, and soil, harming wildlife and communities worldwide. Understanding how these contaminants move, transform, and impact the environment is key to designing effective solutions.
This collection brings together cutting-edge research on pollution sources, environmental behavior, risks, and innovative cleanup strategies—covering everything from heavy metals in mining regions to pharmaceutical waste in urban waterways. We highlight advances in environmental science, green technology, and policy to tackle both long-standing and emerging threats like e-waste and AI-driven monitoring. The topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Pollution Origins: Industrial, agricultural, and urban sources, including legacy and emerging contaminants.
• Environmental Pathways: How pollutants travel through air, water, soil, and food chains.
• Risks and Impacts: Effects on biodiversity and human health, from local hotspots to global crises.
• Cleanup and Prevention: Nature-based solutions (like wetland restoration) and high-tech innovations (such as catalytic oxidation).
• Policy and Tools: Smart regulations, predictive modeling, and new detection methods.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to: SDG 11
Keywords:PFAS, Heavy metals, Microplastics, Emerging Contaminants, Emission sources, Environmental forensics, Ecological indicators, Pollution sources, Contaminant transport, Ecological risk assessment, Pollutant fate and transformation, Bioaccumulation, Ecological restoration, Remediation technologies, Sustainable pollution management
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: May 01, 2026
Mapping Sustainability: Geospatial Tools for Environmental Challenges
The escalating complexity of global ecological challenges demands innovative approaches to understanding, monitoring, and managing the environment. Geospatial technologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and spatial analytics, have become indispensable tools in addressing these issues. These technologies have demonstrated remarkable impact across various domains. For instance, in disaster management, the NASA-Disaster Response Coordination System utilizes satellite imagery and GIS analytics to assess damages from natural calamities, while the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) provides real-time mapping and early warning systems. In biodiversity conservation, initiatives like Global Forest Watch (GFW) and the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) employ satellite data and spatial datasets to monitor deforestation and support conservation planning. Additionally, in urban sustainability, projects such as the Landsat Urban Heat Mapping Initiative help urban planners mitigate rising temperatures through targeted green infrastructure solutions.
This collection, "Mapping Sustainability: Geospatial Tools for Environmental Challenges," addresses critical gaps in the current literature by showcasing pioneering research that leverages geospatial technologies to confront urgent environmental issues. While existing research extensively explores geospatial methods, there is a significant need for more integrated, interdisciplinary approaches that translate data-driven insights into actionable solutions for sustainability. This collection advances the field by bridging science and policy, enhancing urban sustainability, advancing climate resilience, promoting data-driven conservation, and innovating spatial decision support systems (SDSS). Contributions that emphasize interdisciplinary research, innovative case studies, global perspectives, and policy insights are highly encouraged.
Keywords:Geospatial Technologies; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change Analysis; Biodiversity Conservation; Pollution Monitoring; Water Resource Management; Spatial Data Analytics; Sustainable Development; Ecological Resilience; Geospatial Modeling; Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS); Remote Sensing Applications; Sustainable Urban Planning; Land Use and Land Cover Change (LULC); Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); Ecosystem Monitoring; GIS-based Policy Analysis; Smart Cities and Resilient Infrastructure
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Jan 11, 2026
Please sign in or register for FREE
If you are a registered user on Research Communities by Springer Nature, please sign in
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44274-025-00404-6