Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Eco-gas is a business creation project that aims at providing affordable and renewable fuel by capitalizing on biomass in this Methane which is the main gas emitted by fermentation of human and agriculture waste like cow dung and chicken dropping.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

The project aims at working with farmers to get the main raw material that is the animal dropping, the waste will then be put in biodigesters for the fermentation process to get methane but since the process produces other gases there will be a separation process that will allow for the compression of the methane gas in its purest form into cylinders for sale to the general public. The other gases that include carbon dioxide can in return be packaged separately and sold off as by-product of the process and utilize that as separate income flow for the project. Alternatively the same process can be utilized for human waste in urban setup to help in matters of sanitation.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The project will be beneficial in giving low-income individuals access to green renewable and affordable fuel to utilize at home reducing their dependancy on fuels like charcoal and wood. The project also has an enviromental impact as it helps reduce the methane emissions in the agricultural sector which has been cited by scientist around the world as a contributor to global warming. the project also helps in matters sanitation as it can work with human waste in urban setups creating an alternative disposal method for the waste.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Affordable cooking fuel Helps with waste disposal in cities Job creation for both blue and white collar categories Value addition

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Eco-gas aims at impacting the general public in matters cooking in the kitchen or even electricity production in remote homes where the national grid is unreliable. the project will also impact the industrial sector that need carbon dioxide for their operation. Farmers will also benefit as they will get a market to sell waste manure from their livestock and also get usable organic manure for their farms in terms of the sludge produced in the end of the production process. In urban setups sanitation will be improved as the project will introduce a better disposal option for waste management companies.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-01-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

she is an agricultural and bio-systems engineering student at Jomo Kenyatta university, she is smart, good at improvising and her input into the engineering of the project is crucial for the operations.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

2

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Technically the project won't really lead to zero hunger but will have some effects in promoting sustainable agriculture where farmers benefit even on the manure produced by their livestock. The food produced will also have improved nutrition somewhat because of the sludge by-product which will be distributed to agricultural farms to promote organic farming.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

The start-up will promote good well-being and health as it helps majority of homes transition from the usual charcoal and firewood fuels to methane gas. the above mentioned sources of fuel tend to produce a lot of smoke that ends to affect the lives of the users by affecting their lungs and even eyes. Additionally, methane can be used to provide electricity in homes which will provide a better green and non-toxic alternatives for lighting homes moving away from use of kerosene and the likes.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

The start-up helps promote the affordable energy access to many individuals both in rural and urban areas. This will be achieved more effectively as the product gets mass adoption that help lower the operational cost and also because the raw materials needed for the project are easily accessible and relatively easy to process.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

4

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Our cities will become sustainable when we all learn how to manage our waste in a responsible manner, the project provides on of many ways to do that to help improve the living conditions of those living in those cities.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

The project promote a circular economy as it provides an efficient waste utilization. Both agricultural and human biomass is used to generate a usable gas in households and industries and the waste produced after that can be used by farmers as an organic fertilizers enriching their soil ensuring that nothing is left to waste

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

With regards to climate the project helps in reducing the methane emissions that are released to the environment from agricultural and human biomass.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

3

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

2

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

3

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

4

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

5

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

3

05.08 Justification

I believe this project is bot innovative and unique because of how it utilizes waste to provide a product that isn't in the market while also encouraging adoption of a circular economy. The method we are using is already in existence and is used by different individuals for their own needs but for us its matter of maximizing the potential that this project has and increasing the number of individuals who can benefit from it.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

The main competitor will be other energy providing companies that mainly deal with household gas manufacturing and sales. Our unique selling point will be how affordable we can make our product, how accessible it is and also the versatility in the application of the gas to meet various needs like electricity and cooking and automotive fuel.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

no