No abstract

This study presents the feasibility of different biodegradable materials such as kitchen wastes, water hyacinth (Eichhornia sp.), green garden grass, banana (Musa acuminate) bases, Banmara (Eupatorium adenophorum) and cabbage leaves (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) for biogas production. The experiment was conducted using 0.05 m3 anaerobic bioreactor of ARTI model compact biogas technology under ambient temperature condition in Kathmandu. The minimum and maximum temperature recorded during the study period (March 1 to July 1, 2009) was ranged from10 o C to 33 o C. Total solid was found maximum (39.72 percent) in kitchen waste and minimum in cabbage leaves (8.36 percent). Volatile solid was more than 75 percent in all substrates. Organic matter ranged from 34.85 to 68.11 %. Similarly, C/N ratio was found maximum (22.57:1) in kitchen waste. Variations were observed in pH values. It was recorded between 5.7 and 6.8 in the first month but above 7 after second month of the plant installation. Burning of gas was detected after 42 days in cow dung, 52 days in water hyacinth, 80 days in kitchen waste and 70 days in banana base, Banmara, garden grass and cabbage leaves. Similarly, methane concentration after 105 days of plant installation was found to be 53 percent in cow dung, 48.8 percent in kitchen waste, 49.4 percent in water hyacinth, 24.5 percent in banana base, 38.5 percent in Banmara and 41.5 percent in garden grass. Total gas production in four months was found maximum in water hyacinth (45 l/kg TS) and minimum in cabbage (25.78 l/kg TS). The gas production in cow dung, Banana base, Banmara, garden grass and kitchen waste was therefore 41.12 l, 31.14 l, 34.02 l, 27.78 l and 32.12 l per kg of TS respectively. The purpose of designing this micro ARTI model plant was to test the feasibility of selected biodegradable materials for biogas production to be relevant in household level.Energy is the fundamental necessity for human life for physiological, mechanical, technological and economical development. Utilization of energy resources is considered as prime indicator for initiation of human civilization and development. The world energy consumption has been increased by 49 percent (1.4 percent per year) from 495 quadrillion Btu in 2007 to 739 quadrillion Btu by 2035 (U.S Energy Information Administration 2010). Energy consumption ratio by fuel type in Nepal reveals that major proportion of energy comes from traditional fuels and less than one percent is contributed by renewable energy resources (Economic Survey of Nepal 2007/08). Huge use of conventional resources in the world increases the green house gases (GHGs) emission, which is the major cause of global warming and climate change.

Achieving universal access to clean cooking requires a significant mobilization of capital to close the current funding gap of around US$7 bn per year. The clean cooking landscape has changed considerably with substantial innovation in terms of technology, business models, and services. The transition towards higher-tier, modern energy cooking (MEC) solutions provides key opportunities for innovative financing models to scale MEC globally. Transitions from cooking with polluting fuels to MEC have significant positive impacts on the environment, gender equality, and health. Impact Finance to monetize these co-benefits for MEC solutions is widely seen as an outstanding opportunity to channel funding into MEC transitions. However, except for climate funding, opportunities to channel finance for wider impact SDG benefits arising from MEC have proved challenging to realize in practice. This article explores in detail two new approaches which are taking advantage of features of digital technology to overcome some of these obstacles. It adds to the recent debate around climate finance for clean cooking and presents key learning lessons from developing and piloting the ‘Metered Methodology for Clean Cooking Devices’ as the current most accurate approach to estimate carbon savings for MEC and the ‘Clean Impact Bond (CIB)’ which aims at monetizing health and gender-co-benefits. The paper demonstrates how robust methodologies can help to accelerate funding for MEC and calls for joint approaches to standardize and streamline climate and outcome finance approaches to enhance their impact by making them more accessible for a wider range of MEC technologies, geographies, and projects.

A 31-year-old man presented to the outpatient clinic at United Mission Hospital with colicky abdominal pain and bulge over the incision site which was more prominent on coughing. There was no fever. The abdomen was soft with no tenderness over the incision site and an expansive though reducible swelling was present over the right iliac fossa. The patient had undergone open appendectomy recently for acute appendicitis twenty days back. Ultrasonography revealed a 2.21cm muscle defect- findings consistent with interstitial incisional hernia. The patient underwent exploration through the same incision site electively. The subcutaneous tissue was found to be healthy. Anatomical repair with mesh placement was done. The postoperative period was uneventful and he was discharged on third postoperative day with instructions regarding dressing, removal of sutures on tenth postoperative day and avoidance of heavy weight lifting or straining and to follow up after a month.