Performance and social outcomes of biogas digesters: toward an integrated framework for sustainable rural development

Abstract

Biogas technology is widely promoted as a solution for clean energy access, waste management, and rural development. Yet, despite substantial investment and policy support, their performance and social outcomes remain uneven, particularly in low- and middle-income contexts. Existing studies often assess biogas digesters either from a technical perspective or through isolated social or economic impacts, limiting understanding of why many projects fail to achieve long-term sustainability. This paper presents a narrative-integrative review of household- and community-scale biogas digesters, synthesizing evidence across technical, social, institutional, and financial domains. The review draws on global case studies, with particular emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa, and explicitly includes both successful and underperforming projects. Building on this synthesis, the study develops the Integrated Biogas Sustainability Framework (IBSF), which conceptualizes biogas digesters as socio-technical systems embedded within rural livelihood structures. The framework is designed for both planning and evaluation, offering practical indicators to diagnose performance gaps and guide targeted interventions. By linking operational reliability with user engagement, governance structures, and financing mechanisms, the IBSF provides a structured approach for improving the sustainability and real-world impact of biogas initiatives. The study contributes to renewable energy research by moving beyond technology-centred assessments and offering a practical, systems-based lens for understanding and improving biogas implementation in rural settings.