The document outlines the Mt. Everest Biogas Project which aims to implement an anaerobic digester at Gorak Shep, Nepal to address waste and water quality issues. It discusses accomplishments like testing that found high E. coli levels, design work showing a passive solar shelter won't work and a PV solar panel system would be required, and a two phase implementation plan. Phase 1 involves constructing a pilot system and operating it for a year, while phase 2 focuses on long term sustainability transferring ownership and providing support. The volunteer team has done technical and feasibility work but needs fundraising to start construction in 2015.

1. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
Garry C Porter
July 23, 2014
MtEverestBiogasProject.org

2. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
• The Problem
• Who are we?
• Accomplishments
• Implementation Plan
• Summary
Agenda

11. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
The Problem

12. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
Who are we?
• Can existing biogas digester design/technology be
implemented at Gorak Shep?
• If implemented, is it sustainable?
• If successful, can it be replicated?
• April 2010 meeting with Dan Mazur

14. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
If digester implemented at Gorak Shep

15. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
Value of biogas at Gorak Shep

16. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
Who are we?
• All volunteer engineering team from the Seattle, Washington area
• Key affiliations/partnerships with:
• Engineers Without Borders (EWB-Seattle)
• Architects Without Borders (AWB-Seattle)
• Department of Engineering
• University of Washington
• Seattle University
• Living Earth Institute (LEI-Seattle)
• Center for Urban Waters (University of Washington)
• Biogas Support Programme (BSP-Nepal)
• Mt. Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development (MEFSD-Nepal)
• Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC)
• Not a Business Entity
• Transparency of design

17. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
Accomplishments
• Will a biogas digester function using human waste as input media?
• What are critical performance parameters?
• Internal temperature (20-30 C)
• Digester retention time
• What is atmospheric environment of Gorak Shep?
• TMY2 data acquired for Gorak Shep
• What is the heat loss of a digester at Gorak Shep?
• Biogas digester modeled
• Heat loss model developed
• How to replace heat loss using:
• Off the shelf components
• Available in Kathmandu
• Can be transported to Gorak Shep by yak or porter
• Long term sustainable

18. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
Accomplishments
• Water quality testing conducted under NSF and AAC grant
• Gorak Shep, Luboche, Everest base camp and camp 2
• E-coli and total coliforms were 2 to 20 times the USEPA drinking standards
• Follow up tests with U. of W. Urban Water studies in 2013 and 2014
• Site Survey in May 2013
• Gorak Shep community meetings
• Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee briefing
• Biogas Sector Programme briefings
• Potential Nepal hardware suppliers
• Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Cost Estimates Developed

19. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
Design Conclusions
• Shelter required over the digester
• Effluent disposed in underground drain field
• Three feasibility designs evaluated under worst case
assumptions
• Passive Solar shelter will not provide sufficient heat
• PV solar panel array with heated water coils in digester floor
• PV solar panel and battery array with immersion coil in digester
• Design Documented in Basis of Design (BOD)
• Technical peer review being conducted in July 2014

20. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
Feasibility Designs
Heating solution must replace system heat loss
Heating solution must heat daily slurry to 30C
200 watts for digester
150 watts for heating slurry to 30C
PV solar array with heated coils in floor of digester
24 PV solar panels
Insulated water storage device
Immersion coil in water storage
Circulation pump with battery back up
PV solar and Battery array
30 PV Solar panels
24-2Volt battery pack

26. Must demonstrate economic and environmental benefits for
Gorak Shep community
Phase 1: Construction of pilot biogas system
• Hire and train 2 system operators at Gorak Shep
• Operate system with water for 1 year
• Funded and managed by Seattle based team in concert with
EWB-Seattle, AWB-Seattle and BSP-Nepal
• Requires approval by SPCC and Gorak Shep community
Phase 2: Long term sustainability and operations
• Ownership of biogas system by SPCC or tea house owners
• Provide technical/operational support with:
Seattle, EWB, SPCC and BSP team
• Operations and Maintenance funding provided by additional climber
fees
Mt. Everest Biogas Project
2 Phase Implementation Plan

27. Mt. Everest Biogas Project
Summary
• Technically the biogas digester will work at Gorak Shep
• Implementation is the challenge
• Team is committed thru construction and initial operation
• Fund raising for biogas system at Gorak Shep starts in 2014
• Construction starts in 2015
• Initial contact with climbing community is positive
• Need financial support and implementation advice
Thank you