Biogas

Clean cooking energy from school sanitation

Human waste to biogas, enabling schools with a reliable, convenient, and affordable source of energy.

Get a quote How it works
Mobile Alert Toilets biogas reactor at a school

~70%

of Kenya's household energy comes from wood fuel

20+ years

digester life cycle

6 weeks

typical installation, including construction

25 months

financing, from a 20% deposit

The problem

Poor sanitation and costly cooking fuel

Many schools in Kenya still lack proper sanitation facilities. Poorly managed pit latrines can contaminate groundwater and open drains, spreading diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid and intestinal worms. Children are hit hardest, and poor sanitation costs pupils time in education.1

At the same time, wood fuel such as firewood and charcoal still meets around 70% of Kenya's household energy needs, and institutions such as schools are significant users.2 For a school, that means a constant cost to the budget, smoke-filled kitchens, and more pressure on Kenya's forests.

The two problems share a solution: the waste a school produces every day can become the gas it cooks with.

  1. World Health Organization (2024) Sanitation: fact sheet
  2. Ndegwa G. et al. (2020) Charcoal value chains in Kenya: a 20-year synthesis. Working Paper 307, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Nairobi
Cooking on a wood fire in a school kitchen School latrines

Our solution

How it works

One system that fixes sanitation and replaces firewood at the same time.

  1. 1

    Pour-flush latrines

    We build affordable pour-flush latrines using recycled materials, or convert existing latrines into pour-flush systems.

  2. 2

    Biogas reactor

    Waste from the latrines, plus food waste from the school kitchen, goes into our reactor, where biological reactions generate methane gas.

  3. 3

    Clean cooking gas

    The gas is captured and used for cooking in the school kitchen, replacing firewood. A smart meter monitors system health.

  4. 4

    Garden fertiliser

    The remaining digestate is collected, further treated and used to water gardens and hedges around the school.

Why MAT biogas

The benefits

20+ year life cycle

Durable biogas digesters built to last.

6-week installation

Typical installation time, including construction.

Lower energy costs

A reliable, convenient and affordable energy source that reduces reliance on firewood.

Better hygiene

A sustainable method of waste management that significantly improves sanitation and hygiene in schools.

Complete ecosystem

Biogas stoves, grills and food crushers, all from MAT.

Built for each client

Fast construction and installation, bespoke to each client, incorporating recycled materials.

Training & support

Training, maintenance and ongoing support to keep systems running smoothly and efficiently.

Circular economy

Contributes to UN SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

In the field

Our installations

Flexible financing for schools

Start with a 20% deposit, then pay the rest in equal monthly instalments over 25 months. Schools can switch to a cleaner, more efficient fuel and better on-site sanitation without a large upfront cost.

You must meet all the requirements set out by the bank to qualify for the loan. Terms and conditions apply.

Ask about financing

Get a quote

Our flexible and scalable biogas reactors are built around your budget and requirements. Tell us about your school and we'll find the right solution.

Contact us