Bioenergy Potential Assessment of Crop Residue Biomass Resources in Africa Towards Circular Economy

Abstract

Africa accounts for only about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the lowest of any continent, yet it suffers disproportionately from the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the continent faces significant energy poverty, exacerbating its vulnerability. Due to the lack of electricity and clean cooking facilities, ~600 million and ~900 million of its population are deprived of these basic needs. Thus, this has significantly hindered both economic progress and human capital development. This study provided a comprehensive assessment of the energy potential associated with selected agricultural residues in Africa, focusing on promoting circular economy principles through bioenergy production. The study also examined the possible countries chosen based on their farming productions and bioenergy activities. The crop production data were acquired from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization Statistics database, while other necessary data were obtained from the literature and analyzed. Through a combination of empirical data analysis and modeling techniques, we estimate the energy potential of crop residues and highlight their role in promoting circular economy practices. Bioethanol production averaged 62.62 millions tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), biomethane production was 83.05 Mtoe, and solid biofuel was 139.79 Mtoe. The findings of this study offer valuable information on the feasibility and viability of utilizing agricultural residues for bioenergy production, offering potential solutions to address energy challenges while fostering environmental sustainability in Africa. Biofuels may significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions. These reductions require careful crop selection management, processing, and delivery of biofuels to the point of use Categories: Renewable Energy Systems, Bioprocess Engineering, Materials Engineering