The Potential of Biomass in Africa and the Debate on Its Carbon Neutrality

Abstract

To enhance the energy security and promote energy diversity, biomass sources of energy are viable resources worldwide. Bioenergy is an organic source of power derived from various feedstock including fuel wood, energy crops, solid wastes, and residues of plants. This book chapter explores the use of biomass in Africa and the technical and economic potential of these resources for energy supply in the continent. Findings of literature revealed that the potential of biomass is high in Africa due to availability of land, its preference due to limited electricity supply and the exorbitant nature of fossil fuels, the assorted variety of energy crops suitable for growth in the continent and the green nature associated with the resource. The chapter also established that bioenergy is renewable and not carbon neutral. As such, accurate computation of its resultant greenhouse gas emissions based on their sequestration and emission rates is strongly advised to optimize biomass for energy utility and sustainability compared to conventional energy sources.

Towards a Carbon-Neutral Environment, the Role of Biomass Energy Consumption and Trade Openness in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Spatial Econometric Analysis

“…Bioenergy is the principal source of energy for approximately 2.7 billion people globally, accounting for approximately 40% of the total energy supply, particularly SSA. This share is much higher than most developing countries and it is expected to expand in the coming decades (Nyika et al, 2020). Since access to energy, particularly renewable energy, is critical for SSA, which is experiencing economic development and progress in human development, sustainable energy (Biomass) is the measure to replace the heavy dependency on fossil fuels (Gyamfi et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2020).…”

A Study on the Market Potential of Biomass-Based Micro Gas Turbines in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…The African continent has an enormous renewable energy potential which is only partially exploited, meaning that the existing innovative solutions and technologies generated for developed markets need to be tailored to the African context. It is estimated that biomass covers over 50% of the total primary energy in Africa making it the major energy vector [6]. A major issue is that at the current stage, the technologies that efficiently utilise biomass resources are not many and so, this energy vector becomes a source of health problems and deforestation, therefore, a sustainable regulation is necessary.…”

Sustainable biomass energy production and utilization in sub-Saharan Africa: A case study of Kenya

“…Africa has three distinct regions with varying energy sources; North Africa which is dependent on oil and gas, South Africa depending mainly on coal while the rest is largely reliant on bioenergy (Figure 1) (Hafner et al, 2018). Out of 28,177 petajoules (pj) of biomass energy produced and supplied in Africa, over 15,575 pj are produced and utilized in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) excluding South Africa (Nyika et al, 2020).…”

“…This indicates that biomass energy plays a vital role in meeting local energy demand in many SSA countries with over 81% of the population accounting for 653 million people in these countries depending on the resource. SSA depends especially on wood biomass for cooking, heating household and economic activities; a rate that is higher than other regions in the world (Bildiricia and Özaksoy, 2016;Nyika et al, 2020). By 2030, the population relying on biomass energy in SSA is expected to increase to 922 million, increasing its demand by between 1.4 and 2.8 times (IEA, 2011;UNEP, 2019).…”