The Future of Biomass Energy in Africa Mercy Manyuchi, PhD World Energy Council, Future Energy Leader Africa Energy Indaba, Sandton, South Africa, 20-22 February 2017

Energy usage in Africa * Biomass refers to combustible renewables (mainly fuelwood, charcoal and agro-residues) and waste Source: IEA, 2008

Types of energy from biomass

Bio pellets 80% of the rural communities rely on charcoal and fuel wood (ieed, 2013) References

Biopellets raw material sources Waste based Animal manures (household biogas), molasses (ethanol), sugar bagasse* (cogeneration) Coffee, tea, municipal wastes, rice husks, sugar bagasse*, horticultural wastes, wheat straws, molasses*, market wastes, saw dust, abattoir wastes,. Plant based Fuelwood and charcoal extensively used Sweet sorghum, water hyacinths, cassava and other liquid biofuels.

Biogas Biogas recovery has a 4 fold advantage of producing heat for cooking food, electricity for lighting/entertainment Using biogas for cooking improves in-door-air quality Reduces workload by saving time spent in looking for firewood to cook It improves education for children in rural areas where there is not access to electricity Substitutes woodfuel and charcoal use It improves household hygiene and health conditions of the users Reduces GHGs and offers an opportunity for selling carbon credits Larger units help improve agricultural production

Examples of biogas initiatives References Rethinking Biomass Energy in Sub Sahara Africa 2009

Biogas distribution statistics Country Number distributed Tanzania >1000 Kenya 500 Botswana 215 Burundi 279 Zimbabwe 200 Lesotho 40 Burkina Faso 20 South Africa 300 Source: Karekezi and Kityhyoma, 2003

Opportunities for liquid biofuels Improvement of agricultural returns and rural economies Value addition of agricultural produce Improvement of local infrastructure Reduction on oil imports Reduction of GHGs from fossil oil emissions Improvement of the health of women and children (in-door-air) Conservation of soils susceptible to erosion Conservation of the forests and environment Investments in biofuels could facilitate transfer of technology

Key Drivers of Bioethanol Energy security Reduction of oil imports High oil prices Environmental commitments Rural development opportunities

Ethanol production in Africa Country Annual production (million litres) Egypt 30 Kenya 15 Mauritius 23 Nigeria South Africa 410 Swaziland 13 Zimbabwe 25 Other Africa 92 Total 638 Source: FO Lichts, 2007 Malawi ~ 18 Ml/yr

Biodiesel

Challenges for biomass energy Lack of clear, objective Government policy implementation Fragmented incompatible sectoral policies Lack of biomass energy resource potential assessment/mapping Quick-return biomass projects that compromise other natural resource use options and the environment Lack of technical know-how/capacity Current incentives not good enough for investors Biomass – ‘a poor man’s, dirty and domestic energy source’ mentality