1. The Future of Biomass Energy in Africa
Mercy Manyuchi, PhD
World Energy Council, Future Energy Leader
Africa Energy Indaba, Sandton, South Africa, February 2017

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

3. Types of energy from biomass

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

5. 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.

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. Biodiesel

13. 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