Biofuels
Putting together the Green Jigsaw
Access to secure, sustainable and affordable energy is an essential component of achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and a prerequisite for sustainable development in developing countries, yet many African countries are still unable to provide reliable energy services.
- Africa currently has the lowest per capita usage electricity usage of any region in the world. In rural areas, only 10% of rural dwellers have access.
- Most electricity is provided by state-owned utilities.
- Most electricity production in Africa relies on large hydropower systems or fossil fuels, including gas-fired power stations operated by private ‘independent power producers’ under long-term contracts.
- Wood, charcoal and firewood are often the only sources of domestic fuel, and the ever-increasing use of these natural resources is damaging the environment through deforestation and subsequent soil degradation. Through unsustainable use of biomass, it has been estimated that Africa is losing more than four million hectares of forest every year.
- Diesel generators provide an increase in power supply to the grids when needed. They are also used by businesses and some households who are not connected to the grid.
Apart from the environmental damage, the World Health Organization estimates that 400,000 people, mainly women and children, die in every year in Africa as a result of the effects of indoor air pollution. Biofuels offer these countries some prospect of self-reliant energy supplies at national and local levels with potential economic, ecological, social and security benefits.
Decentralised small-scale bioenergy production units based on CHP (co-generation) technologies may provide a pathway to a more sustainable future. A key feature of decentralisation of energy generation is localisation of ownership, management, production, and marketing of bioenergy and related products, which might be amenable for remote communities.
G8 leaders meeting in 2007 issued a direct charge that all nations must increase their use of CHP to deliver a “clean, clever and competitive energy future”.
Biofuels represents a wide spectrum of different types of energy carrier with a myriad of applications able to power complex high-energy societies, from transportation through to food and feed.
In the present climate biofuels are attractive because they are derived from plant biomass which is formed by capturing solar energy and combining this with CO2 to make carbohydrates and thence other forms of energy-dense polymers.
A large part of the energy market in Africa comprises rural communities that could be serviced with decentralised small-scale CHP units operating in the range 20-100kW, and operated on locally-sourced biofuel.
However biofuels require land, water and nutrients. With the global population continuing to increase (~1.5% per annum) should biofuels be used as fuel as food or fuel for transport?
Twenty six biofuel case studies were developed in Namibia, Ghana, South Africa, UK and Italy over the period 2012-2013 in order to better understand
- Where society’s agricultural outputs should be best directed i.e. food, feed or fuel?
- What progress was being made to extract energy from organic watery wastes?
- What elements/which stakeholder types are important for adopting bioenergy generation systems?
Case studies were selected that either supported or adopted biofuel technologies or the biofuel supply chain. The aim was to assess:
- Impact on jobs, women in society, wealth creation
- Impact on agricultural practice
- Contribution of stakeholders (government, local authorities, regulators, other) in the biofuel supply chain.
Resources to prepare interviewees carrying out the interrogation of stakeholders included:
Case studies that are reported here are listed below:
Case Study |
Case Study |
Country |
Reporter |
1 |
Integrated Algae Pond System (IAPS) to Energy System (EBRU/Fort Hare University) |
South Africa |
Prudence Mambo |
2 |
Community Biogas (Three Crowns School) |
South Africa |
Lwazikazi Madikiza |
3 |
Biodiesel from canola (PhytoEnergy) |
South Africa |
Dirk Westensee |
4 |
Bio-Ethanol Plant |
South Africa |
Lerato Sekhohola |
5 |
Ethanol from sorghum (Mabele Fuels) |
South Africa |
Reporter Prudence Mambo |
6 |
Biogas producer in Ferrara called Scaramagli |
Europe Italy |
|
7 |
Sungas Producer in Sicily called Bioalmond |
Europe Italy |
|
8 |
Bioethanol production (sugar beet) - British Sugar |
Europe UK |
Katie Thompson |
9 |
CHP Plant Helius CoRDe |
Europe UK |
Katie Thompson |
10 |
Bioethanol production (wheat) - Ensus |
Europe UK |
Katie Thompson |
11 |
Bioethanol production (gasification) Vivergo |
Europe UK |
Katie Thompson |
13 |
Dunaliella - Glycerol Swakopmund |
Namibia |
Philip Hooks |
14 |
Biogas Henties Bay |
Namibia |
A Namwoonde |
15 |
Bush to Electricity Otavi |
Namibia |
Detlof Oertzen |
16 |
Jatropha |
Namibia |
Katima Mulilo |
17 |
Jatropha Biofuels Developments 2003-2013 An Industry Perspective from Ghana Emergence, and Potential |
Ghana |
Clive Coker & Ohene Akoto |
18 |
Jatropha Africa Limited |
Ghana |
Mr. George Kwadwo Appiah |
19 |
Biofuels Africa Limited |
Ghana |
Mr. George Kwadwo Appiah |
20 |
KIMMINIC Company Limited |
Ghana |
Mr. George Kwadwo Appiah |
21 |
ScanFuel (or ScanFarms) Ghana Limited |
Ghana |
Mr. George Kwadwo Appiah |
22 |
Tropical Agricultural Marketing Consultancy Service (TRAGRIMACS) |
Ghana |
Mr. George Kwadwo Appiah |
23 |
Biogas Engineering Limited |
Ghana |
Mr. George Kwadwo Appiah |
24 |
Beta Construction Engineering Limited (BCEL) |
Ghana |
Mr. George Kwadwo Appiah |
25 |
Institute of Industrial Research (IIR) Biogas Venture |
Ghana |
Mr. George Kwadwo Appiah |
26 |
Biogas Plant (Tema International School – Ghana) |
Ghana |
Dr Lawrence Darkwah |