Biomass energy combined with innovative technologies, efficient governance and social awareness can assist African countries to achieve environmental sustainability and strengthen energy security, writes Adeel Rana.

As the global concerns over climate change and energy sustainability surge, the search for alternative energy sources has become vital, particularly in developing countries. In this context, biomass energy or bioenergy, a renewable energy source attained through burning different organic materials is emerging as an efficient solution. Bioenergy sources include freshwater habitats, oceans and the land. Due to its abundance in developing countries, biomass is a cost-effective energy solution for various domestic activities. By converting biomass into gaseous, liquid and solid fuels, it is used in vehicles, electricity production, heat generation and for industrial processes. Notably, the carbon neutral nature of biomass makes it an environment friendly and clean energy. This characterises bioenergy as a perfect substitute for fossil fuels and an effective remedy to mitigate the intensity of climate change. Organic material (forest residues, agriculture and municipal waste) hold the potential to generate 10 times more energy as compared to the other prevalent energy sources.

However, there are challenges to utilising biomass energy. Extensive consumption of biomass materials may reduce the forest cover, contaminate the waterways, create food insecurity and threaten biodiversity. Additionally, biomass usage can create negative health and environmental impacts. For instance, in homes, traditional smoky stoves are used to burn the bio-feedstock that causes hazardous pollutant emissions like carbon monoxide, black carbon, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide. These pollutants damage the environment, and their persistent exposures cause serious respiratory health problems in children and adults.

In Africa, a large part of the population relies on biomass feedstock (plants, wood, animal manure, municipal waste) to fulfil the domestic energy needs. The share of biomass energy is nearly 50 per cent of the total energy usage in two-thirds of the African countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 80 per cent of the people use agricultural residuals, animal waste, firewood and charcoal to acquire energy for cooking and other domestic activities. Whereas in Northern and Southern Africa 0.22 per cent and 8.40 per cent of people consume biomass energy respectively.

According to the International Energy Agency, one billion people in Africa will be using wood-based biomass as a primary energy source until 2030. With the surge in biomass usage, the adverse health consequences are also anticipated to severely accelerate. In this scenario, to alleviate the perilous impacts of biomass energy on health, ecosystems, and to accumulate the potential of biomass for sustainable economic development, African governments must develop integrated policy frameworks at the national and regional levels related to biomass energy usage.  

People should be encouraged to use the latest biomass stoves by providing subsidies and creating massive social awareness. The modified stoves require less bio-feedstock and help to lower the indoor pollution. In a recent study on Rwanda, it is revealed that modern stoves have lowered the volume of havoc pollutants by 90 per cent.

Likewise, biofuels must be prioritised in the region’s transport sector. Biofuels are less expensive and generate less environmental pollution as compared to fossil fuels. It will ameliorate the environmental quality and reduce the trade deficits of the African countries as well which is also a serious issue of these countries.

In the same way, electricity generation by using the organic material may help African countries to ensure energy security. Statistics show that in Sub-Saharan Africa, around 600 million people lack access to electricity. Electricity generation through biomass can significantly lower this number and enhance the productivity of workers.

Besides, the governments of this region through lucrative policies must strive to draw domestic and transnational investments in the bioenergy sector. The development of this sector will generate employment opportunities and reduce poverty. Moreover, by improving dysfunctional governance and implementing stringent regulations, efficient utilisation of natural resources in a sustainable manner can be possible. The governments must also employ advanced data collection mechanisms in the bioenergy sector for desired policy outcomes.     

Biomass energy has the capacity to be a game changer for Africa to address the interlinked challenges of environmental sustainability, energy security and much desired economic development. In addition, these countries can also meet Sustainable Development Goals by efficient utilisation of biomass.

Photo credit: Statkraft used with permission CC BY-NC-ND 2.0