been estimated to possibly provide energy equivalent to 4.2 EJ, i.e. more than
one-fourth of current solid biomass use in SSA (IRENA 2015). Five SSA countries
(Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda) have a combined bioenergy
potential equal to 117% and 190% of their projected energy needs in 2050 for
transport and heat/power, respectively (IRENA 2017).
1 Furthermore, there is substantial potential in SSA to harness biogas both in commercial/industrial settings and
at the household level. It is estimated that 18.5 million African households have
sufficient dung and water for biogas production (IRENA 2015).
Considering the high bioenergy potential in SSA and the multiple significant
sustainability impacts from traditional biomass, the transition to modern bioenergy is
important in achieving the long-term development goals embodied in the sustainable
development goals (SDGs) and the African Union Vision 2063 (AUC 2015)
(Chap. 1 Vol. 1). It is possible that the speed and nature of bioenergy transitions
are connected to many other sustainability issues, such that improved understanding
of these connections can inform the design of appropriate programmes and policies.
However, catalysing and achieving sustainable bioenergy transitions pose major
challenges for most SSA countries. Indeed there have not been major developments
in modern bioenergy pathways outside of selected cases and countries such as
ethanol in Malawi or bagasse cogeneration in Mauritius and South Africa (Johnson
and Matsika 2006; Batidzirai and Johnson 2012; Gasparatos et al. 2015) (see Chap. 3
Vol. 1; Chap. 5 Vol. 2). A host of reasons such as low levels of technology adoption,
immature markets and widespread poverty pose major barriers for the transition to
modern bioenergy. However, there is a need to make some basic distinctions before
considering how to catalyse such a transition.
First, the distinction between “traditional” and “modern” bioenergy is sometimes
mistakenly assumed to be a technical issue. In fact, this distinction primarily relates
to the improved energy services obtained and new applications developed (Bazilian
et al. 2010; Chum et al. 2011; Smeets et al. 2012). Traditional biomass only provides
heat or light that is difficult to regulate, often in open fires or simple household stoves
that result in high levels of incomplete combustion and the release of indoor air
pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs). Conversely, modern bioenergy offers
higher quality energy services across different carriers (i.e. solid, liquid, gas, electricity) that can be better matched to end-user needs (Faaij 2006; Macqueen and
Korhaliller 2011). Nevertheless, the efficiency improvements of modern bioenergy
become quite significant when considering the entire supply chain. This is because
the same amount of raw materials can provide much higher amounts of useful
energy, thus reducing environmental and economic costs. Some fuels and applications, such as improved fuelwood/charcoal stoves and small-scale biogas systems,
can be seen as an intermediate stage between traditional and modern energy, in that
1 It is worth noting that apart from contributing to energy security, well-developed biofuel crop
systems such as those based on sugarcane can offer poverty reduction benefits and create long-term
livelihood opportunities within rural landscapes that otherwise might not have other major economic opportunities (Mudombi et al. 2018a; von Maltitz et al. 2019) (Chap. 3 Vol. 1; Chap. 5
Vol. 2).
2 Enabling Sustainable Bioenergy Transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strategic. . .
53
one-fourth of current solid biomass use in SSA (IRENA 2015). Five SSA countries
(Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda) have a combined bioenergy
potential equal to 117% and 190% of their projected energy needs in 2050 for
transport and heat/power, respectively (IRENA 2017).
1 Furthermore, there is substantial potential in SSA to harness biogas both in commercial/industrial settings and
at the household level. It is estimated that 18.5 million African households have
sufficient dung and water for biogas production (IRENA 2015).
Considering the high bioenergy potential in SSA and the multiple significant
sustainability impacts from traditional biomass, the transition to modern bioenergy is
important in achieving the long-term development goals embodied in the sustainable
development goals (SDGs) and the African Union Vision 2063 (AUC 2015)
(Chap. 1 Vol. 1). It is possible that the speed and nature of bioenergy transitions
are connected to many other sustainability issues, such that improved understanding
of these connections can inform the design of appropriate programmes and policies.
However, catalysing and achieving sustainable bioenergy transitions pose major
challenges for most SSA countries. Indeed there have not been major developments
in modern bioenergy pathways outside of selected cases and countries such as
ethanol in Malawi or bagasse cogeneration in Mauritius and South Africa (Johnson
and Matsika 2006; Batidzirai and Johnson 2012; Gasparatos et al. 2015) (see Chap. 3
Vol. 1; Chap. 5 Vol. 2). A host of reasons such as low levels of technology adoption,
immature markets and widespread poverty pose major barriers for the transition to
modern bioenergy. However, there is a need to make some basic distinctions before
considering how to catalyse such a transition.
First, the distinction between “traditional” and “modern” bioenergy is sometimes
mistakenly assumed to be a technical issue. In fact, this distinction primarily relates
to the improved energy services obtained and new applications developed (Bazilian
et al. 2010; Chum et al. 2011; Smeets et al. 2012). Traditional biomass only provides
heat or light that is difficult to regulate, often in open fires or simple household stoves
that result in high levels of incomplete combustion and the release of indoor air
pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs). Conversely, modern bioenergy offers
higher quality energy services across different carriers (i.e. solid, liquid, gas, electricity) that can be better matched to end-user needs (Faaij 2006; Macqueen and
Korhaliller 2011). Nevertheless, the efficiency improvements of modern bioenergy
become quite significant when considering the entire supply chain. This is because
the same amount of raw materials can provide much higher amounts of useful
energy, thus reducing environmental and economic costs. Some fuels and applications, such as improved fuelwood/charcoal stoves and small-scale biogas systems,
can be seen as an intermediate stage between traditional and modern energy, in that
1 It is worth noting that apart from contributing to energy security, well-developed biofuel crop
systems such as those based on sugarcane can offer poverty reduction benefits and create long-term
livelihood opportunities within rural landscapes that otherwise might not have other major economic opportunities (Mudombi et al. 2018a; von Maltitz et al. 2019) (Chap. 3 Vol. 1; Chap. 5
Vol. 2).
2 Enabling Sustainable Bioenergy Transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strategic. . .
53