C. Potential of Carbonized Briquettes for the Woodfuel Supply in Sub-Saharan Africa. Timothy Namaswa
Channel: ISTF-Global
Date: 2023-10-28

Potential of Carbonized Briquettes to Enhance Sustainability in Woodfuel Supply in Sub-Saharan Africa. Timothy Namaswa, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Kenya

Carbonized briquettes from agricultural residues could reduce woodfuel demand and deforestation by providing energy that could otherwise be provided by woodfuel. This paper estimated the potential of carbonized briquettes as a source of energy in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using secondary data. SSA experienced a woodfuel supply-demand deficit of 55.4% by 2022. Annually, SSA generated 469.36 x 106 t yr-1 of surplus residues, that could produce 221.09 x106 t yr-1 of biochar, with the potential of 1700.26 x 106 GJ yr-1 of energy that could otherwise be generated by 249.33 x 106 t yr-1 of wood, that is equivalent to 11.2% of annual woodfuel demand.

Timothy Wekesa Namaswa is a commonwealth scholar from Kenya, working as a research scientist at Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) under National Forest Products Research Programme. Currently, Mr Namaswa is a PhD student in Plant Science at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, specializing in optimization of biochar production from most common crop residues in Sub-Saharan Africa for bioenergy production and soil amelioration for sustainable development.