Household Bioenergy Transitions with Alternative Biomass Feedstocks and Technologies: An Integrated System to Mitigate Environmental Risks in Western Kenya

• In Kenya, over 50% of the total primary energy consumption is from traditional solid-fuel cooking, being this a major cause of deforestation and household air pollution (HAP). Western Kenya has an agricultural biofuel feedstock of over 1.9 million Mt, which could be processed to supply cookstoves with crop-residue pellets and improved wood fallows. The sociotechnical viability of two novel bioenergy value chains were analysed using the Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning system. Three scenarios of transition to efficient cookstoves and decentralized biofuel and electricity production systems were tested. In the “Optimal scenario”, the current feedstock in the Kisumu and Siaya counties could satisfy over 80% of the cooking energy demand by 2030. Here, the net greenhouse gas emissions from charcoal production and HAP could be reduced by 87% to 12.6 thousand Mt CO2e. Further work should integrate socioeconomic indicators reflecting additional local/regional stakeholders´ collaboration channels (cost-effective) to support the bioenergy transitions. 

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Energisystem (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Energy Systems (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Skogsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Forest Science (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Agroforestry

Industrial Residues

Pellets

Advanced Cookstoves

Gasification Technologies.

environmental science

miljövetenskap

environmental science

miljövetenskap

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)