BioLPG for Clean Cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa: Present and Future Feasibility of Technologies, Feedstocks, Enabling Conditions and Financing

Energy supply for clean cooking is a priority for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, i.e., propane or butane or a mixture of both) is an economically efficient, cooking energy solution used by over 2.5 billion people worldwide and scaled up in numerous low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Investigation of the technical, policy, economic and physical requirements of producing LPG from renewable feedstocks (bioLPG) finds feasibility at scale in Africa. Biogas and syngas from the circular economic repurposing of municipal solid waste and agricultural waste can be used in two groundbreaking new chemical processes (Cool LPG or Integrated Hydropyrolysis and Hydroconversion (IH2)) to selectively produce bioLPG. Evidence about the nature and scale potential of bioLPG presented in this study justifies further investment in the development of bioLPG as a fuel that can make a major contribution toward enabling an SSA green economy and universal energy access. Techno-economic assessments of five potential projects from Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda illustrate what might be possible. BioLPG technology is in the early days of development, so normal technology piloting and de-risking need to be undertaken. However, fully developed bioLPG production could greatly reduce the public and private sector investment required to significantly increase SSA clean cooking capacity

ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science INFLUENCE OF STORAGE DURATION OF JATROPHA CURCAS SEED ON OIL YIELD AND FREE FATTY ACID CONTENT

ABSTRACT Interest in biodiesel as an alternate fuel for diesel engines has increased in recent years. An important consideration in selection of feedstock for biodiesel production is the content of free fatty acid (FFA) in the oil. However, the FFA is affected by the storage duration and condition of the feedstock before extraction. This paper investigates the effect of storage period of Jatropha seeds on the oil yield and FFA content of the extracted oil. The study was carried out for a period of four (4) months. The FFA content and seed oil yield was determined before storage as control and regularly at monthly intervals. 50g of seed samples at an initial moisture content of 6.39% wb stored at room temperature and milled using a grinding machine to a particle size of 0.5mm. The Soxhlet extractor was used to extract the oil using petroleum ether as solvent. At average marginal moisture increase of 0.1% over the storage period, oil yield decreased significantly from 35.57% to 31.1%. Conversely, the FFA content (%) which is one of the critical parameters in the biodiesel production process also increased from 7.83% to 32.1%. The study concludes that, storage duration and improper handling of Jatropha seeds during storage have an effect on the quality viz. FFA content of the extracted crude oil for biodiesel production

How climate policies can translate to tangible change: Evidence from eleven low- and lower-middle income countries

Formally adopting climate change mitigation policies does not necessarily translate to tangible change on the ground. Here, we analyse 31 semi-structured interviews with climate policy government officials and consultants from 11 low-income and lower-middle income countries (LMICs) as well as the respective climate policy context, and find high average degrees of perceived discrepancies between formally adopted climate change mitigation policies and their actual implementation. Our results suggest that for our LMIC sample, both the global political process to limit climate change and domestic environmental threats have been key to drive the formal adoption of climate change mitigation policies, but have had limited effect on implementation. By contrast, momentum for implementation of climate change mitigation initiatives and projects on the ground emerges where climate policies are firmly embedded within economic and social development policies, the economy and society are comparably well-positioned to embrace the associated change, and where they have been governed by cross-ministerial institutions capable of implementing wider climate-compatible development pathways. Thus, to help translate climate policy into action, national LMIC governments and the international community need to find context-specific ways to successfully integrate climate with economic and social development policies, identify and build on feasible opportunities and competitive advantages through which the local economy can benefit from green growth, build adequate social capital, and actively create institutional spaces and processes for well-equipped and meaningful cross-ministerial co-benefit governance. The importance of unlocking co-benefits for implementing climate policies underlines both the urgency with which the international community needs to increase finance for LMICs for climate change mitigation, as well as the associated development opportunities

Biochar as a soil amendment tool: effects on soil properties and yield of maize and cabbage in Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana.

Ghana's soil is continuously declining in fertility due to continuous cultiva- tion and rapid mineralization of its soil organic matter. Previous studies have touted the potential of biochar to help improve soil properties and increase the yield of crops. This study investigated the effects of the application of bi- ochar on physicochemical properties of soil and the yield of maize and cab- bage in Ghana. The study indicated that application of biochar significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM) from 3.88% (for control) to 5.72% (for biochar application rate 20 ton/ha and 0 ton/ha of NPK). It also increased soil pH from 6.55 in (for control) to 7.30 (for biochar application rate 20 ton/ha) and 0 ton/ha of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) which can help ameliorate the soil acidity problem of Ghanaian soils. This field study, demonstrated that addition of biochar from sawdust increased the yield (be- tween the control (0 ton/ha of biochar, 0% of recommended dose of NPK) and 20 ton/ha, 0% recommended dose of NPK) of maize and cabbage by 6.66% and 7.57% respectively. This study concluded that application of bio- char offers a great potential to improve soil quality and the yield of maize and cabbage in Ghana

Supply Considerations for Scaling Up Clean Cooking Fuels for Household Energy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Promoting access to clean household cooking energy is an important subject for policy making in low‐ and middle‐income countries, in light of urgent and global efforts to achieve universal energy access by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 7). In 2014, the World Health Organization issued “Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Household Fuel Combustion”, which recommended a shift to cleaner fuels rather than promotion of technologies that more efficiently combust solid fuels. This study fills an important gap in the literature on transitions to household use of clean cooking energy by reviewing supply chain considerations for clean fuel options in low‐ and middle‐income countries. For the purpose of this study, we consider electricity, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), alcohol fuels, biogas, and compressed biomass pellets burned in high performing gasifier stoves to be clean fuel options. Each of the clean fuels reviewed in this study, as well as the supply of electricity, presents both constraints and opportunities for enhanced production, supply, delivery, and long‐term sustainability and scalability in resource‐poor settings. These options are reviewed and discussed together with policy and regulatory considerations to help in making these fuel and energy choices available and affordable. Our hope is that researchers, government officials and policy makers, and development agencies and investors will be aided by our comparative analysis of these clean household energy choices.Key PointsDesigning effective energy policies that support and accelerate transitions to clean cooking fuels is a top global priorityCountries depend on a portfolio of fuels for cooking and should plan an optimal mix of clean fuels, both in the medium and long‐termRisk and sustainability of cookfuel supply chains depend on multiple factors that ultimately influence long‐term viability and scalePeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153562/1/gh2133.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153562/2/gh2133_am.pd