Difference between revisions of "Background - Cooking Energy Crisis"

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[[File:GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium small.png|left|831px|GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium|alt=GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium small.png|link=GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium]]<br/><br/><!--
  
[[File:GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium small.png|left|831px|GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium|alt=GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium small.png|link=GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium]]<br/><br/>[[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium#Basics about Cooking Energy|Basics]] | '''[[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium#Policy Advice on Cooking Energy|Policy Advice]]''' | [[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium#Planning Improved Cook Stove .28ICS.29 Interventions|Planning]] | [[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium#Designing and Implementing Improved Cookstoves .28ICS.29 Supply Interventions|Designing and Implementing (ICS Supply)]]| [[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium#Cooking Energy Technologies and Practices|Technologies and Practices]] | [[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium#Designing and Implementing Woodfuel Supply Interventions|Designing and Implementing (Woodfuel Supply)]]| [[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium#Climate Change Related Issues|Climate Change]]
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= The Challenge - Cooking Energy at the Political Level =
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In developing countries, cooking energy accounts for about 90% of all household energy consumption. Thus, cooking is the most energy intensive activity of those households. For cooking, biomass is the main source of primary energy in sub-Saharan Africa. In some countries woodfuel (firewood and charcoal) or agricultural waste account for more than 90% of total energy consumption. The woodfuel sector not only employs tens of thousands of people, it also contributes millions of dollars to local economies in the form of revenues, taxes, and incomes.
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-->{{#ifeq: {{#show: {{PAGENAME}} |?Hera category}} | Woodfuel Supply |'''[[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium#Designing and Implementing Woodfuel Supply Interventions|Designing and Implementing Woodfuel Supply]]''' {{!}} | [[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium#Designing and Implementing Woodfuel Supply Interventions|Designing and Implementing Woodfuel Supply]] {{!}} | }} <!--
  
However, as biomass and in particular wood energy is seen as “traditional”, it is seldom given high priority in energy policies and poverty alleviation strategies. While White Papers for the power and petroleum sector exist in most countries, there are few similar strategies for the traditional use of biomass in the energy sector, in particular in Eastern and Southern Africa. Some countries have implemented isolated projects to demonstrate action and some have given it new attention by assigning biomass to the “renewables” sector. But in the common case, biomass is regarded as "non-renewable" and - if regulated at all - the political ambition is aiming at substituting biomass rather than making it clean and sustainable.<br/><br/>This change of ministries' attitude from "leaving the biomass energy sector to manage itself" towards "planning for a substitution of biomass as the main fuel" has been triggered by the observation that in many African countries, biomass energy consumption has reached a stage where current supply-demand systems are no longer sustainable. Population growth, urbanization, and the intra biomass transition from firewood to charcoal (in addition to the low efficiency of carbonisation technology) is accelerating this process. In many countries the “fuelwood gap” has become a reality or at least has appeared on the horizon.<br/><br/>This situation has also been aggravated by changes in the "modern energy sector." In some countries, the subsidies on electricity have been removed and prepaid metering has been introduced. In reaction, many households have "moved down the energy ladder" and returned to cooking with charcoal. Similarly, the supply of LPG and Kerosene has experienced shortages and price increases as well, resulting in similar reactions. Hence, the heavy dependence on biomass is not expected to change dramatically over the next couple of decades.<br/><br/>To resolve the problem of unsustainable use of biomass energy, a comprehensive strategy is required. This should focus on options to improve the supply side of biomass fuels, to make the use of biomass energy more efficient, and to identify realistic substitution possiblities where possible. Even if there is sufficient political support for a comprehensive biomass energy strategy, there is commonly a lack of capacity and knowledge for its development. To make matters worse, it requires the collaboration between a variety of departments and ministries (e.g. energy, forestry, environment, agriculture, finance, etc), which can be a challenge.
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= The Challenge - Cooking Energy at the Political Level =
  
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In developing countries, cooking energy accounts for about 90% of all household energy consumption. Thus, cooking is the most energy intensive activity of those households. For cooking, biomass is the main source of primary energy in most countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In some countries woodfuel (firewood and charcoal) or agricultural waste account for more than 90% of total energy consumption. The woodfuel sector not only employs tens of thousands of people, it also contributes millions of dollars to local economies in the form of revenues, taxes, and incomes.
  
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However, as biomass and in particular wood energy is seen as “traditional”, it is seldom given high priority in energy policies and poverty alleviation strategies. While White Papers for the power and petroleum sector exist in most countries, there are few similar strategies for the traditional use of biomass in the energy sector. Some countries have implemented isolated projects to demonstrate action and some have given it new attention by assigning biomass to the “renewables” sector. But in the common case, biomass is regarded as "non-renewable" and - if regulated at all - the political ambition is aiming at substituting biomass rather than making it clean and sustainable.<br/><br/>To resolve the problem of unsustainable use of biomass energy, a comprehensive strategy is required. This should focus on options to improve the supply side of biomass fuels, to make the use of biomass energy more efficient, and to identify realistic substitution possiblities where possible. Even if there is sufficient political support for a comprehensive biomass energy strategy, there is commonly a lack of capacity and knowledge for its development. To make matters worse, it requires the collaboration between a variety of departments and ministries (e.g. energy, forestry, environment, agriculture, finance, etc), which can be a challenge.
  
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= Woodfuel Crisis =
 
= Woodfuel Crisis =
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<u>Against this backdrop, production and marketing of wood-based fuels are widely unregulated and informal, with inevitable consequences, including:</u>
 
<u>Against this backdrop, production and marketing of wood-based fuels are widely unregulated and informal, with inevitable consequences, including:</u>
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*Unchecked exploitation in open-access areas with little regard for reforestation and virtually no investment in woodfuel production
 
*Unchecked exploitation in open-access areas with little regard for reforestation and virtually no investment in woodfuel production
 
*Market prices that reflect exploitation costs only
 
*Market prices that reflect exploitation costs only
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<u>'''Wood Energy - Africa's Green Energy Future''', A film by GIZ HERA</u>
 
<u>'''Wood Energy - Africa's Green Energy Future''', A film by GIZ HERA</u>
  
GIZ Eschborn, 2010<br/>Design: Michael Netzhammer und Jörn Breiholz<br/>Responsible: Lisa Feldmann and Verena Brinkmann, GIZ HERA
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GIZ Eschborn, 2015<br/>Design: Michael Netzhammer und Jörn Breiholz<br/>Responsible: Lisa Feldmann and Verena Brinkmann, GIZ HERA
  
 
The sustainable production of wood as a renewable energy source has huge potential for Africa. The afforestation of degraded landscapes, establishment of wood plantations and the sustainable management of natural forests can all serve to increase energy security, provide access to energy, and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. The GIZ HERA -- Poverty Oriented Basic Energy Services Programme has produced and put together an audio slideshow which promotes the idea of wood energy as a modern and potentially renewable source of energy. It shows examples from different countries where wood is sustainably produced and processed efficiently for energy purposes.
 
The sustainable production of wood as a renewable energy source has huge potential for Africa. The afforestation of degraded landscapes, establishment of wood plantations and the sustainable management of natural forests can all serve to increase energy security, provide access to energy, and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. The GIZ HERA -- Poverty Oriented Basic Energy Services Programme has produced and put together an audio slideshow which promotes the idea of wood energy as a modern and potentially renewable source of energy. It shows examples from different countries where wood is sustainably produced and processed efficiently for energy purposes.
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<br/><u>available in</u>
 
<br/><u>available in</u>
  
<u>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqZV_LZ8t7s English] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7ZN42N_zlU French]</u>
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<u>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc9GuxolRmw English] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7ZN42N_zlU French]</u>
  
 
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<u>[https://energypedia.info/wiki/File:2014-03_Wood_Energy_renewable_modern_profitable_GIZ_HERA_eng.pdf Wood Energy renewable, profitable, and modern]</u>
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<u>[[File:2014-03 Wood Energy renewable modern profitable GIZ HERA eng.pdf|border|180px|Wood Energy renewable, profitable, and modern|alt=Wood Energy renewable, profitable, and modern]]</u>
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also available in <u>[https://energypedia.info/images/1/18/GTZ_2010_Boie_energie_Cribsheets-wood_energy_72.pdf french]</u>
  
 
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= References<br/> =
 
= References<br/> =
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[[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium|--> Back to Overview GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium]]
 
[[GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium|--> Back to Overview GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium]]
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{{#set:Hera category=Policy Advice}}
  
 
[[Category:Cooking_Energy]]
 
[[Category:Cooking_Energy]]
 
[[Category:Cooking_Energy_Compendium_(GIZ_HERA)]]
 
[[Category:Cooking_Energy_Compendium_(GIZ_HERA)]]

Latest revision as of 12:48, 30 April 2018

GIZ HERA Cooking Energy Compendium small.png



Cooking Energy System | Basics | Policy Advice | Planning | Designing and Implementing ICS Supply | Designing and Implementing Woodfuel Supply | Climate Change | Extra


The Challenge - Cooking Energy at the Political Level

In developing countries, cooking energy accounts for about 90% of all household energy consumption. Thus, cooking is the most energy intensive activity of those households. For cooking, biomass is the main source of primary energy in most countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In some countries woodfuel (firewood and charcoal) or agricultural waste account for more than 90% of total energy consumption. The woodfuel sector not only employs tens of thousands of people, it also contributes millions of dollars to local economies in the form of revenues, taxes, and incomes.

However, as biomass and in particular wood energy is seen as “traditional”, it is seldom given high priority in energy policies and poverty alleviation strategies. While White Papers for the power and petroleum sector exist in most countries, there are few similar strategies for the traditional use of biomass in the energy sector. Some countries have implemented isolated projects to demonstrate action and some have given it new attention by assigning biomass to the “renewables” sector. But in the common case, biomass is regarded as "non-renewable" and - if regulated at all - the political ambition is aiming at substituting biomass rather than making it clean and sustainable.

To resolve the problem of unsustainable use of biomass energy, a comprehensive strategy is required. This should focus on options to improve the supply side of biomass fuels, to make the use of biomass energy more efficient, and to identify realistic substitution possiblities where possible. Even if there is sufficient political support for a comprehensive biomass energy strategy, there is commonly a lack of capacity and knowledge for its development. To make matters worse, it requires the collaboration between a variety of departments and ministries (e.g. energy, forestry, environment, agriculture, finance, etc), which can be a challenge.


Woodfuel Crisis

In many developing countries, forest resources are under threat from overexploitation and land-use change. Consequently, forest product supplies, environmental services (soil protection, water retention, biodiversity conservation, carbon-sequestration) and social benefits, such as cultural and spiritual values, and the livelihoods of forest-dependent rural populations, are at risk. Forest policy support aims to create framework conditions conducive to sustainable forest management (SFM), in order to mobilise the forestry sector’s full potential regarding forest product supplies and environmental and social benefits.

Against this backdrop, production and marketing of wood-based fuels are widely unregulated and informal, with inevitable consequences, including:

  • Unchecked exploitation in open-access areas with little regard for reforestation and virtually no investment in woodfuel production
  • Market prices that reflect exploitation costs only
  • Highly inequitable sharing of benefits; while urban traders and freight hauliers realise substantial profits, the government gets no revenues, and rural communities face dwindling firewood supplies.


This situation adversely impacts poverty alleviation policies and puts vulnerable segments of society at risk. In many developing countries, gathering firewood is the task done by women and children, which can be a serious disadvantage to them. Despite this, the mounting woodfuel crisis has not reached high level political attention and may not become an important issue for many years to come. Until women’s workloads become intolerable, affecting rural livelihoods overall, the situation may make no impact on heads of households or community and national leaders.

At some point, firewood will get so scarce that rural households may turn to dung and crop residues as alternative sources of fuel. These factors tend to conceal the negative consequences of unsustainable firewood exploitation. By the time action is taken, irreversible destruction of the existing forest cover may have taken place. In settlement areas and urban agglomerations, the presence of impoverished people with neither land nor any ‘productive’ occupation encourages massive unregulated firewood exploitation as a source of income, which often results in concentric deforestation circles being pushed farther and farther away from the centres of consumption and demand. The trend towards commercialisation of biomass fuels (including more easily transportable loads of charcoal) further exacerbates overexploitation of forest resources. These two factors mask the increasing scarcity of firewood, pushing the entire system towards inevitable collapse.


People are generally reluctant to accept prices significantly higher than the exploitation costs and will not tolerate reduced extraction rates until firewood becomes either unavailable or its increasing scarcity provides a strong economic incentive for sustainable woodfuel production. Consequently, sustainable firewood production appears most feasible close to centres of consumption, and/or where forest degradation/deforestation problems can be easily observed. These conditions exist around many urban settlements located in semi-arid zones – such as the Sahel, or in areas of Eastern and Southern Africa.


Wood Energy - Africa's Green Energy Future, A film by GIZ HERA

GIZ Eschborn, 2015
Design: Michael Netzhammer und Jörn Breiholz
Responsible: Lisa Feldmann and Verena Brinkmann, GIZ HERA

The sustainable production of wood as a renewable energy source has huge potential for Africa. The afforestation of degraded landscapes, establishment of wood plantations and the sustainable management of natural forests can all serve to increase energy security, provide access to energy, and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. The GIZ HERA -- Poverty Oriented Basic Energy Services Programme has produced and put together an audio slideshow which promotes the idea of wood energy as a modern and potentially renewable source of energy. It shows examples from different countries where wood is sustainably produced and processed efficiently for energy purposes.


available in

English and French

Wood Energy – renewable, profitable, and modern
Talking points for lobbyists
GIZ Eschborn, 2014
Author: Steve Sepp, ECO Consulting Group
Responsible: Marlis Kees, GIZ HERA
I. Seven key-advantages of wood-based fuels
II. Principal challenges
III. Success stories

Wood Energy renewable, profitable, and modern

also available in french


References

This article was originally published by GIZ HERA. It is basically based on experiences, lessons learned and information gathered by GIZ cook stove projects. You can find more information about the authors and experts of the original “Cooking Energy Compendium” in the Imprint.



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