Difference between revisions of "Sandbox"

From energypedia
***** (***** | *****)
m
Tag: 2017 source edit
***** (***** | *****)
m
Tag: 2017 source edit
Line 198: Line 198:
 
|}
 
|}
 
</div>
 
</div>
<div id="Ethanol">
+
<div id="Biogas">
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"  
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"  
 
|-  
 
|-  

Revision as of 13:19, 7 September 2022

Summary Availability & Cost Stoves/Appliances Health, Safety and Environment Opportunities Limitations
Biomass and Biomass-based Fuels
Wood
Firewood is a traditional cooking fuel, culturally accepted in many contexts and the smoke produced from the burning of wood can flavour foods - Firewood not always available to displaced communities

- Where readily available, firewood can be collected at high environmental cost and social cost (friction with the community, gender-based violence while collecting etc.)

- Where demand for firewood is high and there is limited availability, cost can be relatively high

- Firewood bans are becoming a popular tool to reduce deforestation

- Where firewood bans are in place, it may be unavailable or relatively expensive as sold through the black market

Stove Types:

- Three Stone Fire, Improved Mud Stove, Improved Cookstoves

Availability and Costs:

- Three stone fires are open fires and although they have no financial cost.

- Improved mud stoves can be produced relatively cheaply where appropriate clay soils are readily available and thus, likely to achieve higher adoption. They provide Tier performance and have room for further efficiency improvement to achieve quality standards for clean cooking.

(see MTF framework below).


- Improved cookstoves can be produced locally or are available from international suppliers relatively cheaply, although generally costs increase as higher quality standards are achieved

- Collection of firewood can put women and children at risk of sexual gender-based violence

- Cookstoves with a low tier of performance causes high levels of indoor air pollution and associated health concerns (e.g. respiratory diseases, eye irritation, etc.)

- Cooking on open fire poses risk of burns and fires

- Uncontrolled exploitation of firewood can lead to deforestation and environmental degradation

- Competing demands for a limited resource can lead to friction between the host and displaced communities

- In instances where biomass is non-renewably collected, improved cookstoves can contribute positively to climate change by reducing the emissions.

- Improved cookstoves are more available than alternative clean cook stoves in most contexts

- Many commercially made improved cookstoves are more efficient than three-stone fires and some (Tier 4) also meet most of the international quality standards  

- Improved cookstoves have relatively lower price and higher uptake compared to alternative clean cookstoves

- Most improved cookstoves do not meet the quality standard for clean cooking, particularly if used improperly

- Improved cookstoves are dependent on biomass fuel sources, many of which are unsustainably grown and collected

- Handcrafted cookstoves cannot guarantee quality standards, and consequently it is impossible to quantify their impact

- Although sustainably managed wood lots are possible, the size of the land required is generally prohibitive with regards to meeting the demands of a displaced community in its entirety (this includes households, businesses and institutions)

Summary Availability & Cost Stoves/Appliances Health, Safety and Environment Opportunities Limitations
Biomass and Biomass-based Fuels
Charcoal
Charcoal is a traditional cooking fuel, culturally accepted in many contexts and the smoke produced from the burning of charcoal can flavour foods

Heat from the burning of charcoal is transferred through radiation (not convection as with firewood) so requires a different stove design from that associated to firewood stoves

- Charcoal is not always available to displaced communities

- Where readily available, charcoal can be purchased relatively cheaply

- Where demand for charcoal is high and there is limited availability, cost can be relatively high

- Charcoal bans are becoming an increasingly popular tool to reduce deforestation (incl. In displacement settings)

- Where charcoal bans are in place, it may be unavailable or relatively expensive as sold through the black market

Stove Types:

- Traditional Charcoal Stove, Improved Cookstoves

Availability and Costs:

- Improved cookstoves can be produced locally or are available from international suppliers relatively cheaply, although generally costs increase as higher quality standards are achieved

- Cookstoves with a low tier of performance can lead to high levels of indoor pollution and associated health concerns

- Use of charcoal stoves in poorly ventilated shelters can lead to death though the build-up of carbon monoxide

- Uncontrolled production of charcoal can lead to deforestation and environmental degradation

- In instances where charcoal is not produced in a sustainable manner, improved cookstoves can contribute to climate change

- Improved cookstoves are widely available in most contexts - Most improved cookstoves do not meet the quality standard for clean cooking, particularly if used improperly

- Improved cookstoves are dependent on biomass fuel sources, many of which are unsustainably collected

- Handcrafted cookstoves cannot guarantee quality standards, and consequently it is impossible to quantify their impact

- Although sustainably produced charcoal is possible, the size of the land required is generally prohibitive with regards to meeting the demands of a displaced community in its entirety

Summary Availability & Cost Stoves/Appliances Health, Safety and Environment Opportunities Limitations
Biomass and Biomass-based Fuels
Pellets/Briquettes
Pellets and briquettes are the result of compacting loose biomass (including charred biomass) into a uniform product, which may require the addition of a binder, to achieve energy densification (less volume for the same amount of energy output) - Pellets and briquettes may not be readily available in displacement contexts

- Pellets and briquettes may not be the cheapest source of cooking energy and may require some form of subsidy to make them an ‘affordable’ solution

Stove Types:

Improved Cookstoves, Gasification Stove

Availability and Costs:

- Improved cookstoves can be produced locally or are available from international suppliers relatively cheaply, although generally costs increase as higher quality standards are achieved

- Can produce less smoke than other biomass fuels but this is dependent on the raw materials, quality of production and the type of stove used  - There is an opportunity to use waste biomass or sustainable wood supplies to manufacture pellets and briquettes - Pellets and briquettes can be difficult to light and be reused once extinguished

- Grant based small scale briquetting activities in displacement settings rarely result in meaningful impact and are only sustainable with ongoing grant commitments

- May require the development of a supply chain to the displacement setting

Summary Availability & Cost Stoves/Appliances Health, Safety and Environment Opportunities Limitations
Biomass and Biomass-based Fuels
Ethanol
Ethanol is an alcohol fuel distilled from a variety of biomass feedstock, usually produced in liquid or gel form - Ethanol may not be readily available in displacement contexts

- The cost of ethanol is influenced by production and supply chain costs and economies of scale

- Sugar cane and molasses are the most common and economical sources of ethanol

Stove Types:

- Ethanol Burner

Availability and Costs:

-Availability limited to contexts where ethanol for cooking is already established

- Simple design and can be made relatively cheaply

- Can be manufactured from renewable primary products, however, poor land management associated to fuel crops can lead to environmental degradation

- Fuel crops can occupy land previously associated to food production or biodiversity  

- Clean combustion with negligible emissions and no soot

- Ethanol can be affordable in contexts with appropriate supply ecosystems - May require the development of a supply chain to the displacement setting

- May require behavioural change if users unfamiliar with or hesitant towards gas stoves

Summary Availability & Cost Stoves/Appliances Health, Safety and Environment Opportunities Limitations
Biomass and Biomass-based Fuels
Biogas Biogas
Biogas is produced from agricultural, food and/or human waste through processes of anaerobic digestion - it is particularly viable in rural areas where sufficient feedstock is available

- Biogas systems require intensive upkeep and maintenance, which is labour intensive and requires skilled local knowhow for its maintenance.

- Such systems have high investment costs though more affordable DIY or ready-made solutions also exist

Stove Types:

- Biogas Burner

Availability and Costs:

- Simple design and can be made relatively cheaply

- Biogas is clean and, if feedstock processes are managed correctly, safe for users

- Reduces reliance on firewood and charcoal, which can reduce the impacts of deforestation

- Biogas systems can contribute to circular economies and can incorporate sanitation management strategies

- Biogas produces fertiliser as a by-product which is a sought-after co-benefit

- Ideally for households with agricultural and livestock. Could also support community cooking activities

- Cultural norms might limit the acceptance of handling raw materials and cooking from the generated gas

- Biogas systems need a significant initial water input to produce gas

- Biogas systems require a continuous supply of suitable feedstock, which is a challenge to procure or produce

-  The biodigester needs a certain temperature and contamination needs to be avoided for continuous biogas generation

- May require behavioural change if users unfamiliar with or hesitant towards gas stoves