Solid biomass fuels for cooking ? beyond firewood and charcoal

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

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Abstract: Approximately 2.9 billion people worldwide rely on solid biomass for daily cooking. Solid biomass is utilized for cooking in North America and in Europe, especially in rural eastern and southeastern regions. The practice is far more common in Africa, particularly in the sub-Saharan region, as well as in South America and Asia. In some countries, woody biomass and agricultural residues account for more than 90% of total household energy consumption1.Most solid biomass comes in the form of woody biomass derived directly from forests, of which some is converted into charcoal to serve as a cooking fuel. However, there is a much larger variety of solid biomass suitable for cooking. Solid biomass fuels beyond firewood and charcoal can be derived from by-products of agricultural production and forest residues, and are becoming increasingly important. For instance, an estimated 140 billion tons of residual biomass is generated every year from agriculture, representing an enormous amount of renewable energy ? equivalent to 50 billion tons of oil. To use these forms of biomass that go beyond firewood and charcoal is to make use of organic residues, establish value chains, contribute to climate protection, and thus to contribute to a circular economy.