scholarly journals Outlook for the biomass energy sector in Mozambique: Policies and their challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Jonas Massuque ◽  
Custodio Matavel ◽  
Paulo Fernando Trugilho
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Environmental Problem ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Charcoal Production ◽  
Negative Impacts

To overcome the negative impacts of unsustainable exploitation of forest resources, the Mozambican government has been trying to regulate the supply and demand of biomass, the main source of energy for the majority of the population. This paper reviews policies implemented in Mozambique aimed at increasing domestic energy production while promoting a sustainable use of biomass. Despite the efforts to reduce the level of biomass energy use, it remains the most attractive to local populations and, therefore, still has great importance in the national energy mix. Thus, rather than looking at woodfuels as an environmental problem, regulations should also recognise the dependence of local communities on these resources. Firewood remains the main energy source in rural areas, and approximately 0.36% of the forest in Mozambique is lost every year. The replacement of firewood and charcoal by other renewable sources of energy is still far from reality. Charcoal production continues to be carried out in traditional low-yield ovens and the levels of forest degradation are still alarming. As such, improvements to the existing regulation framework are still needed.

A Theoretical Study of the Sustainable Use of Biomass Energy by Rural Households in China

2011 ◽  
Vol 403-408 ◽  
pp. 2905-2909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong Ren Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Utility Theory ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Theoretical Study ◽  
Rural Households ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Consumer Acceptance ◽  
Sustainable Utilization ◽  
Household Energy

Biomass energy is an important component of household energy consumption in rural areas of China. However, under current exploitation levels, the energy source is beset with both theoretical and practical challenges, and its sustainable utilization is seriously restricted. One key to solving this problem is the establishment of a theoretical framework for the sustainable use of biomass energy by rural households. Based on the new viewpoint that biomass energy is a type of ‘weakly’ renewable energy, this paper provides the first theoretical basis outlining the sustainable use of biomass energy in rural households, including systems theory, the theory of ecological carrying capacity, the utility theory, the theory of ecological economics and the theory of natural resource values. The relationships among these theories are also discussed. In addition, four conditions governing the theoretical sustainable use of biomass energy by rural households are analyzed: the sustainability of the resource supply, the sustainability of biomass energy production, the sustainability of consumer acceptance, and the sustainability of ecological environmental effects.

scholarly journals Biomass energy as a possibility for innovative agriculture initiatives

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Pimenta Ribeiro ◽  
Silvio Dalmolin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Local Planning ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Generation Capacity ◽  
Biomass Power Plant

Abstract In searching for sustainable solutions for humans’ necessities, clean and safe energy possibilities have been pursued. The objective of this research is to develop a procedure that improves the integration of renewable technologies into local planning processes. The methodology should be suitable for different contexts. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the potential of energy production through agricultural waste, ensuring the sustainability and development of clean technologies, the ideal allocation of the energy production unit, and the costs involved in the enterprise. The research hypothesis is that the potential for sustainable use of biomass can be identified and evaluated, thus showing the way for an improved energy plan for Brazil. The study area is within the Doce River Basin in Brazil. The methods developed in the study could be relevant for municipalities to record their potentials for energy production and pursue investments and local arrangements, promoting sustainable biomass energy generation. The results show that with proper investment, the energy generation through biomass residues could be viable and pay itself in a short amount of time, moreover in a scenario where the agricultural area is increased, growing the power generation capacity of a biomass power plant. The current agricultural production would cover 20% of the local energy demand.

scholarly journals An Empirical Approach to Differences in Flexible Electricity Consumption Behaviour of Urban and Rural Populations—Lessons Learned in Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9028
Author(s):  
Lucas Roth ◽  
Özgür Yildiz ◽  
Jens Lowitzsch
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Consumption Behaviour ◽  
Production Technologies

This article analyses two major trends of the 21st century. Firstly, the transition from fossil fuel-based energy production to renewable energy sources. Secondly, the inexorable urbanisation which can be witnessed all over the globe. The most promising renewable energy production technologies for the near future, i.e., wind and solar energy, are volatile by nature which makes matching supply and demand essential for a successful transition. Therefore, the aspects that determine the willingness of consumers to flexibilise their demand has gained growing attention. Initial research shows that different settings for (co-)ownership in terms of available prosumption options and used production technologies have a varying impact on demand flexibility. However, existing research has analysed flexibility drivers solely for the general population as an aggregate without any distinction regarding spatial, economic, or social factors. In this article, the authors go one step further and analyse whether those drivers for flexible consumption behaviour differ in rural or urban areas acknowledging differences in day-to-day life in both cases. This study is based on 2074 completed questionnaires from German consumers which were analysed using propensity score matching. The results show that people from rural and urban areas do not significantly differ in their willingness to be demand flexible in general. However, (co-)owners of RE installations from rural areas are generally significantly more demand flexible than (co-)owners of RE installations from urban areas. Further, when looking at different RE technologies, the results show that (co-)owners of solar installations are significantly more demand flexible if they are from rural areas. Lastly, when looking at usage options, people who solely consume produced electricity are more demand flexible if they are from rural areas as well.

scholarly journals Implications on Livelihoods and the Environment of Uptake of Gasifier Cook Stoves among Kenya’s Rural Households

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Gitau ◽  
Jane Mutune ◽  
Cecilia Sundberg ◽  
Ruth Mendum ◽  
Mary Njenga
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Cooking Methods ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Cook Stoves ◽  
Reduced Time

A majority of people in developing countries use biomass energy for cooking and heating due to its affordability, accessibility and convenience. However, unsustainable biomass use leads to forest degradation and climate change. Therefore, this study was carried out in Kwale County, Kenya, on the use of a biochar-producing gasifier cook stove and implications of its uptake on livelihoods and the environment. Fifty households were trained and issued with a gasifier for free. After 2–3 months of gasifier use, a survey was conducted to investigate the implications of its uptake. The direct impacts included reduced fuel consumption by 38%, reduced time spent in firewood collection, reduced expenditure on cooking fuel, diversification of cooking fuels, improved kitchen conditions and reduced time spent on cooking. The potential benefits included income generation, increased food production, reduced impacts on environment and climate change and reduced health problems. Improved biomass cook stoves can alleviate problems with current cooking methods, which include inefficient fuel use, health issues caused by smoke, and environmental problems. These benefits could contribute to development through alleviating poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality, enhancing good health and sustainable ecosystems and mitigating climate change. The study recommends the promotion of cleaner cooking stoves, particularly gasifiers, among households in rural areas while paying attention to user needs and preferences.

scholarly journals Agribusinesses and Agroenergy: A Model of Change in Agriculture

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-9
Author(s):  
Saverio Francesco Massari
Keyword(s):  
Energy Dependence ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Energy Policies ◽  
Biomass Valorization ◽  
Modern Agriculture ◽  
Biomass For Energy

Abstract (EN) Energy production through biomass valorization seems to find favor with the most recent energy policies: in order to reach a sustainable balance between production and energy use the agriculture seems to play an important role. The use of biomass for energy valorization, indeed, could be further increased and meets different needs: it alleviates energy dependence, propels the technological innovation of companies and rural areas, and promotes the multifunctional nature of modern agriculture. Nevertheless these dynamics generate a debate about the use of agricultural lands and crops for energy purpose and, finally, the same concept of agribusiness seem to be under evolution: a summary about the Italian legislative scenario on the agribusiness's concept shows how relations between energy and agriculture is extending the traditional scope and definitions of agribusiness and possible criticisms arising.

EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL COMO SUBSIDIO A (RE)AVALIAÇÃO DAS FORMAS DE USO NA APA DO ESTUÁRIO DO RIO CEARÁ EM FORTALEZA

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 962-975
Author(s):  
Emerson Rodrigues Lima ◽  
Ana Carla Alves Gomes ◽  
Ícaro Paiva de Oliveira ◽  
Maria Lucia Brito da Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Environmental Education ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Protection Area ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Natural Dynamics ◽  
Del Rio

A pesquisa trata de uma análise da relação sociedade natureza no contexto da Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) do rio Ceará e teve como objetivo principal o estudo dos impactos negativos sofridos a partir dessa interação, descrevendo os principais problemas ocasionados pela ocupação desordenada, como a intervenção nas dunas, poluição do mangue e desmatamento da mata ciliar, os quais condicionam a mudança da dinâmica natural do ambiente causando interferências paisagísticas e biológicas no local. O aporte teórico metodológico embasa-se nas teorias clássicas pertinentes, bem como levantamento de dados secundários, trabalho de campo e a técnica de geoprocessamento para a elaboração de material cartográfico. Os resultados demonstram a urgência em inserir práticas vinculadas a educação ambiental na APA, dessa forma, o trabalho visa servir de subsídio à conscientização da necessidade de preservação deste ambiente, recomendando, assim o diálogo entre a população e os órgãos responsáveis para garantir o uso sustentável da mesma.Palavras-chave: Conservação; Educação Ambiental; Análise Geoambiental. ABSTRACTThe research deals with an analysis of the relation nature-society in the context of the APA (Ambiental Protection Area) of Ceará River and it had as main objective the study of the negative impacts suffered from this interaction, describing the main problems caused by the disordered occupation, such as the intervention in the dunes, mangrove pollution and deforestation of the riparian forest, which condition the change of the natural dynamics of the environment causing landscape and biological interferences in the place. The theoretical methodological support is based on the relevant classical theories, as well as secondary data collection, field work and the geoprocessing technique for the preparation of cartographic material. The results show the urgency to insert practices related to environmental education in the APA, so this work aims to serve as a subsidy to raise awareness of the need to preserve this environment, recommending in this way the dialogue between the population and responsible bodies to ensure sustainable use of the same. Keywords: Conservation; Environmental education; Geoenvironmental Analysis. RESUMENLa investigación aborda un análisis de la relación de la sociedad de la naturaleza en el contexto del Área de Protección Ambiental (APA) del río Ceará y su objetivo principal fue el estudio de los impactos negativos sufridos por esta interacción, describiendo los principales problemas causados por la ocupación desordenada, como el intervención en las dunas, contaminación del manglar y deforestación del bosque ribereño, que condicionan el cambio de la dinámica natural del ambiente causando interferencia biológica y paisajística en el lugar. La base teórica metodológica se basa en las teorías clásicas relevantes, así como en la recolección secundaria de datos, el trabajo de campo y la técnica de geoprocesamiento para la preparación de material cartográfico. Los resultados demuestran la urgencia de insertar prácticas relacionadas con la educación ambiental en la APA, por lo tanto, el trabajo tiene como objetivo apoyar la conciencia de la necesidad de preservar este medio ambiente, recomendando así el diálogo entre la población y los organismos responsables para garantizar un uso sostenible de la misma.Palabras clave: Conservación; Educación ambiental; Análisis geoambiental.

scholarly journals Solid Biomass Energy Potential as a Development Opportunity for Rural Communities

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3398
Author(s):  
Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski ◽  
Paweł Dudziec ◽  
Michał Krzyżaniak ◽  
Ewelina Olba-Zięty
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Development Opportunity ◽  
Biomass Resources ◽  
Administrative Units ◽  
Solid Biomass

Conventional energy sources often do not fully satisfy the needs of a modern economy, especially given the climate changes associated with them. These issues should be addressed by diversification of energy generation, including the development of renewable energy sources (RES). Solid biomass will play a major part in the process in Poland. The function of rural areas, along with a well-developed agricultural and forest economy sector, will be a key aspect in this as these areas are suitable for solid biomass acquisition in various ways. This study aimed to determine the solid biomass energy potential in the commune of Goworowo to illustrate the potential in the smallest administrative units of Poland. This research determined the environmental and natural conditions in the commune, which helped to identify the crucial usable solid biomass resources. The total energy potential of solid biomass resources in the commune of Goworowo amounted to 97,672 GJ y−1. The highest potential was accumulated in straw surplus (37,288 GJ y−1) and the lowest was in wood from roadside maintenance (113 GJ y−1). This study showed that rural areas could soon play a significant role in obtaining solid biomass, and individual communes could become spaces for the diversification of energy feedstock.

scholarly journals Big Data-Enabled Solutions Framework to Overcoming the Barriers to Circular Economy Initiatives in Healthcare Sector

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7513
Author(s):  
Yiğit Kazançoğlu ◽  
Muhittin Sağnak ◽  
Çisem Lafcı ◽  
Sunil Luthra ◽  
Anil Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Current System ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Medical Materials ◽  
Negative Impacts

Ever-changing conditions and emerging new challenges affect the ability of the healthcare sector to survive with the current system, and to maintain its processes effectively. In the healthcare sector, the conservation of the natural resources is being obstructed by insufficient infrastructure for managing residual waste resulting from single-use medical materials, increased energy use, and its environmental burden. In this context, circularity and sustainability concepts have become essential in healthcare to meliorate the sector’s negative impacts on the environment. The main aim of this study is to identify the barriers related to circular economy (CE) in the healthcare sector, apply big data analytics in healthcare, and provide solutions to these barriers. The contribution of this research is the detailed examination of the current healthcare literature about CE adaptation, and a proposal for a big data-enabled solutions framework to barriers to circularity, using fuzzy best-worst Method (BWM) and fuzzy VIKOR. Based on the findings, managerial, policy, and theoretical implementations are recommended to support sustainable development initiatives in the healthcare sector.

Measuring Biomass Energy Flows of a Rural Energy Engineering

2013 ◽  
Vol 779-780 ◽  
pp. 1388-1393
Author(s):  
Xing Long Xie
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Energy Investment ◽  
Rural Energy ◽  
Geometry Model ◽  
Energy Flows ◽  
Energy Engineering

Energy consumption in the Chinese rural areas features massive use of low-grade energy commodities and the distempered structure of exorbitant leaning on biomass energy. This has provoked an increasingly exacerbating environment and exerted a depressing effect on agriculturally sustainable development. Pilot energy engineering practices of efficient utilization environment improvement have seen a surge on a vast extent of rural lands. As a typical engineering of energy resources for methane production, the four-dimension-inone-geometry model concerning ecological agriculture has triggered scholarly attention. The aim of this study is to deal with energy flows in this system whereby to put forward measures for its upgrading and ultimately offer policies for rural energy development and use. First, the study depicts the models structure and working process, and the methodology of estimating its energy flows. Next, taking a three member household as an example, the study estimates the quantity in its energy flows, finding that the whole system imports 1,195,102 MJ of energy and generates 35,728MJ, with 47.3% yielded by the breeding system, 32.1% by the anaerobic fermentation system, and 20.6% by the planting system. Comparatively, this model has neither achieved the artificially auxiliary energy-output ratio of 2.4:1, a criterion for high yield, nor reached the national high output standard of 38.1GJ/hm2 in inorganic energy investment and the height of 124.3 GJ/hm2 of farmland energy input in the bio-energy zones of good harvest. On this ground, this study presents countermeasures to further improve the models energy efficiency and strategies related to rural energy development. Those suggestions might apply to other rural areas.

Assessment on Biogas Utilizations in Rural Areas in Urumqi, Xinjiang

2012 ◽  
Vol 512-515 ◽  
pp. 343-346
Author(s):  
Xiao Li Ma ◽  
I Shin Chang ◽  
Jing Wu
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Development Mode ◽  
Ecological Benefits ◽  
Engineering Construction ◽  
Comprehensive Utilization ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Reliable Source

As the effective and efficient means of resources utilization, biomass energy has become a very valuable and reliable source of alternative energy in China, especially for remote areas and countryside. First, in order to facilitate the development of biogas applications and promote the economic, social and ecological benefits from comprehensive utilization of biogas in rural areas in Urumqi (Capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, XUAR), the biogas potential was estimated, the biogas engineering construction and biogas comprehensive utilization were evaluated, and the existing problems of biogas development were analyzed, in this study. Second, countermeasures and recommendations were proposed in trying to resolved existing problems, based on international practical experience. And, according to local climatic situation and regional characteristics in Urumqi, ecological agriculture was proposed in this study as the development mode for the rural areas in Urumqi, based on the development of biogas technologies and international practical experience.

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