scholarly journals Awareness of the environmental implications of the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources among rural households in Jigawa State, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-51
Author(s):  
Olusegun Martins Orifah ◽  
Messiah Chijioke Ijeoma ◽  
Gloria Isi Omokhudu ◽  
Gabriel T. Ahungwa ◽  
Bashir Garba Muktar

Abstract Use of biomass energy is on the increase in rural areas of Nigeria, and its use poses serious environmental challenges. The study assessed the awareness of the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources among rural households in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents for the study using structured questionnaire. Collected data were analysed using descriptive (frequency counts, percentage, mean, and rank) and inferential statistics (chi-squared test). The result revealed that the majority of the respondents were male (94.2%), married (90.8%), and between 31 to 40 years, with a mean age of 39.8 years. Results further revealed that the majority of the respondents were farmers (56.7%), had Qur’anic education (71.7%), and earned a monthly income of N10,000–N20,999 (52.5%), with a mean monthly income of ₦13,816.67. Use of fuel wood (100%) and charcoal (100%) were the dominant biomass energy sources used. Results at the level of awareness revealed that the majority of the respondents (80.8%) had low awareness of the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources. The respondents’ main source of information on the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources were radio (64.17%) and extension agents (54.2%). The high cost of other alternatives, scarcity of refilling stations, scarcity of the alternatives, and lack of funds to purchase other alternatives are some of the major constraint bedevilling the use of non-solid energy sources. Level of education (χ2 = 6.584; p < 0.1) and average monthly income (χ2 = 8.277; p < 0.1) were significantly related to awareness of the environmental implication of the unsustainable use of biomass energy. It is therefore recommended that people should be enlightened on the environmental implications associated with the unsustainable use of biomass energy sources. Furthermore, policies favouring a switch of energy source should be considered.

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-101
Author(s):  
Martins Olusegun Orifah ◽  
Messiah Chijioke Ijeoma ◽  
Alfred Ehizua Ehien ◽  
Ado Nasiru ◽  
Olushola Samuel Fadairo

Abstract Various health challenges and fatalities in rural communities of most developing countries of the world have been traceable to the unabated use of biomass energy sources. We therefore assessed the awareness of the health implications of the use of biomass energy sources among women in rural households of Jigawa State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data from 120 respondents using structured questionnaires. Data were collected on respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, types of biomass used, information sources on the health implications from use of biomass energy sources, awareness of the health implications and constraints to the use of alternatives to biomass. Data were summarised using frequencies, percentages, means, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Majority of the respondents (78.3 %) were below 40 years of age with a mean age of 30 ± 2.02 years. Majority were married (90.8 %), Muslims (100 %), involved in agro-processing (65.8 %), had no formal education (73.3 %), and earned not more than ₦10, 000 (90.8 %) with mean household size of 9 members. Wood (100 %) and charcoal (100 %) were the dominant biomass energy sources used. Respondents’ main source of information on the health implications of the use of biomass were radio (64.2 %) and extension agents (54.2 %). Awareness level of the health implications from the use of biomass energy sources was fairly high (51.7 %). High cost of the alternatives, scarcity of refilling points and alternatives and lack of capital were the main hindrances to the use of the alternatives to biomass energy sources. The result on the inferential statistics revealed that a significant association existed between education (χ2 = 6.08; P < 0.05) and awareness of health implications from the use of biomass. Efforts should be made to sensitize women on the health implications resulting from the use of biomass. Alternatives should be made available and affordable to encourage a switch from biomass energy sources thereby reducing the fatalities that may result from its continual use.


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martins Olusegun Orifah ◽  
Messiah Chijioke Ijeoma ◽  
Alfred Ehizua Ehien ◽  
Ado Nasiru ◽  
Olushola Samuel Fadairo

Abstract Various health challenges and fatalities in rural communities of most developing countries of the world have been traceable to the unabated use of biomass energy sources. We therefore assessed the awareness of the health implications of the use of biomass energy sources among women in rural households of Jigawa State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data from 120 respondents using structured questionnaires. Data were collected on respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, types of biomass used, information sources on the health implications from use of biomass energy sources, awareness of the health implications and constraints to the use of alternatives to biomass. Data were summarised using frequencies, percentages, means, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Majority of the respondents (78.3 %) were below 40 years of age with a mean age of 30 ± 2.02 years. Majority were married (90.8 %), Muslims (100 %), involved in agro-processing (65.8 %), had no formal education (73.3 %), and earned not more than ₦10, 000 (90.8 %) with mean household size of 9 members. Wood (100 %) and charcoal (100 %) were the dominant biomass energy sources used. Respondents’ main source of information on the health implications of the use of biomass were radio (64.2 %) and extension agents (54.2 %). Awareness level of the health implications from the use of biomass energy sources was fairly high (51.7 %). High cost of the alternatives, scarcity of refilling points and alternatives and lack of capital were the main hindrances to the use of the alternatives to biomass energy sources. The result on the inferential statistics revealed that a significant association existed between education (χ2 = 6.08; P < 0.05) and awareness of health implications from the use of biomass. Efforts should be made to sensitize women on the health implications resulting from the use of biomass. Alternatives should be made available and affordable to encourage a switch from biomass energy sources thereby reducing the fatalities that may result from its continual use.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3398
Author(s):  
Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski ◽  
Paweł Dudziec ◽  
Michał Krzyżaniak ◽  
Ewelina Olba-Zięty

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-274
Author(s):  
Minghao Liu ◽  
Zhaoyong Sun ◽  
Qian Li ◽  
Zheng Wei ◽  
Baorui Liang

Biomass energy is one of the most important renewable energy sources. Full utilization of this energy helps to optimize agricultural development, improve our living environment, and replace some non-renewable energy sources, thereby promoting the eco-environment across the country. However, biomass energy has not been extensively utilized in rural areas of China. Many farmers are not very enthusiastic about the use of biomass energy. Many scholars have tried to boost the willingness of farmers to utilize biomass energy. Therefore, this paper collects the relevant data from six aspects, namely, environmental factor, cost factor, income factor, behavior factor, policy factor, and personal factor, and constructs a binary logistic regression model. On this basis, the driving and influencing factors of biomass energy utilization were empirically analyzed from the perspective of farmers. The results show that the development of biomass energy is mainly affected by the farmers’ awareness of national energy strategy, the relevant costs of biomass utilization, and the attitude of family members and village committee. The research provides an important reference for further promotion of biomass energy, elevation of its utilization efficiency, and optimization of energy structure in rural China.


2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (2-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdeen Omer

Abstract Sudan enjoys abundant solar, wind, hydro, and biomass resources. Like many tropical countries, Sudan has ample biomass resources that can be efficiently exploited in a manner that is both profitable and sustainable. Fuel-wood farming offers cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy solutions for Sudan, with the added benefit of providing sustainable livelihoods in rural areas. Biogas from biomass appears to have potential as an alternative energy in Sudan, which is potentially rich in biomass resources. This is an overview of some salient points and perspectives of biomass technology in Sudan. The current literature is reviewed regarding the ecological, social, cultural and economic impacts of biomass technology. This article provides an overview of biomass energy activities and highlights future plans concerning optimum technical and economical utilization of biomass energy available in Sudan.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-37
Author(s):  
E. O. OYEDEPO

This article examines the evidence available on the distribution of assets by gender in rural households in Ogun State, Nigeria. One of the contributions of feminist economics has been to demonstrate that household and individual welfare are not necessarily the same. Relatively very little work has been done to show gender disparity in ownership of assets in rural Nigeria though gender asset distribution have been found to impact household decisions, women’s wellbeing and poverty alleviation. Primary data was collected from a total of 260 households selected through a multistage sampling procedure. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study finds that an average rural household in the sample was made up of six persons and households were predominantly headed by males (88%). The mean worth of households’ physical assets was ₦ 1,218,308.20, about 15% of which was owned by women. Based on these findings the study recommends that the economic situation of women should be enhanced by promoting their access to productive assets through indigenous savings, credit associations and micro financing. This will enable our society attain the sustainable development goals of gender equality and maternal wellbeing.      


2011 ◽  
Vol 403-408 ◽  
pp. 2905-2909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong Ren Zhou

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.


Author(s):  
K.A Babatunde ◽  
O.O Agbede ◽  
I.I Olateju ◽  
S.D Bamidele ◽  
O.M Osuolale ◽  
...  

Nigeria is blessed with abundant biomass throughout her six geo-political zones. However, biomass energy is largely used in the rural areas mainly for off grid purposes. The method of such biomass conversion is based on traditional combustion process which is grossly inefficient with attendance environmental implications. This paper addresses the use of gasification technology for the conversion of biomass to high value fuel. It presents biomass gasification as a solution to the menace of inadequate power generation, dependence on fossil fuel, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and inappropriate disposal of wastes. The paper also highlights the need for focus to be shifted to other means of renewable energy in the country rather than hydropower and bioethanol on which the energy policy in the country is concentrated on.


This communication discusses a comprehensive review of biomass energy sources, environment and sustainable development. This includes all the biomass energy technologies, energy efficiency systems, energy conservation scenarios, energy savings and other mitigation measures necessary to reduce emissions globally. The current literature is reviewed regarding the ecological, social, cultural and economic impacts of biomass technology. This study gives an overview of present and future use of biomass as an industrial feedstock for production of fuels, chemicals and other materials. However, to be truly competitive in an open market situation, higher value products are required. Results suggest that biomass technology must be encouraged, promoted, invested, implemented, and demonstrated, but especially in remote rural areas.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desmond Eseoghene Ighravwe ◽  
Moses Olubayo Babatunde

The mini-grid proliferation has helped to improve the current state of electricity supply in several rural areas in developing countries. This is due to the innovations in renewable energy technologies. The impact of this development is the establishment of mini-grid business. There is a need for mini-grid business owners to identify the most suitable energy source for a particular area. To achieve this, proper analysis of risks that impact mini-grid business operations is required for optimal energy source selection. The current study addresses this problem by proposing a conceptual framework that considered risk factors. The conceptual framework analysed scenarios where expected risk values are specified and not specified by decision-makers. This was achieved using fuzzy axiomatic design (FAD), intuitionistic entropy method, and TOPSIS (Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution) methods. The TOPSIS and FAD results were combined using WASPAS (weighted aggregated sum product assessment) method. The proposed conceptual framework was applied in sub-Sahara Africa, Lagos, Nigeria. During the application of the proposed framework, five renewable energy sources and thirteen types of risks were considered. Information from four decision-makers was used to demonstrate the applicability of the framework. The results obtained showed that unpredictable electricity demand and construction completion risks were identified as the least and most important risks for the selection of renewable energy sources for mini-grid, respectively. The FAD and TOPSIS methods identified wind and biomass energy as the best-ranked energy source for mini-grid business, respectively. The WASPAS method and the FAD results were the same.


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