The overall objective of this study is to examine the potential of introducing renewable biomass for a decentralized household energy provision in rural areas at the Kenyan South Coast. The main question posed in this research is whether the renewable products of an oil tree and related energy end-use appliances could potentially be a cheap, widely available and socially accepted substitute for kerosene and traditional biomass. The research data and results are based on a UNDP GEF SGP funded pilot project.
The project was conceptualized by the author and implemented with local communities with support from the German Development Service (DED), the World Wide Fund (WWF) and various government institutions in Kwale District between 2006 and 2010.
The first theoretical part of this study describes the negative socio-economic, environmental and health related impacts of the current household energy provision and energy use in Developing Countries (DCs). It becomes obvious that the households’ strong dependency on kerosene and traditional biomass severely hampers the achievement of national and international development goals. The potentials and barriers when introducing renewable energy technologies (RETs) in DCs are presented by using selected project examples. The discussion emphasizes that not only economical, institutional and infrastructural factors contribute to the low dissemination rates of RETs in DCs but also the social acceptance by potential users. Finally the results from this investigation are used to discuss the current and future household energy provision in Kenya.
The second part of the study elaborates on the possibility of sustainably introducing the oil tree Jatropha curcas L. as a bioenergy source to rural households. For that purpose the feasibility of introducing the Jatropha value chain on a community level was tested and analyzed by taking three crucial aspects into consideration; the tree’s environmentally sound production (cultivation), the economic transformation (processing) of the seed material into usable fuel and socially accepted end-usage of the Jatropha products. In this context the UN-funded project served as a baseline for the data collection. After conducting a socio-economic survey among 137 households participating in the project, the introduction of a Jatropha value chain was analyzed in three chronological steps. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Household energy consumption in Developing Countries
1.1 Biomass – cooking fuel for the poor
1.2 Kerosene - fuel based lighting for the poor
2. The importance of household energy in reaching the Millennium Development Goals
2.1 How the use of traditional biomass leads to environmental degradation
2.2 Traditional biomass and respiratory infections
2.3 Socio-economic impacts of the use of traditional biomass
2.4 The effects of fuel based lighting
3. The growing importance of Renewable Energy Technologies
3.1 The status of renewable energy technologies in Developing Countries
3.2 Increasing affordability due to reduction in costs
3.3 Growing investment in the establishment of renewable energy technologies
4. Barriers for the diffusion of Renewable Energy Technologies in Developing Countries
4.1 The need for accurate data
4.2 The importance of a conducive, institutional environment
4.2.1 Government policy interventions for the wider promotion of Renewable Energy Technologies
4.2.2 Policy impacts on rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa
4.2.3 Possible interventions in favour of rural electrification
4.2.3.1 Co-operatively managed off-grid schemes
4.2.3.2 Are rural households able to pay for energy services?
4.2.3.3 Rural Energy Service Company – overcoming initial costs and service constraints
4.2.3.4 The potential of micro-financing
4.2.4 The need for a local supply infrastructure
4.2.5 The need for quality control
4.3 Social acceptance by consumers
4.3.1 The diffusion of innovations
4.3.2 The need for technology cooperation
4.3.3 No awareness: no adoption
5. Sub-Saharan Africa’s dependency on traditional biomass and kerosene
5.1 The practicability of sustainably producing traditional biomass
5.2 The feasibility of increasing the energy efficiency of traditional biomass
6. Household energy in Kenya
6.1 Electricity, a future energy source for the poor?
6.1.1 The Rural Electrification Programme
6.1.2 Can future electricity generation meet the demand?
6.1.3 Affordable tariffs vs. unaffordable connection fees
6.2 Kenya’s potential for ‘stand alone’ renewable based power generation
6.2.1 The potential of micro-hydro power
6.2.2 The potential of wind energy
6.2.3 The potential of solar photovoltaics
6.2.4 The potential of bioenergy
6.2.4.1 Direct combustion of biomass
6.2.4.2 The potential of bio-chemical conversion
6.2.4.3 The potential of biofuel
7. Jatropha curcas L. – the potential of a multipurpose oil tree
7.1 Properties of the species
7.1.1 Medicinal value of leaves and seeds
7.1.2 Energy value of crude jatropha oil
7.1.3 Geographical distribution within Kenya
7.2 Jatropha plantations in Developing Countries and their viability
7.2.1 Agro-economical requirements
7.2.2 Environmental impacts
7.2.3 Socio-economic effects
7.2.4 Intercropping – Outgrower scheme
7.2.5 The feasibility of an international certification scheme
7.3 Overview of Jatropha activities in Kenya
8. The suitability of Jatropha for decentralized energy provision
8.1 Implementing agency and project design
8.2 The Stakeholders
8.3. Materials and Methods
9. The areas of examination
9.1 The Natural Environment
9.1.1 Geology and geomorphology
9.1.2 The Soils
9.1.3 The Climate
9.1.4 Population and ethnic groups
9.2 Economics
9.2.1 Agricultural potential
9.2.2 Land-use practices
9.2.3 The importance of tree crops
10. Household energy consumption
10.1 Energy for cooking
10.2 Energy for lighting
10.3 Perceived problems in relation to different fuel sources
11. The production – Jatropha as buffer zone and hedge plant
11.1 Community knowledge about Jatropha
11.2 The importance of buffer zones to protect indigenous forests
11.2.1 Makaya - biodiversity hot spots under threat
11.2.2 Kaya Muhaka’s biodiversity
11.2.3 The Jatropha buffer zone
11.3 Production on farms – Jatropha hedges to protect food crops
11.3.1 The viability of Jatropha for a drought coping strategy
11.3.2 Productivity of Jatropha trial areas
11.3.3 Jatropha’s economic viability as a hedge plant in Kenya
12. The processing of Jatropha seeds
12.1 Combining the production of crude jatropha oil and jatropha seed cake briquettes
12.2 Financing the expeller
13. The potential of Jatropha products for household energy usage
13.1 The need for affordable and socially accepted energy appliances
13.2 The introduction of crude Jatropha oil and Jatropha seed cake briquettes – building on households’ familiarity
13.2.1 The Akiba lamp
13.2.2 Crude Jatropha oil as a renewable alternative to kerosene
13.2.3 Jatropha seed cake briquettes as a renewable alternative to firewood
14. Trading of feedstock vs. decentralized processing
14.1 The Jatropha Value Chain
14.2 Can production meet demand - a prognosis
15. Discussion and perspectives
Research Objectives and Themes
This study explores the potential and limitations of introducing a decentralized Jatropha-based household energy value chain in rural areas of the Kenyan South Coast, aiming to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional biomass for cooking and kerosene for lighting.
- Evaluation of Jatropha's role in sustainable rural energy provision.
- Analysis of socioeconomic and environmental barriers to renewable energy technology diffusion.
- Field testing of Jatropha cultivation and localized processing methods.
- Investigation of social acceptance for Jatropha-based cooking and lighting solutions.
- Assessment of the economic viability of small-scale Jatropha value chains for local communities.
Excerpt from the Book
The feasibility of introducing the JS to provide energy to rural households in the form of lighting (Jatropha crude oil) and cooking (Jatropha seed cake briquettes) has to date not been scientifically examined in a comprehensive manner.
Current and past research efforts concentrate almost exclusively on the end-use of crude vegetable oil as fuel for cooking. For that purpose cookers that can operate with crude vegetable oil were designed, manufactured and have already been distributed to rural households in selected DCs. Although such cookers like the PROTOS, which was developed by Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances Group in cooperation with the University of Hohenheim, have proven to work very efficiently under laboratory conditions it is questionable whether the cookers’ price, design, operation and resulting lack of social acceptance will allow a sustainable introduction to wider rural areas in DCs.
Even if such cookers would be adapted to suite the respective local conditions, other questions such as the environmentally sound production of the required feedstock and its economical transformation into usable energy products remain open.
The study therefore not only looks into the aspect of socially accepted end-usages of Jatropha energy products, but also into other aspects that are crucial for the sustainable introduction of an entire Jatropha value chain. In this context the author poses three main research questions: 1. Production: Can rural households sustainably introduce the JS and produce sufficient seeds in the research area in view of given farm sizes and energy need? 2. Processing: Can the seeds be efficiently processed by community members in a sustainable and decentralized manner? 3. Usage: Would households accept the new energy source as a substitute for kerosene and traditional biomass?
Summary of Chapters
1. Household energy consumption in Developing Countries: This chapter outlines the heavy dependence of rural and urban poor populations in developing nations on traditional biomass for cooking and kerosene for lighting, highlighting the lack of affordable and acceptable alternatives.
2. The importance of household energy in reaching the Millennium Development Goals: This section details how inefficient fuel usage hinders development, contributing to environmental degradation, health risks (IAP), and economic losses.
3. The growing importance of Renewable Energy Technologies: This chapter covers the shift towards renewable energy, noting rapid growth in global investment but also identifying that DCs still face significant barriers to broad adoption.
4. Barriers for the diffusion of Renewable Energy Technologies in Developing Countries: This chapter provides an in-depth analysis of financial, institutional, and social challenges that obstruct the dissemination of RETs, including the need for accurate data and quality control.
5. Sub-Saharan Africa’s dependency on traditional biomass and kerosene: This chapter analyzes the persistent reliance on low-grade fuels in SSA and the feasibility of sustainable production or improved efficiency measures.
6. Household energy in Kenya: This chapter focuses specifically on the Kenyan energy context, discussing electrification challenges and potentials for decentralized power generation, including micro-hydro, wind, and solar.
7. Jatropha curcas L. – the potential of a multipurpose oil tree: This chapter examines the characteristics and viability of Jatropha curcas as a feedstock, weighing its potential for multipurpose use against the risks of large-scale industrial monocultures.
8. The suitability of Jatropha for decentralized energy provision: This chapter introduces the project design, the implementing agencies, and the overarching framework of a decentralized Jatropha-based value chain.
9. The areas of examination: This chapter describes the natural environment, economic status, and population characteristics of the Kwale District, providing the necessary context for the study's field trials.
10. Household energy consumption: This chapter presents primary data from the household survey, focusing on existing cooking and lighting fuel usage patterns in the studied areas.
11. The production – Jatropha as buffer zone and hedge plant: This chapter evaluates the potential of using Jatropha as a protective hedge against wildlife and its role in buffer zones for biodiversity conservation.
12. The processing of Jatropha seeds: This chapter explores low-tech, manually operated processing technologies, such as oil expellers and briquette presses, appropriate for rural settings.
13. The potential of Jatropha products for household energy usage: This chapter details the technical and social aspects of introducing Jatropha products, specifically the Akiba lamp and seed cake briquettes.
14. Trading of feedstock vs. decentralized processing: This chapter compares the economic viability of selling Jatropha seeds versus processing them locally into energy products, demonstrating the superiority of a decentralized value chain.
15. Discussion and perspectives: This chapter summarizes findings and discusses how a Jatropha value chain can be implemented by leveraging local knowledge and structures to foster energy independence.
Keywords
Jatropha curcas, household energy, developing countries, Kenya, decentralized energy, rural electrification, traditional biomass, kerosene, sustainability, renewable energy technology, socioeconomic impacts, agroforestry, value chain, energy policy, social acceptance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the potential and barriers of introducing a decentralized Jatropha-based energy value chain for lighting and cooking in rural areas of the Kenyan South Coast, aiming to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional biomass and kerosene.
What are the primary themes covered in this work?
Key themes include household energy consumption patterns, the role of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) in development, barriers to their diffusion, and the specific application of Jatropha curcas as a multipurpose crop for energy, food security protection, and biodiversity conservation.
What is the study's primary research objective?
The primary goal is to determine if rural households can sustainably cultivate Jatropha and utilize its products (oil for lighting, seed cake for cooking) in a locally managed, decentralized manner, and whether these products gain social acceptance.
Which scientific methodology does the author utilize?
The author combines literature review with empirical field studies, including household surveys, field trials of Jatropha cultivation in different agro-ecological zones, performance testing of processing equipment, and the implementation of a social acceptance model based on Everett Rogers’ "Diffusion of Innovations".
What aspects of the Jatropha value chain are discussed in the main text?
The study covers the entire value chain: production (cultivation as hedges), processing (locally designed manual presses), and usage (the Akiba lamp and biomass briquettes), while emphasizing the importance of local ownership and maintenance.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
This work is characterized by terms such as Jatropha curcas, household energy, rural electrification, decentralized energy, sustainable value chain, social acceptance, Kenya, biomass, and renewable energy technologies.
How does this study address the specific case of Jatropha hedges in Kwale District?
It demonstrates that growing Jatropha as live fences is the most economically and ecologically viable strategy for local farmers, as it protects food crops from animals without competing for arable land, while also providing seeds for decentralized energy production.
What is the significance of the "Akiba lamp" in this study?
The Akiba lamp is a modified, low-cost kerosene tin lamp designed in cooperation with the local community to operate on crude Jatropha oil, serving as a socially accepted, functional technology that reduces dependence on expensive imported kerosene.
What conclusions does the author draw regarding the viability of Jatropha as a fuel substitute?
The author concludes that while local decentralized processing into oil and briquettes provides an energy-independent and viable path for poor households, large-scale industrial plantations are often unsustainable and socially problematic in the context of the Kenyan South Coast.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Fritjof Boerstler (Autor:in), 2010, The Potential for the Production of Bioenergy for Lighting and Cooking Using Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L. Euphorbiaceae) by Small Scale Farmers on the Kenyan Coast, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/159624
