There is a general trend to start large scale production of pellets in Africa for the hungry, heavily subsidies EU Biomass-to-Power market. Take UK as an example; where the so called ROCs (Renewable Obligation Certificates) makes it a good business to chop up trees in the heart of Africa, make pellets that has to be transported, usually, on dirt roads to the coast and shipped to a port in UK where only 40% of the energy is used for Power Production and the rest released to the atmosphere. And, 1/3 or more of the total value added is consumed by transportation (which in itself creates Green House Gases).
Sembcorp Biomass Power Station in Middlesbrough, UK, releases about 65% of the energy to the atmosphere.
This is a serious waste of resources:
1) By the UK to have such as generous subsidy on an electric production that wastes 60% of the energy.
2) A subsidy that do not have a LCA approach (Life Cycle Analysis, e.g. no consideration to transportation emissions/cost)
3) Exportation of biomass that is in short supply and soon will be of no supply in the producing countries.
Free Trade and other practices imposed by the West, in favour of the West, makes it very difficult to stop this development. However, the CDM (carbon credits) and other schemes makes it possible to compete with the prices in EU with the local Cooking Fuel prices in Africa. Especially if you compare the price for Charcoal and Plain Biomass for pellets used in an Improved Cooking Stove.
Lets come together and make a plan how we can organise a cost and environmental efficient production of Cooking Fuel and same time reduce emissions of Green House Gases, create additional jobs locally, save the little forest there is left and above all; save hundreds of thousands women’s and children’s life!
Please, help me connect with the NGO’s, owner’s of biomass and if there is anyone in central or local government you think would be interested in making making a difference.
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