Charcoal usage in Sub-Saharan Africa
Traditional biomass accounts for nearly 75 percent of the total energy use in sub-Saharan Africa, and, as firewoord and charcoal, it is mostly used for cooking. In urban areas, charcoal is the primary cooking fuel due to lower transportation costs. Charcoal can be a renewable energy source, thereby contribute to urban energy security, while also providing important income opportunities in rural areas. However, rising demand due to rapid urbanization may increase pressure on forests, leading to forest degradation, with adverse local environmental and global climate effects.
This project examines the role of charcoal from a holistic perspective. It estimates current and future charcoal demand across sub-Saharan Africa and analyzes how urbanization, energy transitions, and policy environments shape these dynamics. A focused case study on urban Senegal explores the interaction between charcoal use, alternative energy sources, fossil fuel subsidies, and energy policies, aiming to inform sustainable energy and forest management strategies.
Publications
Project start:
31. October 2019
Project end:
29. April 2023
Project management:
Prof. Dr. Jörg Ankel-Peters
Project staff:
Dr. Gunther Bensch,
Dr. Julian Rose
Funding:
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung