skip to main content

Status and Benefits of Renewable Energy Technologies in the Rural Areas of Ethiopia: A Case Study on Improved Cooking Stoves and Biogas Technologies

Department of Environmental science; Faculty of natural and computational sciences; Kotebe University College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Published: 15 Jul 2015.
Editor(s):

Citation Format:
Abstract
The majority of Ethiopia’s people (85%) reside in rural areas, deriving their livelihood from agriculture. Ethiopia’s energy system is characterized mainly by biomass fuel supply, with households being the greatest energy consumers. The household sector takes up nearly 94 % of the total energy supplies. Access to energy resources and technologies in rural Ethiopia is highly constrained which makes the energy supply and consumption pattern of the country to show many elements of un-sustainability. The concern on cooking practices, household economics, health, forest and agricultural resource management, and global greenhouse gas emissions has emerged as a transformative opportunity to improve individual lives, livelihoods, and the global environment. More decentralized renewable energy projects could play an important role in mitigating traditional biomass fuel use. Improved cooking stove (ICS) dissemination projects have been launched involving the private sector in the production and commercialization of the stoves. In doing so, about 3.7 million ICSs have been disseminated in the country so far which benefited stove users, producers and the total environment as about 30 million hectare of forest per year can be conserved. Conversion of animal waste to biogas energy to replace traditional fuel and use of the slurry as a fertilizer is the other current focus of the government of Ethiopia and installed more than 860 biogas digesters. The benefits obtained from these technologies are considerable and promising. However, the programs are not that much benefited the rural households where it had been intended to address. So, due attention should be given for those of the rural households in order to address the fuel wood crisis, environmental degradation and their health condition.
Fulltext View|Download

Article Metrics:

  1. Ezzati, Majid and Daniel M. Kammen (2002) The Health Impacts of Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution from Solid Fuels in Developing Countries: Knowledge, Gaps, and Data Need. Resources for the Future, Washington D.C
  2. Manuel, J. (2003). “ The Quest for Fire: Hazards of a daily struggle”. ennvironews focus in Environmental Health Perspectives, 11:11
  3. Abebe, D, Steven F. K, Alemu M(2012) Coping with Fuel wood Scarcity:Household Responses in Rural Ethiopia. Discussion paper series on environment and development. EfD DP 12-01
  4. Memoire, A. (2013) Global Conference on Rural Energy Access: A Nexus Approach to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication Economic Commission for Africa. Sustainable energy for all: UN-Energy. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  5. Wolde-Giorgis, W. (2002). Development of Renewable Energy Resources for Rural electrification in Ethiopia: Lost Opportunities and Future Prospects, Rural Electrification Symposium Proceedings, March 1-5, 2002, Ethiopia
  6. FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) (2010) Global forest resources assessment, FAO Forestry paper163, 2010
  7. Ethiopian Rural Energy Development and Promotion Centre (EREDPC) (2007) Ethiopia Energy Situation. Available at: https://energypedia.info/wiki/Ethiopia_Energy_Situation
  8. Forum for Environment (2010) Ethiopian Environment Review. NO.1, Addis Ababa, pp62
  9. GTZ (2000). “Household Energy /Protection of Natural Resources Project (HEPNR): Project Brief, First Phase 1998 – 2000”. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  10. ESD (2000) “Poverty reduction aspects of successful improved households stoves programmes” Available online at http://povertystoves.energyprojects.net/
  11. Cunningham, MA, Cunningham, WP, Saigo BW. (2003) Environmental Science. A Global Concern, 7th edn, McGraw-Hill. USA. pp515-517
  12. EFAP (1994) Ethiopian forestry action program: final report – Volume II: the challenges for development, Ministry of Natural Resources Development and Environmental Protection, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  13. Chipman, R, Dzioubinski ,O. (1999) Trends in Consumption and Production. Household Energy Consumption, DESA discussion paper number 6, pp 3
  14. Dereje, B. (2005) Sustainable Utilization of Natural Resources for Improved Food Security Program: Energy/SUN:ENERGY. GTZ and MoARD. Addis Ababa, pp4-5
  15. GIZ (2010) Experience Exchange on Marketing of GTZ Household Energy Interventions. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  16. (EEA, 2011) Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe 2011 - Tracking progress towards Kyoto and 2020 targets. Available at: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/ghg-trends-and- projections-2011
  17. GIZ (2007) Economic evaluation of the improved household cooking stove dissemination program in Uganda: Household Energy Programme – HERA
  18. Anonymous (2011). Domestic Biogas Newsletter. SNV. Issue 4, January 2011, February, 2011. http://www.snvworld.org
  19. Eshete, E., Sonder K., Heegde Ft. (2006). Report on the feasibility study of a national program for domestic biogas in Ethiopia. SNV – Ethiopia
  20. Global Non-Timber Forest Products Partnership (NTFP) (2006) Charcoal and Communities Conference Planned for Mozambique in 2007. http://stoves.bioenergylists.org/globalntfpcharcoal. Accessed on 15 May 2015
  21. USDA forest service (2010)Assessing Urban Forest Effects and Values. Chicago’s Urban Forest. Available at: https://www.itreetools.org/resources/reports/Chicago%27s%20Urban%20Forest.pdf. Accessed on 15 May 2015
  22. Rensselear, R. (2010) Charcoal production in the democratic republic of Congo case number 498. http://www.american.edu/ted/charcoal.htm
  23. Kituyi, E. (2002) Attracting Clean Development Mechanism Projects: Prerequisites for African Governments. CDM
  24. Policy Series, Vol.1 No.1, African Centre for Technology Studies, Nairobi
  25. Jindal, R. (2006) carbon sequestration projects in africa: potential benefits and challenges to scaling up. EarthTrends Environmental Essay Competition Winner. World Resources Institute. World Agroforestry Centre, Working Paper. Available at: http://earthtrends.wri.org/features/view_feature.php?fid=68&theme=3

Last update:

  1. Opportunities and Challenges of Renewable Energy Production in Ethiopia

    Girum Ayalneh Tiruye, Abreham Tesfaye Besha, Yedilfana Setarge Mekonnen, Natei Ermias Benti, Gebrehiwet Abrham Gebreslase, Ramato Ashu Tufa. Sustainability, 13 (18), 2021. doi: 10.3390/su131810381
  2. Contribution of Parkland Agroforestry in Meeting Fuel Wood Demand in the Dry Lands of Tigray, Ethiopia

    Mehari Tadele, Emiru Birhane, Gidey Kidu, Hailemariam G-Wahid, Meley Mekonen Rannestad. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 39 (8), 2020. doi: 10.1080/10549811.2020.1738946
  3. Potential environmental impacts of small-scale renewable energy technologies in East Africa: A systematic review of the evidence

    Yibeltal T. Wassie, Muyiwa S. Adaramola. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 111 , 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.05.037
  4. Interrelationships between renewable energy and agricultural economics: An overview

    Vítor João Pereira Domingues Martinho. Energy Strategy Reviews, 22 , 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.esr.2018.11.002
  5. A Comprehensive Approach to the Design of a Renewable Energy Microgrid for Rural Ethiopia: The Technical and Social Perspectives

    Stergios Emmanouil, Jason Philhower, Sophie Macdonald, Fahad Khan Khadim, Meijian Yang, Ezana Atsbeha, Himaja Nagireddy, Natalie Roach, Elizabeth Holzer, Emmanouil N. Anagnostou. Sustainability, 13 (7), 2021. doi: 10.3390/su13073974
  6. Feasibility of agriculture biomass power generation in Morocco: Techno-economic analysis.

    A.A. Mana, A. Allouhi, K. Ouazzani, A. Jamil. Journal of Cleaner Production, 295 , 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126293
  7. Household-Level Effects of Energy Insecurity on Welfare in Southern Africa: A Malawian Case Study

    Fydess Khundi Mkomba, Akshay Kumar Saha, Umaru Garba Wali. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 10 (1), 2021. doi: 10.14710/ijred.2021.33234
  8. An Experimental Comparative Study of Large-Sized Direct Solar Fryers for Injera Baking Applications

    Mesele Hayelom Hailu, Mulu Bayray Kahsay, Asfafaw Haileslassie Tesfay, Ole Jørgen Nydal. Energies, 17 (19), 2024. doi: 10.3390/en17194949

Last update: 2024-10-14 09:17:16

  1. Solid State Anaerobic Digestion for Biogas Production from Rice Husk

    Hashfi Hawali Abdul Matin, Syafrudin Syafrudin, Suherman Suherman, B. Warsito, Sudarno, T. Triadi Putranto. E3S Web of Conferences, 202 , 2020. doi: 10.1051/e3sconf/202020208005
  2. Contribution of Parkland Agroforestry in Meeting Fuel Wood Demand in the Dry Lands of Tigray, Ethiopia

    Mehari Tadele, Emiru Birhane, Gidey Kidu, Hailemariam G-Wahid, Meley Mekonen Rannestad. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 39 (8), 2020. doi: 10.1080/10549811.2020.1738946
  3. Potential environmental impacts of small-scale renewable energy technologies in East Africa: A systematic review of the evidence

    Yibeltal T. Wassie, Muyiwa S. Adaramola. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 111 , 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.05.037
  4. Interrelationships between renewable energy and agricultural economics: An overview

    Vítor João Pereira Domingues Martinho. Energy Strategy Reviews, 22 , 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.esr.2018.11.002
  5. Household-Level Effects of Energy Insecurity on Welfare in Southern Africa: A Malawian Case Study

    Fydess Khundi Mkomba, Akshay Kumar Saha, Umaru Garba Wali. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 10 (1), 2021. doi: 10.14710/ijred.2021.33234