Biomass: The key to decarbonisation in Africa

Biomass energy solutions offer renewable and carbon-neutral options for industrial customers across Africa

Biomass is a net-zero source of energy that provides reliable steam solutions to industries. It has the potential to help businesses reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, support decarbonising efforts and meet the growing energy demand.

In the bioenergy process, biomass absorbs carbon from the atmosphere as it grows, which is later released during incineration. This effectively transforms the biomass into a carbon-neutral fuel.

Decarbonisation of industrial operations

Industries that rely on high-temperature processes are often large emitters of carbon. Therefore, transitioning to cleaner fuels is increasingly recognised as a growing priority amongst these industries.

One viable option is to adopt a low-carbon steam solution based on sustainable biomass feedstock. Emphasis is placed on using feedstock that can be grown and cultivated on land that will not compete with current agricultural resources.

For Africa’s biomass market to flourish, strong long-term agreements between industrial customers and service providers are essential. These long-term agreements must ensure that feedstock is supplied sustainably, traceably and cost-effectively. This will ensure a dependable fuel supply chain tailored to the client’s specific needs.

However, effective adoption of biomass has often been hindered by inconsistent supply and varying quality of the feedstock. Tailoring supply chains to suit project locations and required productive volumes is a key strategy to improve reliability and quality.

Biomass projects across Africa

Pilot projects are underway across Africa, where energy resilience and sustainability are key enablers of growth.

Examples of projects include:

• Berkeley Energy Corporate Solutions (BECS) and John Thompson are leading multiple biomass boiler installations in South Africa. This model integrates biomass fuel supply with established boiler technology to facilitate the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
• The Ngodwana Energy biomass power plant in South Africa uses biomass recovered from surrounding plantations and screened waste material from the mill production process. The biomass is burned in a boiler to generate steam, which turns the turbines to generate electricity, which is fed into the national grid.
• The SteamBioAfrica project is tackling energy poverty in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. The project is utilising superheated steam processing systems on woody biomass from invasive bush species to produce clean and affordable biofuel. This project not only aims to address decarbonisation efforts but also addresses challenges such as land degradation, water shortages and unemployment.

Biomass energy is an important and growing energy source and has the potential to play a central role in Africa’s transition to a low-carbon future. 

Cover photo:  Close-up of compacted biomass pellets. Source: mikkiorso©123rf