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Biogas Magazine | Edition 12 | 22
Picture: Lighting a charcoal fire for cooking, Rwanda. Š(B)energy
A
set of a small biogas digester, biogas backpacks and biogas stoves replaces firewood for cooking in developing countries. Not only the technology, but rather the approach of (B)energy proves that a smart business model implemented by local entrepreneurs is much more effective than aid projects funded by western donors. Cooking in Africa is expensive! It is not the food, but the energy used for cooking that has become a major expense for African households south of the Sahara. While still about 80 percent of the households in Sub-Saharan Africa cook with traditional fuels, thus fire wood or charcoal on more or
less open fires, this practice consumes up to half of the households’ incomes. These fuels significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, soil erosion, loss of soil fertility and lead to severe indoor air pollution with premature death of about 4 million people world wide – annually. Biogas is probably the cleanest and most sustainable alternative cooking fuel that could be used, but its acceptance and dissemination is progressing only very slowly in Africa. But why? One strategy that has been pursued in several countries is to distribute free or subsidized bio-
