Sustainability performance of lignocellulosic biomass-to-bioenergy supply chains for Rural Growth Centres in Zambia

This study provides insight into the sustainability performance of bioenergy systems for providing cooking and electricity-enabled energy services in the rural growth centres of Zambia. This is achieved by modeling and optimizing a bioenergy supply chain for the provision of these services, and then comparing its sustainability performance to that of existing energy systems. The findings indicate that using biomass-based gasifier-internal combustion engines instead of diesel generators for the provision of electricity-enabled services could result in greenhouse gas, NOX, and SO2 emission reductions of 36, 8, and 97%, respectively. When pellet-gasifier cookstoves are used instead of firewood/three-stone cookstoves for providing cooking services, greenhouse gas and PM2.5 emissions are reduced by 57 and 94%, respectively. Furthermore, households that use bioenergy systems instead of traditional energy systems to deliver cooking and electricity-enabled services can save approximately 275 and 11 US dollars per year, respectively. In general, bioenergy systems outperform existing systems in providing the two energy services in question from a sustainability standpoint. Hence, policymakers must consider their use as alternative energy systems to the existing ones in order to foster sustainable development in rural areas. (C) 2021 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study compared the sustainability performance of bioenergy systems with existing energy systems in providing cooking and electricity-enabled services in rural growth centres of Zambia. Results showed that bioenergy systems outperformed existing systems in emission reductions and cost savings, indicating their potential as alternative energy systems for sustainable development in rural areas.