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Converting Forest Biomass to Bioenergy for Improved Community Livelihoods: A Review

Received: 18 March 2021    Accepted: 30 March 2021    Published: 29 April 2021
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Abstract

A wide range of forest biomass from both natural and plantation forests constitutes an essential natural asset to a large number of households. The ever-increasing development of biofuels as a potentially sustainable and cleaner replacement for conventional fuels represents a key challenge for the forest industry and the opportunity for forest fringe communities. This, typifies a unique situation to understand the challenges and opportunities for designing sustainable bioenergy supply chains that require simultaneous consideration of economic, social, and environmental aspects. The objective of this study was to examine the conversion of forest biomass to bioenergy for improved community livelihoods. Desk study, content analysis and authors’ personal experiences were employed in carrying out this study. The study finds that forest environ abounds with biomass as feedstock for bioenergy. Positively, there are different technologies in converting biomass to bioenergy. However, it calls for the technical know-how and other factors such as infrastructure, market, full participation of critical players and policy incentives to facilitate bioenergy enterprises at the local level. In conclusion, policies and support mechanisms on bioenergy in creating sustainable livelihoods should be the priority for most countries where biomass abounds and could be established to provide clean and efficient energy.

Published in International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science (Volume 6, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijees.20210602.11
Page(s) 16-28
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Energy Conversion, Forest Industry, Sustainable Development, Livelihood, Fuelwood

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  • APA Style

    Derkyi Nana Sarfo Agyemang, Derkyi Mercy Afua Adutwumwaa, Yankyera Joseph Kusi. (2021). Converting Forest Biomass to Bioenergy for Improved Community Livelihoods: A Review. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science, 6(2), 16-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20210602.11

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    ACS Style

    Derkyi Nana Sarfo Agyemang; Derkyi Mercy Afua Adutwumwaa; Yankyera Joseph Kusi. Converting Forest Biomass to Bioenergy for Improved Community Livelihoods: A Review. Int. J. Energy Environ. Sci. 2021, 6(2), 16-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijees.20210602.11

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    AMA Style

    Derkyi Nana Sarfo Agyemang, Derkyi Mercy Afua Adutwumwaa, Yankyera Joseph Kusi. Converting Forest Biomass to Bioenergy for Improved Community Livelihoods: A Review. Int J Energy Environ Sci. 2021;6(2):16-28. doi: 10.11648/j.ijees.20210602.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijees.20210602.11,
      author = {Derkyi Nana Sarfo Agyemang and Derkyi Mercy Afua Adutwumwaa and Yankyera Joseph Kusi},
      title = {Converting Forest Biomass to Bioenergy for Improved Community Livelihoods: A Review},
      journal = {International Journal of Energy and Environmental Science},
      volume = {6},
      number = {2},
      pages = {16-28},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijees.20210602.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijees.20210602.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijees.20210602.11},
      abstract = {A wide range of forest biomass from both natural and plantation forests constitutes an essential natural asset to a large number of households. The ever-increasing development of biofuels as a potentially sustainable and cleaner replacement for conventional fuels represents a key challenge for the forest industry and the opportunity for forest fringe communities. This, typifies a unique situation to understand the challenges and opportunities for designing sustainable bioenergy supply chains that require simultaneous consideration of economic, social, and environmental aspects. The objective of this study was to examine the conversion of forest biomass to bioenergy for improved community livelihoods. Desk study, content analysis and authors’ personal experiences were employed in carrying out this study. The study finds that forest environ abounds with biomass as feedstock for bioenergy. Positively, there are different technologies in converting biomass to bioenergy. However, it calls for the technical know-how and other factors such as infrastructure, market, full participation of critical players and policy incentives to facilitate bioenergy enterprises at the local level. In conclusion, policies and support mechanisms on bioenergy in creating sustainable livelihoods should be the priority for most countries where biomass abounds and could be established to provide clean and efficient energy.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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    AU  - Derkyi Nana Sarfo Agyemang
    AU  - Derkyi Mercy Afua Adutwumwaa
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    AB  - A wide range of forest biomass from both natural and plantation forests constitutes an essential natural asset to a large number of households. The ever-increasing development of biofuels as a potentially sustainable and cleaner replacement for conventional fuels represents a key challenge for the forest industry and the opportunity for forest fringe communities. This, typifies a unique situation to understand the challenges and opportunities for designing sustainable bioenergy supply chains that require simultaneous consideration of economic, social, and environmental aspects. The objective of this study was to examine the conversion of forest biomass to bioenergy for improved community livelihoods. Desk study, content analysis and authors’ personal experiences were employed in carrying out this study. The study finds that forest environ abounds with biomass as feedstock for bioenergy. Positively, there are different technologies in converting biomass to bioenergy. However, it calls for the technical know-how and other factors such as infrastructure, market, full participation of critical players and policy incentives to facilitate bioenergy enterprises at the local level. In conclusion, policies and support mechanisms on bioenergy in creating sustainable livelihoods should be the priority for most countries where biomass abounds and could be established to provide clean and efficient energy.
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Author Information
  • Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

  • Department of Forest Science, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

  • Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

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