IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES (IJCCP )

E-I SSN 2545-5265
P- ISSN 2695-1916
VOL. 11 NO. 2 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijccp.vol.11.no2.2025.pg61.77

---

Innovations in Biomass and Bioenergy: Addressing Energy Poverty in Rural Africa

Akinbobola, Sunday Oluwagbemileke, Anyanwu, Leycot, Galadima, Zubairu Khalifa, Raymond Edward Ereh

---

Abstract

This study critically examines the role of biomass and bioenergy innovations in mitigating rural energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focused comparative analysis of Nigeria and Uganda. Utilizing a qualitative secondary research approach, the study synthesizes policy reviews, technological advancements, and case study analyses to evaluate the technical feasibility, socio-economic impacts, and implementation challenges of biomass energy solutions. Key innovations—including gasification, pyrolysis, biogas digesters, and cellulosic bioethanol production—demonstrate significant potential for providing decentralized, renewable energy while enhancing agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Despite progressive policy frameworks such as Nigeria’s National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP, 2015) and Uganda’s Renewable Energy Policy (2007), widespread adoption remains constrained by infrastructural inadequacies, financial barriers, institutional fragmentation, and socio-cultural resistance. Successful localized initiatives, such as Nigeria’s Ibadan biogas-to-electricity project and Uganda’s “Green Heat” briquette program, highlight pathways for scalable and inclusive bioenergy deployment. The study advocates for integrated policy coordination, increased investment through public-private partnerships, community-based financing mechanisms, and targeted subsidies to unlock the sector’s full potential. Recommendations for future research include exploring cross-border biomass trade, conducting comprehensive life-cycle emission analyses, and leveraging digital technologies for optimizing bioenergy systems, thereby advancing sustainable and equitable rural energy transitions in Africa.

keywords:

Biomass energy, rural electrification, bioenergy innovations, Nigeria, Uganda, renewable energy policy, sustainable development, circular economy, energy access.

---

References:

Amoo, O. M., & Fagbenle, R. L. (2013). Renewable municipal solid waste pathways for energy
generation and sustainable development in the Nigerian context. International Journal of
Energy and Environmental Engineering, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/2251-6832-4-1
Anyaoha, K. E., & Zhang, L. (2021). Renewable energy for environmental protection: Life cycle
inventory of Nigeria’s palm oil production. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 174,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105797
Awoyale, A. A., & Lokhat, D. (2019). Harnessing the potential of bio-ethanol production from
lignocellulosic biomass in Nigeria – A review. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining,
13(1), 192–207. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.195
Ayodele, T. R., Ogunjuyigbe, A. S. O., & Alao, M. A. (2017). Life cycle assessment of waste-to-
energy (WtE) technologies for electricity generation using municipal solid waste in
Nigeria. Applied Energy, 201, 200–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.054
Ayodele, T. R., Ogunjuyigbe, A. S. O., & Alao, M. A. (2018). Economic and environmental
assessment of electricity generation using biogas from organic fraction of municipal solid
waste for the city of Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of Cleaner Production, 203, 718–735.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.275
Balogun, A. O., Lasode, O. A., & McDonald, A. G. (2018). Thermochemical and pyrolytic
analyses of Musa spp. residues from the rainforest belt of Nigeria. Environmental
Progress & Sustainable Energy, 37(6), 1932–1941. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.12958
Bappah, M., Bradna, J., Velebil, J., & Malatak, J. (2019). The potential of energy recovery from
by-products of small agricultural farms in Nigeria. Agronomy Research, 17(6),
2180–2186.
Ben-Iwo, J., Manovic, V., & Longhurst, P. (2016). Biomass resources and biofuels potential for
the production of transportation fuels in Nigeria. Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Reviews, 63, 172–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.05.050
Chukwuma, E. C., Ojediran, J. O., Anizoba, D. C., Ubah, J. I., & Nwachukwu, C. P. (2021a).
Geospatially based analysis and economic feasibility evaluation of waste to energy
facilities: A case study of local government areas of Anambra State of Nigeria. Biomass
Conversion and Biorefinery, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01484-5
Chukwuma, E. C., Okey-Onyesolu, F. C., Ani, K. A., & Nwanna, E. C. (2021b). GIS bio-waste
assessment and suitability analysis for biogas power plant: A case study of Anambra
State
of
Nigeria.
Renewable
Energy,
163,
1182–1194.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.09.040
Dahunsi, S. O., Fagbele, O. O., & Yusuf, E. O. (2020). Bioenergy technologies adoption in
Africa: A review of past and current status. Journal of Cleaner Production, 264, 121715.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121715
Deenanath, E. D., Iyuke, S., & Rumbold, K. (2012). The bioethanol industry in sub-Saharan
Africa: History, challenges and prospects. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology,
https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/416491
Dunmade, I. S., Akinlabi, E., & Daramola, M. (2020). A sustainable approach to boosting liquid
biofuels production from second generation biomass resources in West Africa.
Agronomy Research, 18, 109–121. https://doi.org/10.15159/AR.20.109
EEA – European Environment Agency. (2021). Diversion of waste from landfill in Europe.
Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://www.eea.europa.eu/ims/diversion-of-waste-from-
landfill
Elum, Z. A., Modise, D. M., & Nhamo, G. (2017). Climate change mitigation: The potential of
agriculture as a renewable energy source in Nigeria. Environmental Science and Pollution
Research, 24(4), 3260–3273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8060-3
Ezealigo, U. S., Ezealigo, B. N., Kemausuor, F., Achenie, L. E. K., & Onwualu, A. P. (2021).
Biomass valorization to bioenergy: Assessment of biomass residues’ availability and
bioenergy
potential
in
Nigeria.
Sustainability,
13(24),
https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413806
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ministry of Power. (2015). National Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency
Policy
(NREEEP).
http://admin.theiguides.org/Media/Documents/NREEE%20POLICY%202015-
%20FEC%20APPROVED%20COPY.pdf
Gatete, C., & Dabat, M. H. (2017). From the fuel versus food controversy to the institutional
vacuum in biofuel policies: Evidence from West African. Energy, Sustainability and
Society, 7, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-017-0127-2
GBN – Ghana Business News. (2017, January 18). Local company announces production of
ethanol
from
cassava.
Retrieved
July
10,
2022,
from
https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2017/01/18/local-company-announces-production-
of-ethanol-from-cassava/
Giwa, A., Alabi, A., Yusuf, A., & Olukan, T. (2017). A comprehensive review on biomass and
solar energy for sustainable energy generation in Nigeria. Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Reviews, 69, 620–641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.11.160
Hoornweg, D., & Bhada-Tata, P. (2012). What a waste: A global review of solid waste
management (Urban Development Series Knowledge Papers No. 15, pp. 1–98). World
Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/17388
Ibikunle, R. A., Titiladunayo, I. F., Akinnuli, B. O., Lukman, A. F., Ikubanni, P. P., & Agboola,
O. O. (2018). Modelling the energy content of municipal solid waste and determination
of its physicochemical correlation, using multiple regression analysis. International
Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 9(11), 220–232.
Ibikunle, R. A., Titiladunayo, I. F., Akinnuli, B. O., Dahunsi, S. O., & Olayanju, T. M. A. (2019).
Estimation of power generation from municipal solid wastes: A case study of Ilorin
metropolis,
Nigeria.
Energy
Reporyts,
5,
126–135.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2019.01.007
Matemilola, S., Elegbede, I. O., Kies, F., Yusuf, G. A., & Yangni, G. M. (2019). An analysis of
the impacts of bioenergy development on food security in Nigeria: Challenges and
prospects. Environmental and Climate Technologies, 23(1), 64–83.
McCulloch, N., Moerenhout, T., & Yang, J. (2021). Fuel subsidy reform and the social contract
in Nigeria: A micro-economic analysis. Energy Policy, 156, 112336.
Mohammed, Y. S., Mustafa, M. W., Bashir, N., & Mokhtar, A. S. (2013). Renewable energy
resources for distributed power generation in Nigeria: A review of the potential.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 22, 257–268.
Mohammed, Y. S., Mustafa, M. W., Bashir, N., Ogundola, M. A., & Umar, U. (2014).
Sustainable potential of bioenergy resources for distributed power generation
development in Nigeria. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 34, 361–370.

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back