Downloaded from orbit.dtu.dk on: Oct 10, 2021 Assessment of technical potential and selected sustainability impacts of second generation bioenergy in Ghana Kemausuor, Francis; Addo, Ahmad ; Ofori, Emmanuel ; Darkwah, Lawrence ; Bolwig, Simon; Nygaard, Ivan Publication date: 2015 Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link back to DTU Orbit Citation (APA): Kemausuor, F., Addo, A., Ofori, E., Darkwah, L., Bolwig, S., & Nygaard, I. (2015). Assessment of technical potential and selected sustainability impacts of second generation bioenergy in Ghana. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. 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ASSESSMENT OF TECHNICAL POTENTIAL AND SELECTED SUSTAINABILITY IMPACTS OF SECOND GENERATION BIOENERGY IN GHANA By Francis Kemausuor (MPhil) A Thesis submitted to the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Bioengineering COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING May, 2015 DECLARATION I hereby declare that this submission is my own work towards the PhD and that, to the best of my knowledge, it contains no material previously published by another person nor material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree of the university, except where due acknowledgements has been made in the text. Francis Kemausuor (PG6699911) ………………….. …………………. (Student) Signature Date Certified by: Prof. Ahmad Addo ………………….. …………………. (Supervisor) Signature Date Dr Lawrence Darkwah ………………….. …………………. (Co-supervisor) Signature Date Certified by: Prof. S. K. Agodzo ………………….. …………………. (Head of Department) Signature Date ii Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my family: Ruth, Curtis, Casey and Cayden; and the late Prof. Abeeku Brew-Hammond of blessed memory, who have been my support and source of inspiration. iii Acknowledgement I wish to acknowledge the support of my family throughout this study: My father, my mother, my siblings and the entire extended family. My supervisors, Prof. Ahmad Addo, Dr Emmanuel Ofori and Dr Lawrence Darkwah, were very helpful with their comments. Dr Emmanuel Ofori was part of the supervisory team until his untimely demise in October 2014. May his soul rest in perfect peace. This work was supported with a grant from DANIDA Fellowship Centre (DFC) of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a part of the project “Biofuel production from lignocellulosic materials – 2GBIONRG”, DFC journal no. 10-018RISØ. For additional information, see http://2gbionrg.dk. As part of the DANIDA project, I received invaluable support from my two Danish co-supervisors Simon Bolwig and Ivan Nygaard as well as from Gordon Mackenzie and Hanne Østergaard, all from the Technical University of Denmark – DTU. As part of the same project, I worked closely with fellow PhD Students: Sune Tjalfe Thomsen (who has since graduated), Andreas Kamp, Edem Cudjoe Bensah and Kodwo Mieza. Some aspects of this work were done at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Model preparation and drafting of a part-manuscript for Chapter 6 was carried out during a research fellowship at the University of Michigan as part of the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) Program, under the guidance of Prof Shelie Miller. The program Director Prof Kelly Askew and coordinators Devon Keen and Sandra Schulze were every helpful. Colleagues on the programme were inspiring. I also want to acknowledge support received from staff of The Energy Center, and the Department of Agricultural Engineering, KNUST. I am also grateful to staff of the Ghana Energy Commission, especially Ms. Joyce Ocansey for commenting on the socio-economic assessment chapters. iv Abstract Biomass is an important renewable energy source that holds large potential as feedstock for production of different energy carriers in a context of sustainable development, peak oil and climate change. The aim of this thesis was to establish the technical potential of biomass for second generation biofuels production in Ghana; examine the extent to which the available biomass could contribute to future energy scenarios and analyse ex-ante socio-economic impacts of biomass energy systems using relevant case studies. The thesis found that the technical potential of bioenergy from agricultural residues, livestock manure, municipal solid waste and wood residues was approximately 275 PJ in 2011 alone. By 2030, the potential biomass available could gross over 900 PJ. Generating 4.0% of total electricity from biomass and replacing approximately 20% of transport fuels in 2030 with biofuels could reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by about 6 million tonnes of CO2eq by 2030, equivalent to about 14% reduction relative to emissions from a business-as-usual scenario. A gradual household switch to biogas for cooking, as well as the increased use of more efficient charcoal carbonisation technologies and improved cookstoves could save 138 PJ of woodfuels by the same 2030. Socio-economic impact studies were conducted for biogas production from staple food systems and agro-industrial systems. In the staple food system, a 300 m3 bio-digester would have a Net Present Value of approximately US$ 22,000, 16 year payback period and an Internal Rate of Return of 11%, assuming a 10% discount rate. The project will create four (4) full time unskilled labour positions during the investment year and three (3) positions during the operational years. Using methane from the bio-digester for cooking will displace approximately 170 t of firewood per year and save the women in the community a total of 3,400 h per year from not fetching firewood. However, only 5% of households are willing to pay the base tariff of US$ 30/month with up to 60% willing to pay less than half the monthly tariff. v Table of Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................ xi List of Tables ........................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................ 1 1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .............................. 1 1.1 Background Information ............................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives of Study ....................................................................................... 6 1.3 Research Questions ....................................................................................... 6 1.4 Significance of the Research ......................................................................... 7 1.5 Hypothesis ..................................................................................................... 8 1.6 Scope and Structure of Thesis ....................................................................... 9 1.7 Limitations of Study .................................................................................... 10 1.8 Delimitations of Study ................................................................................. 11 CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................... 12 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................. 12 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Recent Trends in Renewable Energy .......................................................... 12 2.3 Global Bioenergy Potentials ........................................................................ 18 2.4 Impact of Bioenergy Production ................................................................. 23 2.4.1 Environmental Impacts ........................................................................ 23 2.4.2 Socio-economic Impacts ...................................................................... 26 2.4.2.1 Definition .......................................................................................... 26 2.4.2.2 Socio-economic Impacts of Bioenergy at Different Levels ............. 27 2.4.2.3 Positive Socio-economic Impacts .................................................... 28 2.4.2.4 Negative Socio-economic Impacts ................................................... 29 2.4.2.5 Tackling Negative Socio-economic Impacts .................................... 32 2.5 Bioenergy and Climate Change ................................................................... 34 2.6 Bioenergy Sustainability Assessment and Sustainability Indicators ........... 36 2.6.1 Sustainability Assessment ...................................................................