Potential of Bioenergy in Rural Ghana

Nelson, Nii; Darkwa, Jo; Calautit, John; Worall, Mark; Mokaya, Robert; Adjei, Eunice; Kemausuor, Francis; Ahiekpor, Julius

doi:10.3390/su13010381

Authors

Nii Nelson

JO DARKWA J.Darkwa@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Energy Storage Technologies

JOHN CALAUTIT JOHN.CALAUTIT1@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Associate Professor

MARK WORALL mark.worall@nottingham.ac.uk
Senior Research Fellow

ROBERT MOKAYA r.mokaya@nottingham.ac.uk
Pro-Vice Chancellor

Eunice Adjei

Francis Kemausuor

Julius Ahiekpor

Abstract

Crop residues are common in rural Ghana due to the predominant role agriculture plays in livelihood activities in these communities. In this paper we investigate the prospects of exploiting agricultural crop residues for rural development in Ghana through bioenergy schemes. A theoretical energy potential of 623.84 PJ per year, which is equivalent to 19,781 MW was estimated using crop production data from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and residue-to-product ratios. Ghana has a total installed generation capacity of 4577 MW which is four times less the energy potential of crop residues in the country. Cocoa pod husks were identified as important biomass resources for energy generation as they are currently wasted. To further assess the energy potential of cocoa pod husks, different cocoa pod husks samples were collected across the six cocoa growing regions in Ghana and thermo-chemically characterised using proximate and ultimate analysis. The low levels of nitrogen and sulphur observed, together with the high heating value, suggest that cocoa pod husks and for that matter crop residues are eco-friendly feedstock that can be used to power rural communities in Ghana.

Citation

Nelson, N., Darkwa, J., Calautit, J., Worall, M., Mokaya, R., Adjei, E., …Ahiekpor, J. (2021). Potential of Bioenergy in Rural Ghana. Sustainability, 13(1), Article 381. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010381

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Dec 30, 2020
Online Publication Date	Jan 4, 2021
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2021
Deposit Date	Jan 8, 2021
Publicly Available Date	Jan 8, 2021
Journal	Sustainability
Print ISSN	2071-1050
Publisher	MDPI
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	13
Issue	1
Article Number	381
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010381
Keywords	Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment; Geography, Planning and Development; Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Public URL	https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5205372
Publisher URL	https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/1/381