SteamBioAfrica
Project overview
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Short summary
The SteamBioAfrica project aims to upscale and adapt the original SteamBio technology to confirm its net economic, social, and environmental benefits for harvesting invasive woody biomass.
The original SteamBio project demonstrated a steam processing system that used agro-forestry biomass residues to create solid biofuel. In SteamBioAfrica, the aim is to verify that solid biofuel based on encroacher bush and alien invasive species burns cleanly in conventional stoves through a combination of laboratory combustion tests and domestic consumer trials within Namibian, Batswana, and South African communities. Additionally, the acceptance of the solid biofuel by industrial users as a secure and sustainable alternative to fossil coal will be verified.
For SteamBioAfrica to succeed and be socially sustainable, it is crucial to understand the local context and social dynamics. The project supports the development of inclusive value chains across the region, facilitating the involvement of women- and youth-led enterprises in driving the new market opportunity. Our goal is to achieve net positive economic, environmental, and social benefits.
Links:
Project homepage for SteamBioAfrica
Further reading (articles and reports @ Zenodo.org)