BioLPG for Clean Cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa: Present and Future Feasibility of Technologies, Feedstocks, Enabling Conditions and Financing

Kimball C. Chen, Matthew Leach, Mairi J. Black, Meron Tesfamichael, Francis Kemausuor, Patrick Littlewood, Terry Marker, Onesmus Mwabonje, Yacob Mulugetta, Richard J. Murphy, Rocio Diaz-Chavez, John Hauge, Derek Saleeby, Alex W. Evans and Elisa Puzzolo
Additional contact information
Kimball C. Chen: The Global LPG Partnership, New York, NY 10065, USA
Matthew Leach: Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford GU27XH, UK
Mairi J. Black: Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford GU27XH, UK
Meron Tesfamichael: Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Public Policy, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Francis Kemausuor: The Brew-Hammond Energy Centre, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi AK-039-5028, Ghana
Patrick Littlewood: Gas Technology Institute, Des Plaines, IL 60018, USA
Terry Marker: Gas Technology Institute, Des Plaines, IL 60018, USA
Onesmus Mwabonje: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College, London SW7 1NE, UK
Yacob Mulugetta: Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Public Policy, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Richard J. Murphy: Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford GU27XH, UK
Rocio Diaz-Chavez: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College, London SW7 1NE, UK
John Hauge: The Global LPG Partnership, New York, NY 10065, USA
Derek Saleeby: The Global LPG Partnership, New York, NY 10065, USA
Alex W. Evans: The Global LPG Partnership, New York, NY 10065, USA
Elisa Puzzolo: The Global LPG Partnership, New York, NY 10065, USA

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 13, 1-22

Abstract: Energy supply for clean cooking is a priority for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, i.e., propane or butane or a mixture of both) is an economically efficient, cooking energy solution used by over 2.5 billion people worldwide and scaled up in numerous low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Investigation of the technical, policy, economic and physical requirements of producing LPG from renewable feedstocks (bioLPG) finds feasibility at scale in Africa. Biogas and syngas from the circular economic repurposing of municipal solid waste and agricultural waste can be used in two groundbreaking new chemical processes (Cool LPG or Integrated Hydropyrolysis and Hydroconversion (IH 2 )) to selectively produce bioLPG. Evidence about the nature and scale potential of bioLPG presented in this study justifies further investment in the development of bioLPG as a fuel that can make a major contribution toward enabling an SSA green economy and universal energy access. Techno-economic assessments of five potential projects from Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda illustrate what might be possible. BioLPG technology is in the early days of development, so normal technology piloting and de-risking need to be undertaken. However, fully developed bioLPG production could greatly reduce the public and private sector investment required to significantly increase SSA clean cooking capacity.

Keywords: bioLPG; LPG; propane; butane; clean cooking; green economy; circular economy; renewable feedstocks; Cool LPG; IH 2; municipal solid waste; agricultural waste; biogas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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