Addressing Economic and Energy Poverty Through Locally Available Biomass Resources: Investigation of Issues Concerning India and South Africa

The cyclic effect of energy poverty and economic poverty has been conclusively evidenced primarily from the experiences of developing World. In the developing countries, struggle to meet the basic energy needs impacts the life of the poorer section in terms of cost of health, education and quality. However, considering the adequate biomass resources and sustainable technologies for conversion of surplus biomass into useful form of energy; integration of the surplus resources with appropriate technology offers opportunities to address both energy and economic poverty. In this study, feasibility of some proven options of bioenergy based energy technologies and enterprises are investigated to understand their prospects to address energy and economic hardship considering a case study from India and analyzed its replicability in South Africa. Resources inventories, avenues of additional income generation and long term impact of selected bioenergy enterprise options (biogas and producer gas and improved stove) are investigated in the context of both the countries. Organic fertilizer (vermicompost), mushroom and community based agro-industries are some of the prospective entrepreneurial activities which can be supported by the bioenergy options. Considering the abundance and characteristics, feasibility of converting surplus biomass resources (crop residue, manure, food waste) into required energy along with revenue earning avenues is indicated by the study. However, there are social and managerial issues which required to be addressed besides provisions for financial incentives to realize the benefits of such integrated systems.