The potential for the production of bioenergy for lighting and cooking using Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L. Euphorbiaceae) by small scale farmers on the Kenyan coast [Elektronische Ressource] / Fritjof Boerstler

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• Publié par: rheinisch-westfalischen_technischen_hochschule_-rwth-_aachen
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 12
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 6 Mo

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“The Potential for the Production of Bioenergy for Lighting and
Cooking Using Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L. Euphorbiaceae) by Small
Scale Farmers on the Kenyan Coast”

Von der Fakultät für Georessourcen und Materialtechnik der
Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen

zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines
Doktors der Naturwissenschaften

genehmigte Dissertation
vorgelegt von M.A.
Fritjof Boerstler
aus Braunschweig

Berichter: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Wolfgang Schoop
Univ.-Prof. Dr. phil. Martina Fromhold-Eisebith


Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 02. Juni 2010

Diese Dissertation ist auf den Internetseiten der Hochschulbibliothek online verfügbar.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The compilation of this Dissertation would not have been possible without the kind
support and assistance of numerous individuals and organizations which I would herewith
like to thank sincerely.

First and foremost I thank my research advisor Prof. Dr Wolfgang Schoop who provided
guidance throughout the entire period, helping me to stay focused. I would also like to
thank Prof. Dr Fromhold-Eisebith for taking over the co-reporting despite the very short
notification.

The German Development Service (DED) and the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP GEF SGP) made the study possible by allowing me to combine my
work as Technical Advisor with necessary research activities on the ground. In this sense,
a special thanks goes to my former DED Coordinator, Mr Anton Glaeser who supported
me in my decision to start this work at the beginning of 2006.

Along the way I met a lot of individuals who supported me with advice and assistance
including: Mr Elias Kimaru (WWF) and the WWF-team in Mombasa and Ukunda who
patiently assisted me in moving the project ahead. The impressive commitment and
involvement of the Coordinators from the Community Groups, who simplified the data
collection in the field, particularly Mr Mambo Mwakasimu who walked an extra mile to
accommodate all necessary surveys on time.
Multiple discussions with experts were extremely helpful to gain insight into the different
research topics, these were held with numerous individuals including Mrs Faith Odongo
(Ministry of Energy, Kenya), Dr Gerd-Henning Vogel (DECON GmbH, Germany), Dr
Evans Kituyi (University of Nairobi, Kenya), Dr Miyuki Iiyama (ICRAF, Kenya), Mr
Eirik Trondson (Energy Africa Ltd., Kenya), Dr Rene Haller (Baobab Trust, Kenya), Dr
Eric Martinot (Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, Japan), Dr Sue Canney (Pipal
Ltd., Kenya) and Mr Kilian Reiche (World Bank, USA).

I would like to express gratitude to Mr Ian Robertson (Agro-ethnologist) and Mrs Anne
Robertson (a Botanist very involved in conservation and protection efforts of Kenya‘s
makaya, sacred coastal forests) both living and working in East Africa for the past 40
years. Their valuable advice after proofreading the Thesis is greatly appreciated.

I also acknowledge the support of Dr Neil Burgess (Cambridge University), Mr Rudi
Drigo (FAO-Consultant), Mr Meshack Nyabenge (ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya), Mr Craig
von Hagen (UN/FAO, Nairobi, Kenya), Mr Allan Kute (World Food Programme,
Nairobi, Kenya), Mrs Karyn Tabor and Mrs Kellee Koenig (Conservation International,
Washington DC) and Dr Peter Macharia (Kenya Soil Survey) for providing the needed
GIS-data for the different research fields.

Even though the daily project work often overlapped my research activities, it repeatedly
proved to be exceptionally difficult to balance a job, a family and ‗studies‘ at the same
time. My wife and daughter should therefore receive my utmost thanks and appreciation
for their understanding.
I‘m convinced my three year old daughter, Siana to whom I dedicate this work will
understand the value of it as she is the next generation to inherit this planet from us.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the support from my brother who assisted me in
obtaining literature which was hard to find in Kenya. To my parents I will always be
grateful for their faith in me and their encouragement.

Table of Contents

List of Figures I
List of Tables III
List of Maps III
List of Images IV
List of Case Studies V
Abbreviations VI
List of Appendices X
Currency exchange rates X
Introduction XI
1. Household energy consumption in Developing Countries 1
1.1 Biomass – cooking fuel for the poor 2
1.2 Kerosene - fuel based lighting for the poor 4
2. The importance of household energy in reaching the Millennium Development 8
Goals
2.1 How the use of traditional biomass leads to environmental degradation 10
2.2 Traditional biomass and respiratory infections 16
2.3 Socio-economic impacts of the use of traditional biomass 18
2.4 The effects of fuel based lighting 19




3. The growing importance of Renewable Energy Technologies 19
3.1 The status of renewable energy technologies in Developing Countries 22
3.2 Increasing affordability due to reduction in costs 24
3.3 Growing investment in the establishment of renewable energy technologies 25
4. Barriers for the diffusion of Renewable Energy Technologies 27
in Developing Countries
4.1 The need for accurate data 28
4.2 The importance of a conducive, institutional environment 29
4.2.1 Government policy interventions for the wider promotion of Renewable 30
Energy Technologies
4.2.2 Policy impacts on rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa 34
4.2.3 Possible interventions in favour of rural electrification 38
4.2.3.1 Co-operatively managed off-grid schemes 40
4.2.3.2 Are rural households able to pay for energy services? 44
4.2.3.3 Rural Energy Service Company – overcoming initial costs and 46
service constraints
4.2.3.4 The potential of micro-financing 48
4.2.4 The need for a local supply infrastructure 51
4.2.5 The need for quality control 53
4.3 Social acceptance by consumers 55
4.3.1 The diffusion of innovations 56
4.3.2 The need for technology cooperation 60
4.3.3 No awareness: no adoption 62
5. Sub-Saharan Africa‟s dependency on traditional biomass and kerosene 64
5.1 The practicability of sustainably producing traditional biomass 67
5.2 The feasibility of increasing the energy efficiency of traditional biomass 70


6. Household energy in Kenya 76
6.1 Electricity, a future energy source for the poor? 80
6.1.1 The Rural Electrification Programme 80
6.1.2 Can future electricity generation meet the demand? 85
6.1.3 Affordable tariffs vs. unaffordable connection fees 91
6.2 Kenya‘s potential for ‗stand alone‘ renewable based power generation 93
6.2.1 The potential of micro-hydro power 94
6.2.2 The of wind energy 97
6.2.3 The potential of solar photovoltaics 98
6.2.4 The of bioenergy 102
6.2.4.1 Direct combustion of biomass 102
6.2.4.2 The potential of bio-chemical conversion 104
6.2.4.3 The of biofuel 106
7. Jatropha curcas L. – the potential of a multipurpose oil tree 110
7.1 Properties of the species 111
7.1.1 Medicinal value of leaves and seeds 112
7.1.2 Energy value of crude jatropha oil 113
7.1.3 Geographical distribution within Kenya 115
7.2 Jatropha plantations in Developing Countries and their viability 117
7.2.1 Agro-economical requirements 120
7.2.2 Environmental impacts 122
7.2.3 Socio-economic effects 125
7.2.4 Intercropping – Outgrower scheme 127
7.2.5 The feasibility of an international certification scheme 128
7.3 Overview of Jatropha activities in Kenya 129
8. The suitability of Jatropha for decentralized energy provision 132
8.1 Implementing agency and project design 133
8.2 The Stakeholders 135

8.3. Materials and Methods 137
9. The areas of examination 140
9.1 The Natural Environment 142
9.1.1 Geology and geomorphology 142
9.1.2 The Soils 143
9.1.3 The Climate 146
9.1.4 Population and ethnic groups 149
9.2 Economics 152
9.2.1 Agricultural potential 153
9.2.2 Land-use practices 155
9.2.3 The importance of tree crops 157
10. Household energy consumption 160
10.1 Energy for cooking 160
10.2 Energy for lighting 165
10.3 Perceived problems in relation to different fuel sources 169
11. The production – Jatropha as buffer zone and hedge plant 171
11.1 Community knowledge about Jatropha 171
11.2 The importance of buffer zones to protect indigenous forests 172
11.2.1 Makaya - biodiversity hot spots under threat 175
11.2.2 Kaya Muhaka‟s biodiversity 179
11.2.3 The Jatropha buffer zone 181
11.3 Production on farms – Jatropha hedges to protect food crops 184
11.3.1 The viability of Jatropha for a drought coping strategy 186
11.3.2 Productivity of Jatropha trial areas 187
11.3.3 Jatropha‟s economic viability as a hedge plant in Kenya 192