In a paper produced for the International Conference on Renewable Energies in 2004, Stephen Karakezi, Kusum Lata and Suani Teixeira Coelho provided an explanation for the growing momentum on biomass energy around the world.
This growing interest is driven by the following: Biomass energy contributes to poverty reduction in developing countries. It is crucial for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – especially in wealth creation and the reduction of extreme poverty, hunger, maternal and infant mortality, health care delivery, access to quality sources of water, and addressing environ mental degradation; It meets energy needs at all times, without expensive conversion devices.
Biomass sources deliver energy in all forms that people need (liquid and gaseous fuels, heat and electricity); It can reduce women’s workload. Reduction in drudgery and indoor air pollution from traditional biomass use leads to free time, increased sense of wellbeing and increased productivity for women; The feedstock is considered carbon dioxide-neutral and can act as a carbon sink; Biomass energy helps restore unproductive and degraded lands, increasing biodiversity, soil fertility and water retention.
