Activities

Activities include engaging key stakeholders in African countries to discuss transitioning from traditional to modern bioenergy, with a special focus on ethanol's benefits for clean cooking. The plan involves organizing national-level dialogue events, conducting an online workshop to raise awareness, and developing a report on the advantages and challenges of ethanol as a clean cooking fuel in African and Asian countries.

Uganda and Ethiopia showcase clean cooking efforts at 11th GBEP Bioenergy Week

At the 11th GBEP Bioenergy Week, clean cooking was a key topic. Ms. Justine Akumu, Senior Energy Officer with Uganda's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, highlighted Uganda's comprehensive strategy to transition from biomass dependency to modern clean cooking solutions by 2040 through initiatives like tax waivers on biodigesters and promotion of bio-LPG and ethanol. Clean cooking is also integrated into Uganda's national priorities and NDCs.

Ms. Tirhas Mebrahtu, Director for Resource Mobilization and Projects Monitoring at the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, provided an overview of Ethiopia's efforts to expand clean cooking access. With less than 10 percent of the population accessing clean cooking solutions, Ethiopia's strategy focuses on utilizing its rich renewable energy resources and huge livestock population for biogas production. Since 2009, Ethiopia has built 44,000 biodigesters and is updating policies to support the expansion of clean cooking. Ms. Mebrahtu also highlighted the severe health impacts of traditional cooking methods and the necessity for policy frameworks to support the transition to cleaner energy.

10th GBEP Bioenergy Week highlights ethanol as a sustainable alternative for clean cooking

At the GBEP Bioenergy Week in 2023, a session highlighted the benefits of ethanol as a sustainable alternative to traditional biomass cooking methods. A clean-burning fuel that can be produced from a variety of renewable feedstocks, ethanol is a proven alternative to traditional biomass fuels, such as wood and charcoal, which are often inefficient and have a negative impact on the environment.

Ethanol has the potential to play a significant role in improving access to clean cooking in developing countries. However, the session also underscored the challenges in scaling up ethanol for clean cooking, which include the need for standardized production and distribution, awareness-raising on the benefits of ethanol, and making ethanol cookstoves more affordable for households. By addressing these challenges, ethanol could become a mainstream clean cooking solution for millions of people around the world.

Harnessing the power of ethanol for clean cooking in East Africa

Around 2.3 billion people worldwide still lack access to clean cooking and use traditional woodfuel for cooking and heating. This poses serious health and environmental risks, including indoor air pollution, deforestation, and GHG emissions.

But there is a promising solution: ethanol cookstoves. Ethanol cookstoves are clean-burning, efficient, and affordable alternatives to traditional biomass stoves. They produce fewer emissions, improve indoor air quality, and help protect our environment.

Watch this webinar and learn the market opportunities for ethanol as a clean cooking fuel in East Africa.

National Dialogue on "Ethanol for Clean Cooking in Rwanda and Uganda"