IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v26y2024i11d10.1007_s10668-023-03810-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Africa’s Energy Availability-Deficiency Paradox: Lessons from Small-scale Biogas Technology and Policy Implications

Author

Listed:
  • Roland Azibo Balgah

    (University of Bamenda)

  • Chama Theodore Ketuama

    (Czech University of Life Sciences Prague)

  • Martin Ngwa Ngwabie

    (University of Bamenda)

  • Hynek Roubík

    (Czech University of Life Sciences Prague)

Abstract

The energy crisis associated with energy poverty in Africa continues to keep millions of men, women and children in absolute poverty due to inadequate access to clean energy. Despite its widely recognised importance for sustainable development, theoretical and policy discourses have largely remained dormant with respect to the role that the paradox of energy deficiency plays in the underdevelopment of Africa. This study illustrates how the exploitation of energy potential can be tailored to exert a positive impact on household livelihoods and sustainable development in Africa. Specifically, this study was aimed at determining the impact of biogas technology on the livelihood of beneficiaries and estimating the environmental benefits of biogas technology in terms of global warming potential in order to provide policy recommendations. The results show that the beneficiaries’ livelihood assets, including the human, physical, financial and social capital, were positively impacted by the use of biogas technology. The dominant impact of biogas technology was financial, as the beneficiaries witnessed a significant increase in their household incomes. This was possible through the reduction of the expenditure on fuelwood and the sale of digestate. The environmental benefits of disseminating biogas technology as a cleaner energy source were significant, providing evidence that mobilising the biogas potential in Africa would lead to significant decarbonisation of household energy supply. This shows that integrating the livelihood enhancement components in energy interventions amid the enormous unexploited energy potential would contribute to the sustainable transformation of the African continent. In resonance with Agenda 2030, we conclude by contributing to repositioning energy availability, affordability, and reliability as critical components of an energy revolution for sustainable development in Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Roland Azibo Balgah & Chama Theodore Ketuama & Martin Ngwa Ngwabie & Hynek Roubík, 2024. "Africa’s Energy Availability-Deficiency Paradox: Lessons from Small-scale Biogas Technology and Policy Implications," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 29695-29713, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:26:y:2024:i:11:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03810-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03810-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-03810-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-023-03810-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bonan, Jacopo & Pareglio, Stefano & Tavoni, Massimo, 2017. "Access to modern energy: a review of barriers, drivers and impacts," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(5), pages 491-516, October.
    2. Patrick Mukumba & Golden Makaka & Sampson Mamphweli, 2016. "Biogas Technology in South Africa, Problems, Challenges and Solutions," International Journal of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Research, Conscientia Beam, vol. 5(4), pages 58-69.
    3. Jens Rommel & Meike Weltin, 2021. "Is There a Cult of Statistical Significance in Agricultural Economics?," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(3), pages 1176-1191, September.
    4. Sanoh, Aly & Kocaman, Ayse Selin & Kocal, Selcuk & Sherpa, Shaky & Modi, Vijay, 2014. "The economics of clean energy resource development and grid interconnection in Africa," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 598-609.
    5. Shahidur R. Khandker & Gayatri B. Koolwal & Hussain A. Samad, 2010. "Handbook on Impact Evaluation : Quantitative Methods and Practices," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2693.
    6. Ouedraogo, Nadia S., 2017. "Africa energy future: Alternative scenarios and their implications for sustainable development strategies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 457-471.
    7. Patrick Mukumba & Golden Makaka & Sampson Mamphweli, 2016. "Biogas Technology in South Africa, Problems, Challenges and Solutions," International Journal of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Research, Conscientia Beam, vol. 5(4), pages 58-69.
    8. Aisha Kolawole & Sola Adesola & Glauco De Vita, 2017. "A Disaggregated Analysis of Energy Demand in Sub-Saharan Africa," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 7(2), pages 224-235.
    9. Abadi, Nigussie & Gebrehiwot, Kindeya & Techane, Ataklti & Nerea, Hailish, 2017. "Links between biogas technology adoption and health status of households in rural Tigray, Northern Ethiopia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 284-292.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Obianuju Patience Ilo & Mulala Danny Simatele & S’phumelele Lucky Nkomo & Ntandoyenkosi Malusi Mkhize & Nagendra Gopinath Prabhu, 2021. "Methodological Approaches to Optimising Anaerobic Digestion of Water Hyacinth for Energy Efficiency in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Mori-Clement, Yadira, 2019. "Impacts of CDM projects on sustainable development: Improving living standards across Brazilian municipalities?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 222-236.
    3. Francis Kemausuor & Muyiwa S. Adaramola & John Morken, 2018. "A Review of Commercial Biogas Systems and Lessons for Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-21, November.
    4. Zahonogo, Windbeneti Arnaud, 2025. "Do tariff reductions alleviate energy poverty? Evidence for Sub-Saharan African countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    5. Musonye, Xavier S. & Davíðsdóttir, Brynhildur & Kristjánsson, Ragnar & Ásgeirsson, Eyjólfur I. & Stefánsson, Hlynur, 2020. "Integrated energy systems’ modeling studies for sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    6. Shari, Babajide Epe & Dioha, Michael O. & Abraham-Dukuma, Magnus C. & Sobanke, Victor O. & Emodi, Nnaemeka V., 2022. "Clean cooking energy transition in Nigeria: Policy implications for Developing countries," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 319-343.
    7. Samuel Sebsibie & Workineh Asmare & Tessema Endalkachew, 2015. "Agricultural Technology Adoption and Rural Poverty: a Study on Smallholders in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia," Ethiopian Journal of Economics, Ethiopian Economics Association, vol. 23(2), December.
    8. Bensch, Gunther & Grimm, Michael, 2024. "Behavioural constraints in energy technology uptake: Evidence from real-purchase offers in rural Rwanda and Senegal," Ruhr Economic Papers 1081, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    9. Adekoya, Oluwasegun B. & Olabode, Joshua K. & Rafi, Syed K., 2021. "Renewable energy consumption, carbon emissions and human development: Empirical comparison of the trajectories of world regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1836-1848.
    10. Guo, Jiaqi & Wang, Qiang & Li, Rongrong, 2024. "Can official development assistance promote renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa countries? A matter of institutional transparency of recipient countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    11. Hannah Gichungi & Beatrice Muriithi & Patrick Irungu & Gracious Diiro & John Busienei, 2021. "Effect of Technological Innovation on Gender Roles: The Case of Fruit Fly IPM Adoption on Women’s Decision-Making in Mango Production and Marketing in Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(3), pages 407-426, June.
    12. Martin, Will, 2021. "Tools for measuring the full impacts of agricultural interventions," IFPRI-MCC technical papers 2, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    13. Fresenbet Zeleke & Girma T. Kassie & Jema Haji & Belaineh Legesse, 2021. "Would Market Sheds Improve Market Participation and Earnings of Small Ruminant Keepers? Evidence from Ethiopia," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(2), pages 470-485, June.
    14. Carvalho, Ricardo L. & Lindgren, Robert & García-López, Natxo & Nyambane, Anne & Nyberg, Gert & Diaz-Chavez, Rocio & Boman, Christoffer, 2019. "Household air pollution mitigation with integrated biomass/cookstove strategies in Western Kenya," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 168-186.
    15. Jun Zhang & Yuang He & Jing Zhang, 2022. "Energy Poverty and Depression in Rural China: Evidence from the Quantile Regression Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-21, January.
    16. Jawid, Asadullah & Khadjavi, Menusch, 2019. "Adaptation to climate change in Afghanistan: Evidence on the impact of external interventions," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 64-82.
    17. Martínez-Zarzoso, Inmaculada & Oueslati, Walid, 2016. "Are deep and comprehensive regional trade agreements helping to reduce air pollution?," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 292, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    18. Gitonga, Zachary M. & De Groote, Hugo & Kassie, Menale & Tefera, Tadele, 2013. "Impact of metal silos on households’ maize storage, storage losses and food security: An application of a propensity score matching," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 44-55.
    19. Bonan, Jacopo & Battiston, Pietro & Bleck, Jaimie & LeMay-Boucher, Philippe & Pareglio, Stefano & Sarr, Bassirou & Tavoni, Massimo, 2021. "Social interaction and technology adoption: Experimental evidence from improved cookstoves in Mali," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    20. Tilman Brück & Neil T. N. Ferguson, 2020. "Money can’t buy love but can it buy peace? Evidence from the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE II)," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 37(5), pages 536-558, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:26:y:2024:i:11:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03810-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.