SteamBioAfrica is consistent with the ambitions of the AU-EU Partnership on energy and the European Green New Deal. Achieving impacts beyond its original scope, it has fostered trans-continental collaboration and knowledge exchange between science, innovation, and commerce. It has progressed its overall project objective: “To validate the long-term viability of superheated steam processing of harvested bush and other invasive woody biomass species in Southern Africa as a clean, affordable, and secure energy source”. Knowledge developed in this project has provided the necessary groundwork for us to implement a viable technology that will be replicated at large scale across Southern Africa.
Over 120 million ha of land in Southern Africa, is degraded by bush encroachment and invasive alien species, aggravated by climate change. Productive land is being lost, adversely impacting two important economic sectors, farming and eco-tourism. It currently costs more to harvest this unwanted woody overgrowth than can be recouped in revenue, and the problem is getting worse. There is a clear and pressing need to create added value from it, to stimulate its harvesting and promote land restoration. This needs to take place on a large scale and be sustainable
This biomass has large untapped potential if it can be made to meet industry and household needs. Coal is the primary industrial fuel of choice; with significant coal reserves Southern Africa consumes over 200 million tonnes/year. However, the capital infrastructure for grid power generation and transmission is ageing and unreliable. Therefore, whilst industry uses coal, it is primarily for thermal energy generation. Converting coal boilers to biofuel reduces plant efficiency and involves substantial cost. There is a large demand for a sustainable drop-in coal replacement that is economically competitive. The use of traditional biomass for heating or cooking with open fires has been linked to over 600,000 premature deaths across sub–Saharan Africa, mainly of women and children. Across Africa unsustainable firewood harvesting has led to deforestation. An alternative and sustainable biofuel needs to burn cleaner, with fewer harmful emissions.
SteamBioAfrica uses an innovative, continuous, superheated steam processing of woody biomass, advancing on the SteamBio project (Grant No: 636865). Our novel and stable torrefaction process can add value to woody biomass, giving it coal-like and clean burning properties. Taking it into widespread market replication will stimulate large scale bush harvesting and land restoration and be a sustainable replacement of coal, as a clean secure, and affordable asset to the region.
Our multifaceted approach included: optimisation of supply chains, integrating logistics expertise from European forests to encroached African savannahs; integration of social empowerment across rural value chains with gender equality; assessment by households and industry; Government engagement and exchange of regulatory best-practice between countries; soil science and ecosystem services accounting, life cycle studies; and investor engagement.
