Energy Potential and Sustainability of Straw Resources in Three Regions of Ghana

Abstract

Anthropogenic global warming and the depletion of nonrenewable resources necessitate a transition towards bioenergy to accelerate sustainable development and carbon neutrality. This study quantified the availability and energy potential of crop (cereals, legumes, roots and tubers) straws based on data from the Northern, North East and Savannah regions in Ghana. The annual technical straw potential was 2,967,933 tonnes, whilst the crop straws with the highest technical potential were yam (935,927 tonnes), groundnut (485,236 tonnes), maize (438,926 tonnes) and soybean (374,564 tonnes). The technical energy potential of all the crop straws was 42,256 TJ, although the energy potential of yam, groundnut, maize and soybean was 13,922 TJ, 7611 TJ, 5704 TJ and 5409 TJ, respectively. There was a linear correlation between the straw produced and the energy potential per region. The Northern region (28,153 TJ) recorded the highest energy potential followed by the Savannah (8330 TJ) and North East (5773 TJ) regions. To serve as context, the research placed an emphasis on the sustainability of crop straws for bioenergy and added a brief analysis of the life cycle assessment (LCA) of bioenergy scenarios to explore the environmental sustainability of crop straw-based power generation. This study will serve as a reference in understanding LCA inference on practicable research of crop straw-based, power plant expansion in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

A comprehensive review of the production, adoption and sustained use of biomass pellets in Ghana

“…2 ) [ 31 ]. Previous studies [ 22 , 27 , 32 ] found that cassava stalk, yam stalk and maize cob should be prioritized for pellet production in Ghana. Mohammed et al [ 59 ] in their study did not prioritize all types of residues produced by maize (stalks, cobs, and husks) and rice (straw and husks).…”

“…Ghana can ensure constant pellet production by spreading out or localizing factories, as seen in Europe [ 201 ] and China [ 199 ]. Mid-South and Northern Ghana could be optimal sites for pellet processing facilities as copious amounts of crop residue, and wood waste are generated in these areas [ 27 , 31 ]. The Ghana Ministry of Transport and other stakeholders must tackle issues with poor road networks [ 217 ] and transport mediums to ameliorate transportation's associated inconveniences and dangers.…”

“…Also, exposure to HAP from using biomass accounts for the premature death of 18,000 people every year [ 7 ], a disproportionate part of which are women and children below five years [ 25 ]. To reduce HAP and deforestation by providing clean energy and advance the united nation's SDGs; SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (climate action) [ 26 , 27 ], the government of Ghana (GoG) developed the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) in 2019 [ 28 ]. The REMP includes promoting 3 million advanced pellet stoves and use of wood pellets by cultivating 430,000 ha of woodlots by 2030 [ 29 ].…”

Biomass Pellet Fuel Production and Utilization in Ghana: A Review

“…The annual production for the period was 3,983,313, 3,849,396, and 4,074,085 in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. Throughout this period, yam straws consistently had the highest production, while millet straws had the lowest 7 (Table 1). Wood residues from road construction, skidding trails, surface mining sites, and forest clearings for agriculture offer additional biomass sources.…”

“…Amount of Typical Crop Residue Produced in Three Regions of Ghana (North, North East, and Savannah) from 2017 to 2019 in Tonnes7 …”