Household Energy Consumption Patterns in Tanzania

Abstract

Introduction An overview of energy (fuel) consumptionGlobal energy consumption: The pivotal role played by energy in economic growth and improving livelihood has been highlighted by many authors (e.g. Alabe [1]; Jamal [2]; Leach and Gowman [3]; TaTEDO [4]; Thomas [5]; UN [6,7]; Panayotou [8]; Attigah and MayerTasch [9]; OECD [10]; World Economic Forum [11]). Similarly, the importance of forests to human life has been unequivocally pointed out (e.g. Zhao et al. [12]; G8 [13]; Malhi and Grace [14]). The most pervasive challenge associated with energy consumption is how to access energy on terms that facilitate economic growth while respecting environmental integrity [15]. Biomass fuel deserves a special focus in the global energy consumption equation as it (biomass) accounts for a significant proportion of total energy consumption: 14% globally [16,17], 3% in developed countries, 35% in developing countries [18,19], 60-95% in the poorest developing countries, 25-60% in middle-income countries, and <5% in high-income industrialised countries [20]. The percentage of total wood used for fuel is variable across the globe [21,22] [25], biomass accounts for 10% of world primary energy supply and is the world's largest single renewable energy source, since much of the world's population uses wood, charcoal, straw, or animal dung as cooking fuel. In most SSA countries, the wood-based biomass energy sector employs a significant workforce, providing regular income to tens-if not hundreds-of thousands of people [26].Statistics for people relying on biomass fuels are variable: According to IEA [27] nearly 2.5 billion people rely on biomass for cooking and heating, and the figure is anticipated to increase to 2.6 billion people by year 2030. Kandpal and Maheshwari [28] reported that biomass fuels are used by 50% of the global population as a major, and sometimes, the only source of domestic energy for cooking and heating. World Bank [29] estimated the number of poor people depending on forest resources to be 1.6 billion. The hitherto great dependence on biomass fuel can arguably be partially attributed to poor access to electrictrity. According to IEA [27] there is a significant inequality with regard to electrification status. Globally, 72.8% of overall population have access to electricity; in urban areas, 91.2% of population have access to electricity; and in rural areas 56.9% of the population have access to electricity. For Africa, overall is 34.36%; for urban areas 63.1%; and rural areas 16.9%. For Sub-Saharan Africa overall it is 22.6%; for urban 51.3%; and rural 7.5% (Figure 11).Energy consumption is linked to environmental and health problems. The literature [2,4,[30][31][32] suggest that the current energy consumption pattern which relies chiefly on fossil fuels (for developed countries) and on biomass (for developing countries), significantly erodes environmental sustainability at the local, national and global levels. According to Toman [15] serious discussion about climate change invariably involves serious disc...

Household Fuel Transition and Determinants of Firewood Demand in Nepal

“…This study hypothesizes that large ruminant units has a positive relationship with firewood. Higher per capita consumption is hypothesized to shift households to cleaner fuel thus reducing the demand for firewood (Rathore & Chauhan, 2018;Malla & Timilsina, 2014;Lusambo, 2016). Remittance has a psychological effect of inducing households to assume that they are better off and motivate them to shift to cleaner fuel.…”

“…Household size is assumed to increase firewood demand as large household need larger vessel for cooking that is possible only with firewood stoves (Rathore & Chauhan, 2018). Literacy of household head is hypothesized to reduce firewood demand due to higher awareness against indoor air pollution from firewood stoves (Assa et al, 2015;Lusambo, 2016).…”

“…There is an emerging challenge of providing cleaner fuel to household to avoid various health risks arising from the use of traditional non-cleaner fuel and to cope with the challenges created by climate change (WHO, 2018).Household fuel choices are determined by a wide range of socio-economic factors (Lusambo, 2016;Giri & Goswami, 2018;Makonese et al, 2018;Rathore & Chauhan, 2018). There is a growing interest on cleaner and convenient fuels against traditional fuels such as biomass that is primarily dominated by firewood.…”

Biomass to liquefied petroleum gas cooking energy: A solution to indoor pollution ailments in Temeke Municipality, Dar-Es-Salaam

“…Considerable studies have been done in the country's energy subsector [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. While some studies has focused on impacts of substituting clean energy sources to traditional biomass energy [23][24]; others have focused on estimation of costs associated with substituting LPG to biomass fuels in urban households [25] and examining the role of donors on supporting development of efficient renewable energy in Tanzania [26].…”

“…While some studies has focused on impacts of substituting clean energy sources to traditional biomass energy [23][24]; others have focused on estimation of costs associated with substituting LPG to biomass fuels in urban households [25] and examining the role of donors on supporting development of efficient renewable energy in Tanzania [26]. Recently, substantial studies have been made towards fuel consumption patterns in different parts of the country [27][28][29]. However, the studies on energy consumption in the country were done in relatively less urbanised areas with more homogeneous socio economic profiles.…”