Solid Biomass Fuels Research Articles

Enhancing torrefaction process efficiency for biochar production from filter cake residue in the sugar industry

The torrefaction process is a promising technique for enhancing the quality of solid biomass fuels. This study investigates the effects of torrefaction on biochar produced from filter cake residue, a byproduct of the sugar industry. The primary objectives were to evaluate the impact of process parameters on biochar properties and identify optimal conditions for maximizing the higher heating value (HHV). Filter cake residue was subjected to torrefaction at temperatures ranging from 220-340°C under an inert atmosphere. The influence of particle size (20, 60, and 100 mesh), nitrogen flow rate (20-30 ml/min), temperature (220-340°C), and residence time (30-90 min) on biochar properties was examined using response surface methodology. Proximate analysis revealed that torrefaction significantly reduced moisture, volatile matter, and ash content while increasing fixed carbon content. The maximum HHV of 21.9571 MJ/kg was achieved at a particle size of 20 mesh, nitrogen flow rate of 25 ml/min, temperature of 340°C, and residence time of 60 min. The experimental results agreed with predicted values from the developed models, with an average error of 3.64%. Optimal torrefaction conditions were determined to be a particle size of 21.77 mesh, nitrogen flow rate of 22.50 ml/min, temperature of 311.13°C, and residence time of 42.58 min, yielding a maximum HHV of 18.4853 MJ/kg. These findings demonstrate the potential of torrefaction for upgrading filter cake residue into a high-quality solid biofuel, providing a sustainable solution for waste utilization in the sugar industry.

Empirical analysis of solid biomass fuel and ill-health

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) seven highlights the need to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Improving access to reliable and affordable modern energy for cooking have far-reaching benefits on human health and the environment. In most developing countries, the use of solid biomass fuel (SBF) for cooking is widespread. Using a nationally representative household-level data from Ghana and the biprobit model, this paper examines the relationship between SBF and ill-health. The first stage results show that the adoption of SBF is significantly influenced by socio-economic factors, rental and dwelling status, food hardship, information about SBF, and geographical controls. The adoption of SBF for cooking increases the probability of a household reporting ill-health and frequently reporting ill-health by 25% each, respectively. The differential analysis indicates that charcoal has a moderate effect on ill-health relative to using wood as fuel for cooking. The findings of the study imply that households are more likely to improve their health with increasing affordability and use of clean cooking fuels. Government programs on the promotion of clean energy fuels must be intensified and make more accessible and affordable to households.

Enhanced Torrefied Oil-Palm Biomass as an Alternative Bio-Circular Solid Fuel: Innovative Modeling of Optimal Conditions and Ecoefficiency Analysis

Energy production from coal combustion is responsible for nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions including SOx and NOx. This study aims to produce solid biomass fuels from oil-palm residues by torrefaction, having a high heating value (HHV) equivalent to fossil coals. The experiments were designed using Design Expert version 13 software to optimize the conditions affecting the fuel characteristics of the torrefied products. The statistical analysis suggested that the optimal conditions to achieve a high HHV and fixed carbon content while retaining the mass yield of biomass mainly depended on the temperature and torrefying time, while the size played a less important role in affecting the properties. The optimal conditions were observed to be at 283 °C (120 min) for EFBs, 301 °C (111 min) for PF, and 285 °C (120 min) for PKSs. The maximum HHV of 5229, 5969, and 5265 kcal/kg were achieved for the torrefied EFBs, PF, and PKSs, respectively. The energy efficiency of torrefied biomass was increased to 1.25–1.35. Ecoefficiency analysis suggested that torrefaction should be carried out at high temperatures with a short torrefying time. This low-cost bio-circular torrefied biomass showed promising fuel characteristics that could be potentially used as an alternative to coals.

Sustainable biogas production potential in Nepal using waste biomass: A spatial analysis

AbstractBiogas plays a significant part in replacing solid biomass and fossil fuels for cooking. However, the implementation of appropriate policies to promote the development of biogas plants is hindered by a lack of adequate assessment of the biogas potential in Nepal. Thus, we estimate the potential of biogas production at the district level of Nepal from available waste biomass, including livestock manure, agricultural residues, and organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). Our estimates show the theoretical potential of biogas production from livestock manure of 1890 million m3 year−1, agricultural residues of 2290 million m3 year−1, and OFMSW of 234 million m3 year−1. The total biogas production is 4412 million m3 year−1, equivalent to 153 million liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders yearly. Using this biogas potential to replace LPG and solid biomass for cooking could result in avoided CO2, CO, and PM2.5 emissions of 6.3 million tons year−1, 0.4 million tons year−1, and 0.04 million tons year−1, respectively. Our findings suggest that the Terai districts of Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, and Banke, as well as the Hilly districts of Kavrepalanchok, Dhading, and Nuwakot, have a significant amount of biogas‐producing potential. Utilising this potential could also contribute to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals and a clean cooking energy transition in Nepal. For this, governments need careful planning, designing, policy support, and facilitation on bio‐resource management and utilisation at the local level.

Kitchen fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations from biomass fuel use in rural households of Northwest Ethiopia.

Combustion of solid biomass fuels using traditional stoves which is the daily routine for 3 billion people emits various air pollutants including fine particulate matter which is one of the widely recognized risk factors for various cardiorespiratory and other health problems. But, there is only limited evidences of kitchen PM2.5 concentrations in rural Ethiopia. This study is aimed to estimate the 24-h average kitchen area concentrations of PM2.5 and to identify associated factors in rural households of northwest Ethiopia. The average kitchen area PM2.5 concentrations were measured using a low-cost light-scattering Particle and Temperature Sensor Plus (PATS+) for a 24-h sampling period. Data from the PATS+ was downloaded in electronic form for further analysis. Other characteristics were collected using face-to-face interviews. Independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to test differences in PM2.5 concentrations between and among various characteristics, respectively. Mixed fuels were the most common cooking biomass fuel. The 24-h average kitchen PM2.5 concentrations was estimated to be 405 μg/m3, ranging from 52 to 965 μg/m3. The average concentrations were 639 vs. 336 μg/m3 (p < 0.001) in the thatched and corrugated iron sheet roof kitchens, respectively. The average concentration was also higher among mixed fuel users at 493 vs. 347 μg/m3 (p = 0.042) compared with firewood users and 493 vs. 233 μg/m3 (p = 0.007) as compared with crop residue fuel users. Statistically significant differences were also observed across starter fuel types 613 vs. 343 μg/m3 (p = 0.016) for kerosene vs. dried leaves and Injera baking events 523 vs. 343 μg/m3 (p < 0.001) for baked vs. not baked events. The average kitchen PM2.5 concentrations in the study area exceeded the world health organization indoor air quality guideline value of 15 μg/m3 which can put pregnant women at greater risk and contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes. Thatched roof kitchen, mixed cooking fuel, kerosene fire starter, and Injera baking events were positively associated with high-level average kitchen PM2.5. concentration. Simple cost-effective interventions like the use of chimney-fitted improved stoves and sensitizing women about factors that aggravate kitchen PM2.5 concentrations could reduce kitchen PM 2.5 levels in the future.

Pairing combustion experiments and thermogravimetric analysis to uncover timescales controlling cellulose ignition and burnout in a Hencken burner

Solid biomass fuels are potential components of several industrial and power-generation decarbonization pathways. Despite considerable literature that documents the fuel properties of lignocellulosic biomass, the fundamental combustion characteristics of biomass constituents are not well understood. We tackle this knowledge gap by analyzing the combustion properties of cellulose (a key biomass component) in a Hencken burner across various temperature and oxygen mole fractions of the oxidizer gases. Combustion data are compared with results from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scaling analyses to reveal two rate-controlling timescales in the ignition of cellulose: devolatilization time and volatile ignition delay time. TGA shows that the devolatilization time is only a function of temperature and occurs on a considerably shorter timescale than oxidation. Hencken burner experiments show that ignition delay time is highly sensitive to temperature; at very low levels of oxygen in the oxidizer gas (mole fractions of 0.01–0.04), the ignition delay time is sensitive to oxygen mole fraction, but this sensitivity disappears at higher oxygen levels. Burnout time is the least sensitive parameter investigated. The combination of experiments and chemical kinetic simulations begins to explain the ignition behavior of the volatiles from cellulose decomposition and lays groundwork for future research to address uncertainties in quantifying the kinetics of cellulose ignition. Finally, this combined combustion-fuel science study raises serious doubts about the use of combustion indices and TGA-calculated properties to predict the true combustion behavior of biomass.

Interlaboratory study: Testing reproducibility of solid biofuels component identification using reflected light microscopy

Considering global market trends and concerns about climate change and sustainability, increased biomass use for energy is expected to continue. As more diverse materials are being utilized to manufacture solid biomass fuels, it is critical to implement quality assessment methods to analyze these fuels thoroughly. One such method is reflected light microscopy (RLM), which has the potential to complement and enhance current standard testing, leading to improving fuel quality assessment and, ultimately, preventing avoidable air pollution.An interlaboratory study (ILS) was conducted to test the reproducibility of biomass fuels component identification using a reflected light microscopy technique. The exercise was conducted on thirty photomicrographs showing biomass and various undesired components (like plastics or mineral matter), which were purposely added (by the ILS organizers) to contaminate wood pellets and charcoal-based grilling fuels.Forty-six participants had various levels of difficulty identifying the marked components, and as a result, the percentage of correct answers ranged from 52.2 to 94.4%. Among the most difficult components to distinguish were petroleum products and inorganic matter. Various reasons led to the misidentification, including insufficient morphological descriptions of the components provided to participants, ambiguities of the nomenclature, limitations of the analytical and exercise method, and insufficient experience of the participants.Overall, the results indicate that RLM has the potential to enhance the quality assessment of biomass fuels. However, they also demonstrate that the petrographic classification used in this exercise requires further refinement before it can be standardized. While a new simplified classification of solid biomass fuels components was created as an outcome of this study, future research is necessary to refine the nomenclature, develop a microscopic morphological description of the components, and verify the accuracy of component identification with a follow-up ILS.

Sustainability dilemma of hemp utilization for energy production

With global energy demand rising and climate change targets becoming more ambitious, the use of biomass for combustion will become even more important than it already is. As wood supplies become scarce, leading to increased demand for materials and energy, the demand for alternative solid biofuels for energy use is growing. Using various biobased raw materials seem to be the best way to optimize the value chain of solid biomass fuels. Biomass has high energy density, homogeneous physical properties, easy handling and efficient transportation. Combining multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and life cycle analysis (LCA), this article evaluates the utilization of hemp for a number of uses, including energy generation. The methodology developed combines agrotechnological and sustainability criteria with data analytic techniques for more effective application of hemp products in changing environmental, economic, and geopolitical contexts. According to the results of the research conducted, the use of hemp as an energy source is a viable option only in the short term.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas or Biomass for Cooking and Effects on Birth Weight

(N Engl J Med. 2022;387:1735–1746) Over the past few decades, 3 billion people continue to use open fires and traditional stoves to cook with using solid biomass fuels (biomass) like charcoal and wood. The resulting air pollution within the home is a concerning health risk for low- to middle-income populations and leads to millions of premature deaths and adverse health outcomes, including lower birth weight neonates. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookstoves have been shown to decrease air pollution and associated health risks. This study aimed to determine whether replacing biomass cookstoves with LPG cookstoves impacts birth weight.

Clean Cooking Fuels to Improve Health During Pregnancy

(N Engl J Med. 2022;387:1805–1807) Three billion people worldwide depend on solid biomass fuels for cooking or heating, leading to millions of adverse health outcomes and deaths. Neonates are no exception with pollution from biomass fuel cookstoves causing low birth weight and pneumonia.

Residential gasification of solid biomass: Influence of raw material on emissions

With interest rising in biomass use, biomass gasification has the potential to become an imperative mechanism to deliver clean conversion of various types of solid biomass to gas. But as biomass gasification attracts growing interest, it is important to focus not only on the technological feasibility but also fully understand its environmental impact to eliminate avoidable air pollution.In this study, we investigated relationships between the composition of 14 types of solid biomass fuels and their gasification emissions in a small-scale residential outdoor setting. Our results show that the amount and type of produced emissions are strongly influenced by the gasified feed.Combining chemical and petrographic analysis proved to be a robust quality assessment method of solid biomass fuels, allowing for quick detection of their contaminants. These impurities can be directly correlated with elevated particulate matter emissions, CO, H2S, HCHO, NH3, SO2, NOx, and respiratory tract irritants. These observations show that quality testing of biomass fuels is critical not only for ensuring their high quality but also for predicting avoidable air pollution during their utilization.Although our data revealed relationships between the type of biomass fuel and gasification emissions, in general, our experiments show that small-scale gasification in a residential setting is a safe technology, and potential hazards can be eliminated by using certified fuels and ensuring appropriate distance from the source of emissions.

Biomass Combustion Modeling Using OpenFOAM: Development of a Simple Computational Model and Study of the Combustion Performance of Lippia origanoides Bagasse

Combustion is the most commonly used technology to produce energy from biomass; nevertheless, there are still thermal efficiency problems in current biomass combustion furnaces and a lack of knowledge about the properties of residual biomasses that could be used as fuels. Aiming to contribute to knowledge of the potential of residual biomass for energy generation, this work reports on the implementation of a 2D computational model to study the combustion performance of several solid biomass fuels, and its application in the analysis of Lippia origanoides bagasse combustion. The model uses an Eulerian–Lagrangian approach; in the continuous phase, governing equations are solved, and in the dispersed phase, particles are tracked and the mass, momentum, species and energy transfer between the phases are calculated. The model was validated against experimental data from a combustor fueled by three biomasses: wood pellets, olive stone and almond shell. The results show deviations of less than 13%, with few exceptions, which indicates a good degree of agreement with experimental measurements compared with those reported by other studies on the subject. Furthermore, it was found that the stems of Lippia origanoides bagasse show similar performance to that of other biomass used as solid fuel, while the leaves present lower performance.

Understanding population exposure to size-segregated aerosol and associated trace elements during residential cooking in northeastern India: Implications for disease burden and health risk

Mass-size distribution of respirable aerosol and 13 associated trace elements (TEs) were investigated in rural kitchens using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), firewood and mixed biomass fuels across three northeastern Indian states. The averaged PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm) and ΣTE concentrations were 403 and 30 μg m−3 for LPG, 2429 and 55 μg m−3 for firewood, and 1024 and 44 μg m−3 for mixed biomass-using kitchens. Mass-size distributions were tri-modal with peaks in the ultrafine (0.05–0.08 μm), accumulation (0.20–1.05 μm), and coarse (3.20–4.57 μm) modes. Respiratory deposition, estimated using the multiple path particle dosimetry model, ranged from 21 % to 58 % of the total concentration across fuel types and population age categories. Head, followed by pulmonary and tracheobronchial, was the most vulnerable deposition region, and children were the most susceptible age group. Inhalation risk assessment of TEs revealed significant non-carcinogenic as well as carcinogenic risk, especially for biomass fuel users. The potential years of life lost (PYLL) was the highest for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD: 15.9 ± 3.8 years) followed by lung cancer (10.3 ± 0.3 years) and pneumonia (10.1 ± 0.1 years), while the PYLL rate was also highest for COPD, with Cr(VI) being the major contributor. Overall, these findings reveal the significant health burden faced by the northeastern Indian population from indoor cooking using solid biomass fuels.

Understanding the influence of summer biomass burning on air quality in North India: Eight cities field campaign study

Near real-time monitoring of major air pollutants, i.e., particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1), trace gases (O3, CO, NO, NO2, NOx, NH3, CO2, SO2) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs: benzene, ethylbenzene, m-, p-xylene, o-xylene and toluene) along with climatological parameters was done in eight-cities field campaigns during the rabi (wheat) crop residue burning period in the northwest of Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) region. The phase-wise monitoring was done at eight locations representing rural, semi-urban and urban backgrounds. During the whole campaign, the semi-urban site (Sirsa) observed the highest average concentration of PM10 (226 ± 111 μg m−3) and PM2.5 (91 ± 67 μg m−3). The urban site (Chandigarh) reported the minimum concentrations of all the three size fractions of particulate matter with PM10 as 89 ± 54 μg m−3, PM2.5 as 42 ± 22 μg m−3 and PM1 as 20 ± 13 μg m−3 where the monitoring was done in the early phase of the campaign. The highest VOC concentration was recorded at the semi-urban (Sirsa) site, whereas the lowest was at a rural location (Fatehgarh Sahib). NH3 concentration was observed highest in rural sites (31.7 ± 29.8 ppbv), which can be due to the application of fertilizers in agricultural activities. Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) based fire and thermal anomalies, along with HYSPLIT back trajectory analysis, show that major air masses over monitoring sites (22 %–70 %) were from the rabi crop residue burning regions. The characteristic ratios and Principal component analysis (PCA) results show that diverse sources, i.e., emissions from crop residue burning, solid biomass fuels, vehicles and industries, majorly degrade the regional air quality. This multi-city study observed that semi-urban regions have the most compromised air quality during the rabi crop residue burning and need attention to address the air quality issues in the IGP region.

Numerical CFD Simulation of a Horizontal Cyclonic Combustion Chamber for Burning Pulverized Biomass Solid Fuels

Numerical CFD Simulation of a Horizontal Cyclonic Combustion Chamber for Burning Pulverized Biomass Solid Fuels

Characterization of fine particulate matter from indoor cooking with solid biomass fuels.

Household burning of solid biomass fuels emits pollution particles that are a huge health risk factor, especially in low-income countries (LICs) such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa. In epidemiological studies, indoor exposure is often more challenging to assess than outdoor exposure. Laboratory studies of solid biomass fuels, performed under real-life conditions, are an important path toward improved exposure assessments. Using on- and offline measurement techniques, particulate matter (PM) from the most commonly used solid biomass fuels (charcoal, wood, dung, and crops residue) was characterized in laboratory settings using a way of burning the fuels and an air exchange rate that is representative of real-world settings in low-income countries. All the fuels generated emissions that resulted in concentrations which by far exceed both the annual and the 24-hour-average WHO guidelines for healthy air. Fuels with lower energy density, such as dung, emitted orders of magnitude more than, for example, charcoal. The vast majority of the emitted particles were smaller than 300 nm, indicating high deposition in the alveoli tract. The chemical composition of the indoor pollution changes over time, with organic particle emissions often peaking early in the stove operation. The chemical composition of the emitted PM is different for different biomass fuels, which is important to consider both in toxicological studies and in source apportionment efforts. For example, dung and wood yield higher organic aerosol emissions, and for dung, nitrogen content in the organic PM fraction is higher than for the other fuels. We show that aerosol mass spectrometry can be used to differentiate stove-related emissions from fuel, accelerant, and incense. We argue that further emission studies, targeting, for example, vehicles relevant for LICs and trash burning, coupled with field observations of chemical composition, would advance our understanding of air pollution in LIC. We believe this to be a necessary step for improved air quality policy.

Assessment of Health Risks Associated with Particulate Matter and Carbon Monoxide Emissions from Biomass Fuels Utilization in Western Kenya

Purpose: The use of biomass fuels poses great threats to environmental degradation and public health risk accounting for 32% of the total attributable burden of diseases due to indoor air pollution (IAP) in especially Africa. Heavy reliance on biomass fuels for household energy in Kenya makes the country more vulnerable with 90% of the rural population relying on biomass fuels for domestic purposes. The objective of this study was to assess cooking fuel types and efficiency of improved biomass stoves in fuel consumption in Western, Kenya.&#x0D; Methodology: The data were collected through continuous real-time monitoring of kitchen Particulate Matter and Carbon II Oxide concentration for a period of 24 hours using UCB-PATS and CO monitors, questionnaires and time activity budgets. The total target population was 383 households and 204 households were selected as the sample size for HH survey. The sample size was determined using sample size algorithm by Boyd et al. (2014) where a sample size is determined by the sample population size. Selection of households for indoor air monitoring was done through quasi system where there was a predefined criterion from survey data. Tables and means were used to present results.&#x0D; Findings: The study found that Hazard quotients (HQ) for both long-term and short-term PM exposure using all stoves were all above 1 implying that health risk is real. During 24-hour cooking duration, three-stone stove using crop residues produced 145.8 times higher PM2.5 compared to RfD (Reference Dose) value while Cheprocket produced 26.4 times higher than PM2.5 RfD. People using solid biomass fuels are likely to experience headaches and running nose by the end of 24-hour period as a result of CO exposure when mud rocket stove, three stone stove and Cheprocket stoves were used. However cooks who use Chepkube stoves are not likely to experience any adverse health effects from CO exposures since the HQs were less than 1 using both wood and crop residues as fuel. The study concluded that, improved biomass stoves provided an overall reduction in pollutant concentration compared to three-stone fire but the local innovation Chepkube stove that has been classified as ungraded stove had the highest pollutant reduction. There is no health risk associated with exposure to peak CO within the 1-hour duration from all biomass stoves monitored in the study area.&#x0D; Recommendation: The study recommended that user education is necessary on kitchen practices to reduce overall exposure from improved stove utilization.

Thermo-electric generation (TEG) enabled cookstoves in a rural Indian community: a longitudinal study of user behaviours and perceptions

Background. Traditional cookstoves that burn solid biomass are associated with inefficient burning, a high degree of household air pollution and high morbidity rates. A key barrier to the adoption of clean cookstoves has been the cost of fuels. Hence, a Thermo-Electric Generating (TEG) cookstove that used solid biomass fuels more efficiently and released less smoke was developed. The TEG cookstove also generates electricity to power small electric devices. Fifteen TEG cookstoves were distributed to villagers in the Indian state of Uttarakhand in 2019. Objective. We wanted to understand whether, after two years of distribution, TEG cookstoves were still used, what and where they were used for, their perceived impacts on health, and the barriers to their use. Methods used. We surveyed 10 of the 15 recipient households. We applied the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour and Behaviour Change Wheel frameworks to understand what the barriers to adoption were, and what could be done to surmount these. Results. All respondents reported lower smoke levels and most respondents reported that the TEG cookstoves required less fuelwood than their traditional cookstoves, but none had used them in the month prior to the survey. Discussion. For those whose TEG cookstoves were still usable and had not been made redundant by clean cookstoves, we found there to be physical opportunity barriers and psychological capability barriers. Physical opportunity barriers included a small inlet for fuel, limited versatility beyond cooking at low temperatures, and the availability of only one hob. To surmount these barriers, we recommend co-design to suit user needs and education emphasising visible benefits of avoided soot on kitchen walls, in addition to the health benefits.

Household Air Pollution from Cooking Fuels Increases the Risk of Under-Fives Acute Respiratory Infection: Evidence from Population-Based Cross-Sectional Surveys in Tanzania.

Background and Aims:Increased risk of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children has been linked with exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from solid biomass fuels. However, information is limited on the trend use of biomass fuels and their association with ARI among children in Tanzania. The current study analysed nationally representative data from the Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys of the years 2004, 2010, and 2015–16 to explore the prevalence of the trend of cooking fuels and ARI as well as ascertain their association among under-fives.Methods:A total sample of 20,323 under-fives were included in the current analysis. A mixed-effects multilevel logistic regression was fitted to assess the association between unclean fuels (solid biomass fuels and kerosene) and ARI among under-fives.Results:The use of solid biomass fuels has remained persistent high (98.6%) while ARI among under-fives has declined from 16% in 2004 to 9% in 2016; p < 0.001. Furthermore, under-fives exposed to unclean fuel combustion had a significantly higher incidence of ARI (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI, 1.31–9.21).Conclusion:Efforts should be made to switch to alternative sources of clean energy such as natural gas and biogas in Tanzania and other countries with similar settings.

Environmental and economic accounting for biomass energy in Ethiopia

BackgroundEnergy consumption is inextricably linked with the economy and the environment. The interlinkages are particularly important in low-income countries such as Ethiopia where biomass fuels account for more than 85% of the total energy consumed. This paper aims to assess the energy and economic values, and environmental emissions of solid biomass fuels in Ethiopia.MethodsThe study considered four common solid biomass fuels (firewood, charcoal, crop residues, and cattle dung) in Ethiopia. The amount of biomass fuels during the Ethiopian fiscal year 2015/2016 was compiled from various data sources. Prices, net calorific values, and emission factors per mass of fuels were then used to calculate the economic, energy, and emission values of the solid biomass fuels.ResultsThe study showed that, in 2015/2016, the consumption of the four solid biomass fuels contributed between 33,327 and 44,547 ktoe to the total energy consumption with an estimated economic value of 4.4–7.7% of the GDP at current market prices. The stationary combustion of the biomass fuels could result in 165–219 Mt of CO2eq emissions, whereas the fuelwood consumption could potentially impinge on the size or quality of 730 thousand ha of forest, woodlands, and shrublands.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the country should scale-up its policy measures aimed at increasing households’ access to modern energy sources and energy-efficient cooking stoves while at the same time strengthening its afforestation and reforestation activities.