The dense wood and high calorific value of these trees ensure they burn efficiently, providing a high thermal option compared to fossil fuels.
Rwanda (officially the Republic of Rwanda, a small landlocked country located in the Great Lakes region of East Africa) is making a new stride in renewable energy with the goal of achieving electricity access for its entire population by 2030. In the context of rural areas still lacking electricity, the Rwanda Forestry Agency is exploring ways to generate clean electricity from biomass crops to support remote communities.
Leading this initiative is Bonaventure Ntirugulirwa, a senior researcher at the Rwanda Forestry Agency. According to him, the potential of biomass energy from trees has not yet been fully utilized, even though it can effectively replace traditional fossil fuels. “This project is designed to meet the electricity demand in rural areas,” Ntirugulirwa shares.
Through experimentation and evaluation, the research team has identified two species of trees with good energy production performance: Senna siamea and Gliricidia sepium. Both of these species possess dense wood, high calorific values, and more effective burning capabilities compared to conventional fuels. These are ideal conditions for electricity generation from biomass.
The potential of biomass energy from trees has not yet been fully utilized.
The project’s goal is to seek sustainable energy sources for rural communities in Rwanda. According to Ntirugulirwa, biomass from these tree species not only helps mitigate energy shortages but also contributes to environmental protection, improves soil quality, and promotes food security. These trees provide a fuel source for electricity generation while playing a significant role in supporting farmers and developing local communities.
Species such as pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), Calliandra calothyrsus, African redwood (Hagenia abyssinica), and white bark senna (Senna spectabilis) are not only sources of biomass but also help farmers improve soil quality and ensure necessary resources for sustainable agriculture.
The project has received considerable support from international experts. Professor Babatunde Ajayi, a biomass technology expert at the Federal University of Technology in Akure, Nigeria, believes this is a promising initiative for rural communities lacking electricity. He compares the process of converting biomass into electricity with solar energy, emphasizing that both are clean and sustainable energy sources for the future.
Ajayi further explains: “When biomass is fed into the machine, it will be converted into electrical energy, providing clean power to areas that do not have access to the national grid.”
The research and development process for biomass energy from crops requires Rwanda to invest in specialized equipment. Currently, the Rwanda Standards Board has conducted assessments of the calorific value of biomass, but testing other important factors such as carbon and hydrogen content must be done in Sweden due to Rwanda’s lack of adequate facilities.
Converting biomass into electrical energy opens up many sustainable agricultural development opportunities
This project also relies on the active participation of local farming communities, as achieving the scale of electricity production requires a significant amount of biomass. The cooperation of the people and stakeholders is a prerequisite for the project to achieve practical effectiveness.
In addition to the goal of providing clean electricity, the project promises to bring significant benefits to rural communities in Rwanda. The conversion of biomass into electrical energy not only helps Rwanda achieve its energy goals but also opens up many opportunities for sustainable agricultural development, environmental protection, and improving the livelihoods of its people.
With the support of the international community and the determination of Rwandan scientists, the initiative to produce electricity from biomass crops is not only a crucial step for Rwanda to reach its energy goals but also a pioneering solution that helps protect the environment and build sustainable communities in the future.
