There are two broad categories for bioenergy development - the exploitation of existing agricultural wastes and the establishment of energy plantations- these different strategies suggesting high priority steps for developing bioenergy in ways that benefit the poorest communities.

• USE OF EXISTING AGRICULTURAL WASTES:

  The efficient exploitation of existing agricultural wastes presents significant potential for developing bioenergy without unduly disrupting existing agricultural practices. Unlike many other crop wastes, these waste products are generated during agroprocessing and are rarely returned to the field.

  One option that has proven successful in a number of developing countries is household, community, or institutional biogas production. This technic not only provides clean energy but its by-product is a rich organic manure that can be recycled in fields to reduce the need for chemical fertilizer and pesticides.

• ENERGY PLANTATIONS

  The growth and development of this technique can lead to increased incomes if a well-designed revenue sharing scheme is established. Positive impacts can also include potential increases in employment (in agriculture or bioenergy production) and the management of energy plantations by individual households or community groups can yield significant benefits.

For developing countries with a large number of people reliant on agriculture, the first priority should rather be given to an effective use of existing agricultural wastes for energy generation. It requires, however, establishing effective revenue-sharing mechanisms that ensure that the higher revenues from the exploitation of agricultural wastes are shared in an equitable fashion and flow to all stakeholders, including low-income farmers. It also requires enacting a legal and regulatory framework that allows for the development of modern agro-waste-based bioenergy and that provides, among other incentives, access to the power grid and transport fuel market.

The successful development of Biomass Energy also relies on the development plan being used. In fact, the latter must take into numerous different factors to generate the expected changes within the targeted communities without aggravating their economical and social situation.

• DECENTRALIZED SMALL-SCALE BIOENERGY SYSTEMS BASED ON SHORT ROTATION COPPICE FOR RURAL POVERTY ALLEVIATION

  Small-scale bioenergy systems can supply clean, reliable, renewable, and affordable energy to rural communities while at the same time creating new job opportunities and having beneficial impacts on natural resources, especially when supplied with biomass from locally produced Short Rotation Coppice (SRC- See below).

  Bioenergy systems are complex because their three components feedstock supply, conversion technology and energy allocation are influenced by environmental, economic and social factors. Assessing these factors and their interdependency is essential to determine the potential success of a project and its contribution to sustainable development.

   

  Although biomass has been the primary energy source in many developing countries for thousands of years, modern biomass production and conversion systems have not received the attention they deserve. Small biomass conversion units that use wood and other locally available biomass like agricultural residues are being deployed in India, China or Brazil. Through south-south technology transfer and with a limited amount of appropriate training, these systems can be installed, operated and maintained at the local level. Bioenergy systems are characterized by low investment and mechanisation (in erection as well as operation) resulting in high local labour demand and the lowest investment rate per local job created compared to other energy sources.

• Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) for biomass production:

  Sustainable rural power supplies can be developed based on the conversion of woody biomass, which is grown locally in SRC production systems and combined with other biomass sources, to useful energy (e.g. heat, electricity, mechanical power). In SRC, trees or shrubs with high biomass production are planted and harvested at 1-4 year intervals. Species selected will resprout (coppice) after harvest so that additional crops do not have to be replanted. In addition, SRC systems produce multiple environmental and rural development benefits like soil conservation, desertification mitigation, stable nutrient cycling, enhanced biodiversity, and reduce pressure on natural forests

  Furthermore, SRC systems do not compete with food production because they can be established on marginal or degraded cropland or on agricultural fallows.