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Conversion of traditional biomass into modern bioenergy systems: A review in context to improve the energy situation in Nepal

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  • Gurung, Anup
  • Oh, Sang Eun

Abstract

Nepal is an energy starving country where approximately 87% of the total energy share is met through traditional biomass resource especially by fuelwood. However, use of traditional biomass fuel is confronted with series of issues and challenges such as low efficiency, labor intensive, degradation of environment and emission of health hazardous gases. In an effort to improve the energy situation as well as to improve the indoor environment, Nepal's government has initiated the adoption and implementation of efficient biomass technologies in Nepal. Improved health and sanitation, reduced fuelwood consumption, improved social and physical facilities, and reduced drudgery for women are some of the major benefits of efficient biomass technologies to the rural households. Use of biogas reduces the fuelwood consumption by 2 tons/yr and workload by 1100 h/yr. Similarly, use of improved cooking stove can increases the efficiency up to 15–20% and reduces greenhouse gases of 1.09 tCO2eq/yr as compared to the traditional cooking stove. Despite continuous effort from government and foreign donors, the task of rapid dissemination of the efficient biomass technologies to more remote and isolated rural communities is still challenging in Nepal. Therefore, more systematic and comprehensive study supported by research and development is required to extend these technologies in more remote and poor communities of Nepal, especially in mountainous areas.

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  • Gurung, Anup & Oh, Sang Eun, 2013. "Conversion of traditional biomass into modern bioenergy systems: A review in context to improve the energy situation in Nepal," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 206-213.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:50:y:2013:i:c:p:206-213
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.06.021
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    3. Raha, Debadayita & Mahanta, Pinakeswar & Clarke, Michèle L., 2014. "The implementation of decentralised biogas plants in Assam, NE India: The impact and effectiveness of the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 80-91.
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    5. Dey, Subhashish & Sreenivasulu, Anduri & Veerendra, G.T.N. & Rao, K. Venkateswara & Babu, P.S.S. Anjaneya, 2022. "Renewable energy present status and future potentials in India: An overview," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 1(1).
    6. Dilip Khatiwada & Pallav Purohit & Emmanuel Kofi Ackom, 2019. "Mapping Bioenergy Supply and Demand in Selected Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Exploratory Assessment of Modern Bioenergy’s Contribution to SDG7," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-29, December.
    7. Malla, Sunil & Timilsina, Govinda R, 2014. "Household cooking fuel choice and adoption of improved cookstoves in developing countries : a review," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6903, The World Bank.
    8. Cheng, Shikun & Li, Zifu & Mang, Heinz-Peter & Neupane, Kalidas & Wauthelet, Marc & Huba, Elisabeth-Maria, 2014. "Application of fault tree approach for technical assessment of small-sized biogas systems in Nepal," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1372-1381.
    9. Manoj Kumar, & Sachin Kumar, & Tyagi, S.K., 2013. "Design, development and technological advancement in the biomass cookstoves: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 265-285.
    10. Xueyan Zhao & Haili Zhao & Lu Jiang & Chenyu Lu & Bing Xue, 2018. "The Influence of Farmers’ Livelihood Strategies on Household Energy Consumption in the Eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-12, May.
    11. Baral Gautam, Yamuna & Pelkonen, Paavo & Halder, Pradipta, 2013. "Perceptions of bioenergy among Nepalese foresters – Survey results and policy implications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 533-538.
    12. Shrestha, Anil & Mustafa, Andy Ali & Htike, Myo Myo & You, Vithyea & Kakinaka, Makoto, 2022. "Evolution of energy mix in emerging countries: Modern renewable energy, traditional renewable energy, and non-renewable energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 419-432.
    13. Prasad, Lalta & Subbarao, P.M.V. & Subrahmanyam, J.P., 2015. "Experimental investigation on gasification characteristic of high lignin biomass (Pongamia shells)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 415-423.
    14. Arabatzis, Garyfallos & Malesios, Chrisovalantis, 2013. "Pro-environmental attitudes of users and non-users of fuelwood in a rural area of Greece," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 621-630.
    15. Elisabeth Dresen & Ben DeVries & Martin Herold & Louis Verchot & Robert Müller, 2014. "Fuelwood Savings and Carbon Emission Reductions by the Use of Improved Cooking Stoves in an Afromontane Forest, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-21, September.

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