Horizon Energy: SteamBioAfrica - Transforming African bush encroachment into sustainable clean biofuel

Bush encroachment and alien invasives degrade Southern Africa’s savannahs and waterways. Encroachment suppresses the herbaceous plants and grasses that are food for both wildlife and livestock. It is impenetrable to most animals, it exacerbates soil erosion, halves soil moisture, limits groundwater recharge, and decimates land productivity. Alien invasives destroy riverine ecosystems and intercept water from catchment areas, drastically increasing water insecurity. 

SteamBioAfrica is working in three badly impacted countries: Namibia (which has over 46 million hectares of bush encroached land), Botswana and South Africa. Our aim is to stimulate the harvesting of both encroacher bush and invasive alien species. Using an innovative superheated steam torrefaction process, value is created by transforming this unwanted woody biomass into a drop-in coal replacement. It involves a holistic approach that extends beyond engineering to cover sustainable business models, life cycle and ecosystem studies, and market and value chain development, while all the time working towards gender and societal equality

Significant progress has been made in the project both at the demonstration site in rural Namibia and in wider studies, but more still needs to be done beyond the life of the project to ensure a fully economically viable commercial-scale solution. Material has been tested both in domestic and industrial settings with encouraging early responses. Recently, a major industrial coal boiler manufacturer with head offices in Cape Town asked for tonnage quantities to test both in their pilot plant and with their customers. 

More information:

CORDIS project factsheet

Project website

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