Review Can there be energy policy in Sub-Saharan Africa without biomass? Matthew Owen a, ⁎, Robert van der Plas b , Steve Sepp c a Kikenni Consulting, Barn Cottage, Moorland Street, Axbridge, BS26 2BA, UK b MARGE Netherlands, Brem 68, 7577 EW, Oldenzaal, The Netherlands c ECO Consulting Group, Hersfelder Straße 17, 36280 Oberaula, Germany abstract article info Article history: Received 17 August 2012 Revised 11 October 2012 Accepted 12 October 2012 Available online 3 November 2012 Keywords: Biomass energy Energy policy Sub-Saharan Africa Modern energy Low carbon development While much of the industrialised world is embracing biomass energy as a pillar of low-carbon growth, a re- view of national energy policies in sub-Saharan Africa reveals that biomass is widely viewed as a retrogres- sive source of energy that degrades the environment and engenders poverty. Initiatives to formulate alternative energy policies based on recognition, formalisation and modernisation of the sector are not appre- ciated by decision-makers in government, whose vision of economic growth and poverty reduction is usually based on fossil fuels and electricity. The authors argue that as long as the significant contribution and future potential of biomass energy to generate employment, support urban–rural revenue flow, strengthen domes- tic energy security and drive green economic development remain unrecognised, African governments will continue to endorse ‘anything-but-biomass’ policies. In this context, the development of new sector strate- gies that give biomass a higher profile faces a significant political challenge and may ultimately prove futile. To bring about change it is argued that first, a new image of biomass energy must be articulated, which offers a compelling and achievable vision of modernisation in production, processing, distribution and consump- tion. This requires an integrated set of measures to communicate the message of change, promote enabling framework conditions, expand sustainable biomass supplies, strengthen regional economies and value- addition, and capitalise on recent technological advancement. Second, valorisation of forest resources is es- sential to stimulate sustainable production, conversion and consumption, and can be achieved through inter- ventions in governance, taxation, regulation and technology. Third, the modernisation process should capitalise on momentous technological advances in stoves, kilns, processing systems and means of salvaging waste energy for productive use. Fourth, replication and scale-up of the modernisation movement can be lev- eraged using new and innovative funding sources. © 2012 International Energy Initiative. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Biomass energy policy in sub-Saharan Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Policy direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Limitations of current policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 It runs counter to reality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 The case for change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Initiatives to develop more biomass-friendly energy policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 EUEI-PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Other policy change experiences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 The case for an alternative way forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Recommended measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Image change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Value chain approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Innovation through research and development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Promoting replication through innovative and additional funding sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Energy for Sustainable Development 17 (2013) 146–152 ⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 1934 733861. E-mail addresses: owenmg@mac.com (M. Owen), rvanderplas@marge.eu (R. der Plas), steve.sepp@eco-consult.com (S. Sepp). 0973-0826/$ – see front matter © 2012 International Energy Initiative. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2012.10.005 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Energy for Sustainable Development