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The potential for global forest cover The restoration of forested land at a global scale could help capture atmospheric carbon and mitigate climate change. Bastin et al. used direct measurements of forest cover to generate a model of forest restoration potential across the globe (see the Perspective by Chazdon and Brancalion). Their spatially explicit maps show how much additional tree cover could exist outside of existing forests and agricultural and urban land. Ecosystems could support an additional 0.9 billion hectares of continuous forest. This would represent a greater than 25% increase in forested area, including more than 200 gigatonnes of additional carbon at maturity.Such a change has the potential to store an equivalent of 25% of the current atmospheric carbon pool. Science , this issue p. 76 ; see also p. 24

The potential for global forest cover The restoration of forested land at a global scale could help capture atmospheric carbon and mitigate climate change. Bastin et al. used direct measurements of forest cover to generate a model of forest restoration potential across the globe (see the Perspective by Chazdon and Brancalion). Their spatially explicit maps show how much additional tree cover could exist outside of existing forests and agricultural and urban land. Ecosystems could support an additional 0.9 billion hectares of continuous forest. This would represent a greater than 25% increase in forested area, including more than 200 gigatonnes of additional carbon at maturity.Such a change has the potential to store an equivalent of 25% of the current atmospheric carbon pool. Science , this issue p. 76 ; see also p. 24

Abstract In the past 10 years, 90% of cassava starch factories in Thailand have switched from fuel oil to renewable biogas, to cover part of their energy needs. The environmental benefits of switching to biogas have not been assessed quantitatively. To alleviate this, this study assessed 100-year greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, or carbon footprint (CF), of cassava starch production for four factories in Thailand. Key results demonstrate that biogas reduces the carbon footprint of the Thai cassava starch industry as a whole by 0.9–1.0 million tons CO2eq/year, and highlight methodological precautions to collect LCI data and allocate GHG emissions between co-products with high moisture contents. The system boundaries included farm stage (production of cassava roots), transportation to factory and processing into native starch. The functional unit (FU) was one ton of native cassava starch at 13% water content. Biogas produced from the factory wastewater (95–200 m3/FU) was the main source of thermal energy for starch drying, and for on-site electricity production when excess biogas was available. The total CF of cassava starch was in the range 609–966 kg CO2eq/FU. Agricultural production contributed 60% of the carbon footprint, mainly from the use of nitrogen fertilizers. GHG emissions of root production varied widely due to (1) the diversity of farming practices even within a small radius (50 km), and (2) different agricultural yields in different regions. The contribution of the factory stage to the carbon footprint depended on the use of electricity, biogas and other fuels, ranging from 217 to 342 kg CO2eq/FU. Allocation rules such as wet weight or dry weight basis allocations affected the results markedly.

Abstract In the past 10 years, 90% of cassava starch factories in Thailand have switched from fuel oil to renewable biogas, to cover part of their energy needs. The environmental benefits of switching to biogas have not been assessed quantitatively. To alleviate this, this study assessed 100-year greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, or carbon footprint (CF), of cassava starch production for four factories in Thailand. Key results demonstrate that biogas reduces the carbon footprint of the Thai cassava starch industry as a whole by 0.9–1.0 million tons CO2eq/year, and highlight methodological precautions to collect LCI data and allocate GHG emissions between co-products with high moisture contents. The system boundaries included farm stage (production of cassava roots), transportation to factory and processing into native starch. The functional unit (FU) was one ton of native cassava starch at 13% water content. Biogas produced from the factory wastewater (95–200 m3/FU) was the main source of thermal energy for starch drying, and for on-site electricity production when excess biogas was available. The total CF of cassava starch was in the range 609–966 kg CO2eq/FU. Agricultural production contributed 60% of the carbon footprint, mainly from the use of nitrogen fertilizers. GHG emissions of root production varied widely due to (1) the diversity of farming practices even within a small radius (50 km), and (2) different agricultural yields in different regions. The contribution of the factory stage to the carbon footprint depended on the use of electricity, biogas and other fuels, ranging from 217 to 342 kg CO2eq/FU. Allocation rules such as wet weight or dry weight basis allocations affected the results markedly.

Abstract In many African countries, the upswing in oil prices is one factor that favours the adoption and implementation of a national biofuel policy. This trend has a major impact on state budgets and domestic trade balances, while also limiting the access of rural inhabitants to modern energy services. Contribution of biofuels in stabilizing the energy sector, influences ongoing negotiations on the global dynamics of climate change, the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sustainable development. The question of biofuels as an alternative energy thus depends on international, national and local considerations. Biofuels represent opportunities, e.g., energy independence and security, new national income and employment sources, as well as potential food security problems. African policy makers therefore need to make the right choices to guide the development of biofuel production and use. This article aims to support the development of a biofuel policy by reviewing the latest technical, economic, environmental and social knowledge so as to be able to evaluate the potential and limits of biofuels in Burkina Faso.

Abstract In many African countries, the upswing in oil prices is one factor that favours the adoption and implementation of a national biofuel policy. This trend has a major impact on state budgets and domestic trade balances, while also limiting the access of rural inhabitants to modern energy services. Contribution of biofuels in stabilizing the energy sector, influences ongoing negotiations on the global dynamics of climate change, the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sustainable development. The question of biofuels as an alternative energy thus depends on international, national and local considerations. Biofuels represent opportunities, e.g., energy independence and security, new national income and employment sources, as well as potential food security problems. African policy makers therefore need to make the right choices to guide the development of biofuel production and use. This article aims to support the development of a biofuel policy by reviewing the latest technical, economic, environmental and social knowledge so as to be able to evaluate the potential and limits of biofuels in Burkina Faso.

Abstract Access to energy is known as a key issue for poverty reduction. Electrification rate of sub-Saharan countries is one of the lowest among the developing countries. However, this part of the world has natural energy resources that could help raising its access to energy, then its economic development. An original “flexy-energy” concept of hybrid solar PV/diesel/biofuel power plant, without battery storage, is performed in this paper. This concept is developed in order to not only make access to energy possible for rural and peri-urban populations in Africa (by reducing the electricity generation cost) but also to make the electricity production sustainable in these areas. For landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, this concept could help them reducing their electricity bill (then their fuel consumption) and accelerate their rural and peri-urban electrification coverage.

Abstract Access to energy is known as a key issue for poverty reduction. Electrification rate of sub-Saharan countries is one of the lowest among the developing countries. However, this part of the world has natural energy resources that could help raising its access to energy, then its economic development. An original “flexy-energy” concept of hybrid solar PV/diesel/biofuel power plant, without battery storage, is performed in this paper. This concept is developed in order to not only make access to energy possible for rural and peri-urban populations in Africa (by reducing the electricity generation cost) but also to make the electricity production sustainable in these areas. For landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, this concept could help them reducing their electricity bill (then their fuel consumption) and accelerate their rural and peri-urban electrification coverage.