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Edition 47: Summer 2009 Researchers at the University of Nottingham have been doing just that – going bananas. And they hope many Africans will soon be joining them. The result may just help reduce deforestation across the continent, and thus help slow global climate change.
Africans already use bananas for food, beer and wine, so why not as a fuel source? British scientists have found a simple, low-tech way to turn banana waste (skins, stems and leaves) into sustainable briquettes that can be burned for cooking, lighting and heating. Considering that there are almost 10 tonnes of banana waste for every tonne of edible fruit, this new fuel is not only sustainable, it is abundant. The use of these banana briquettes could alleviate the burden of gathering firewood, the dominant energy source in many parts of the continent. In countries like Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi, which are some of the continent’s biggest banana producers, more than 80 per cent of current energy needs are met from burning wood. This has a very damaging impact on the environment, and has led to large-scale deforestation. Gathering wood for fuel is also a time-consuming job, with some people (mostly women) having to walk up to six hours a day to get firewood.
The banana briquettes are the brainchild of Joel Chaney, a PhD student at the University of Nottingham. While the idea came to him during a visit to Rwanda, it wasn’t until he was back in his lab that he created the process of transforming waste into stored energy.
The focus of the project has been on creating a simple process that can be used in developing countries without the need for expensive equipment. The process that has been created starts by mashing piles of rotting banana waste into a pulp. This pulp is then mixed with sawdust, before being compressed by hand (or with a press) into the briquettes. The materials bind well together, almost acting like glue, which eases the process. The final part of production involves drying the material in the sun for a period of around two weeks. The end product ignites easily and gives off a steady, lasting heat, which is ideal for cooking.
The researchers believe their low-tech approach is a small step along the way of meeting the millennium goals and helping people out of poverty.
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