The Seed-to-Ash Energy Cycle A Brief Guide to Biomass Energy Farming and Utilization in Kenya

The Seed-to-Ash Energy Cycle

A Brief Guide to Biomass Energy Farming and Utilization in Kenya

•Correct management and utilization of biomass is key to enhancing the efficiency of what can be a carbon neutral, environmentally friendly green energy solution for East Africa, the seed-to-ash-cycle.
•The most glaring loophole in the bio-energy system in Kenya is the general lack of widespread re-afforestation of wood energy crops.
•Use and knowledge of ‘fireplace technologies’ i.e. energy saving stoves, well managed open fire’s, drying firewood etc. needs to be further disseminated and the importance amplified.


•Knowledge and practice of dynamic holistic harvesting and processing of woodfuels needs to be more widely practiced. Charcoal making is a skilled artisan’s task, much like plumbing or mechanical work, training is extensive in order to achieve a high level of efficiency and sustainability. (and charcoal makers can become some of the best treeplanters)
•Structured implementable government policies focusing on opening new avenues of monetary incentives for good land husbandry practices. Training and certification is a must.
•Emergency re-afforestation efforts must be undertaken immediately to prevent further degradation of Kenya’s (and our neighbors’) environment. Widespread aerial tree seeding as practiced in China, Canada and the Philippines needs to be undertaken as soon as possible.
•Small scale polyculture agroforestry for Food, Fuel and Fodder following holistic management plans is already gaining widespread acceptance in rural areas but must be upscaled.
•Enabling those engaged in the seed-to-ash cycle, real opportunities to access money from carbon credits, will improve successful adaptation to climatic change and global warming among those it detrimentally affects most.

Its that deliciously sunny time of year again in Nairobi - time to break out the best energy saving BBQs and enjoy your Sunday nyama choma using only a tiny bit of charcoal. Or pick up one at www.cookswell.co.ke

January Jikos!

Our stand at the Brookhouse Tedx day in November.

making a delicious coast lunch using coconut charcoal  a small 2 level oven (10,000ksh)

a medium 3 level with a No. 13 KCJ working hard at Borana Ranch

coconut charcoal burning hot and clean

Charcoal making class at El Karama ranch.

the mini kiln and dry coconut husk feedstock for charcoal making

A small 2 level oven on safari on top of the abadares

Making charcoal on the beech - best monday ever!

the large nyama choma jiko at the Packk Inn bar and grill Timau

coconut charcoal and the 3,500 mini kiln

a mini charcoal oven on a cold safari near camel rock New Mexico!

bake the best bread - el karama eco-lodge

serious eco-charcoal making students!

Cookswell Jikos around Kenya Sept. 2012

Students at the Karen Blixen Hospitality School in the Mara North Conservancy  learning about using energy saving charcoal bbq's and ovens.

The large 6 burner BBQ jiko 16,000ksh. (note how the individual liners let you customize your charcoal usage)

Roasted leg of lamb and pommes boulangere.

A few of our recent photos of our Cookswell Jikos

A mini-charcoal kiln at a small picnic in the forest. (5,000ksh)

The new Cookswell Jikos ''An ode to Mr. Toad'' charcoal/firewood space heaters. (5-7-9,000ksh)

Cook anything anywhere anytime on a hand full of charcoal

The large charcoal oven at Safari's Unlimited - bakes, roasts, toast and is very mobile! (38,000ksh)

Save money by switching to 100% off the grid cooking. simple, clean and professional

Cooking a wonderful Christmas lunch at Sirikoi Camp, Lewa Downs

Using only a few small handfuls of charcoal.

Baking MaCusine spinach and asparagus homestyle quiches

Homemade charcoal from elephant knockdown acacia branches. 

We proudly offer you a way to stop using expensive fossil fuels (Lpg Gas) and unreliable electricity supplies. With a combo of our Cookswell Charcoal oven and our Cookswell Charcoal Kiln, you can now make and use your own controlled homegrown energy source. (and by planting your own trees, it is an infinitely renewable 'green' energy source)

This fully 1 year guaranteed, high quality 'off the grid' cooking combination comes with the following:

- 1 large Cookswell business plus charcoal oven
- 1 large Cookswell charcoal kiln
- Free training on kiln and oven operation
- Free delivery inside Nairobi metropolitan area.  

With the rising gas/power prices, hurry up and start using next to free energy for only 75,000ksh.

The Seed To Ash Cycle of Biomass Household Energy

The Seed-to-Ash Energy Cycle

A Brief Guide to Biomass Energy Farming and Utilization in Kenya

•Correct management and utilization of biomass is key to enhancing the efficiency of what can be a carbon neutral, environmentally friendly green energy solution for East Africa, the seed-to-ash-cycle.
•The most glaring loophole in the bio-energy system in Kenya is the general lack of widespread re-afforestation of wood energy crops.
•Use and knowledge of ‘fireplace technologies’ i.e. energy saving stoves, well managed open fire’s, drying firewood etc. needs to be further disseminated and the importance amplified.



•Knowledge and practice of dynamic holistic harvesting and processing of woodfuels needs to be more widely practiced. Charcoal making is a skilled artisan’s task, much like plumbing or mechanical work, training is extensive in order to achieve a high level of efficiency and sustainability. (and charcoal makers can become some of the best treeplanters)
•Structured implementable government policies focusing on opening new avenues of monetary incentives for good land husbandry practices. Training and certification is a must.
•Emergency re-afforestation efforts must be undertaken immediately to prevent further degradation of Kenya’s (and our neighbors’) environment. Widespread aerial tree seeding as practiced in China, Canada and the Philippines needs to be undertaken as soon as possible.
•Small scale polyculture agroforestry for Food, Fuel and Fodder following holistic management plans is already gaining widespread acceptance in rural areas but must be upscaled.
•Enabling those engaged in the seed-to-ash cycle, real opportunities to access money from carbon credits, will improve successful adaptation to climatic change and global warming among those it detrimentally effects most.

Kenya Seeds Of Change

The Kenya Seeds Of Change initiative aims to contribute towards national afforestaion by land owners through the countrywide sales of inexpensive tree seeds and the promotion of direct seeding woodlot establishment. Seeds are by far the best method of promoting wide scale tree planting in Kenya. These are some of the benefits from the direct planting of tree seeds compared to planting seedlings;

•Seeds are Cheaper! (At roughly 0.25cents per tree compared to 20+ shillings per seedling)
•The tree’s hardiness and survivability increases and its by direct seeding, 1000's of trees become so easy to plant.
•Thousands of seeds can be transported and stored much more easily then thousands of seedlings can until the planting time comes.
•Seeds can be massively disseminated through existing retail outlets with minimal price increments from producer to consumer. Tree seedlings face problems of availability at the right time, dissemination logistics etc.
•Partially domesticated indigenous tree species are best grown from seed. They are already adapted to Kenya’s climate, soils and pests and the trees are currently widely used and understood by the population.
•Seeds simplify the enhancement of the genetic diversity of planted woodlots.
•The above/below ground biomass ratio is more conducive to healthy growth when a tree is planted from seed.
•Overall financial losses and risks from drought, animals etc. are significantly less under direct seeding.

Available at the Carnivore Restaurant, UniqEco in Karen, Lukenya Agrovet in Kitengela Town, Roslyn Green Gardens in Westlands with more outlets to come!

The first best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is NOW!!!


(K-SOC)

Carbon Finance for Clean Cooking-time to grasp the opportunity.

• 
  
• The main driver is long term economic sustainability and forest conservation. Clean cooking is essential if the MDGs are to be achieved.
  
• Results from case studies show a rule of thumb savings of 1-1.5 tons of CO2 per stove per year.
  
• 90% of staple food needs to be cooked for long periods of time and the majority of the poor cook using unsustainable and inefficient methods.
  
• The majority of cookstove manufacturers are small to medium enterprise's lacking capital to rapidly industrialize production rates to match market demand. Capital from carbon credits would greatly enhance output and therefore greatly reduce national GHG emissions.
  
• As an urban and rural household energy source, charcoal and firewood burned in highly efficient cookstoves not only lower the risk of smoke related diseases, they enhance food security, environmental custodianship, and energy self reliance while reducing the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
  
• The strongest facet of this application of carbon finance is that the finance is paid after the delivery of measured output (i.e. company invoices for units of cookstoves sold). The outputs are rewarded rather than the inputs financed.
  
• The target stoves are the KCJs(Kenya Ceramic Jiko) invented by Dr. Maxwell Kinyanjui, in accordance to GTZ experiences the stoves are efficient (min. 40% fuel saving), clean burning, adapted to local needs and habits and are easy to use for the cook to use.
  
• Typical cost per stove is 7€ at national supermarkets, compared to 30-40€ for solar or LPG stoves.
  
• Switching to improved cookstoves has been proven to cut the mortality rate of lower respiratory illnesses and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by an estimated 83%.
  
• For the poorest communities, despite the low cost of clean cooking, the initial capital outlay is the major barrier. Carbon finance is potentially a way of overcoming such a barrier. With a typical saving of one ton per year of CO2 equivalent (TCO2e), an efficient cookstove could earn upwards of 30€ assuming a 3 year life.
  
• This level of funding is completely sufficient to supply cookstoves to the poorest communities relying most heavily on woodfuels.
  

I would like to extend my thanks to Boiling Point issue No. 54, published by the Household Energy Network(HEDON). All references can be obtained online at their website; www.hedon.onfo/Boiling Point