Unlocking the potential of bioethanol for clean cooking
Ghana faces severe indoor air pollution from widespread use of firewood and charcoal for cooking. A bioethanol initiative using sweet sorghum offers a cleaner alternative. Supported by government and researchers, the project promises reduced deforestation, improved health, and farmer income, marking a potential breakthrough in sustainable, clean energy solutions.
In Ghana, 70% of households still rely on solid fuels like firewood and charcoal for cooking, contributing to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and over 18,000 premature deaths annually due to indoor air pollution. To address this, initiatives like Ecolinks are promoting sweet sorghum-based bioethanol as a clean alternative. After successful agronomic trials, an 81-litre-per-day refinery is being set up, with plans to cultivate 4,000 hectares of sweet sorghum through both in-house production and out-grower models. Unlike cassava, sweet sorghum isn’t a staple crop, allowing farmers to maintain food security while earning additional income. Ghana has the potential to produce over 200 million litres of bioethanol annually from agro-waste. The government supports biofuel development and is drafting a national biofuel policy. Experts urge investment in efficient ethanol cookstoves and tax incentives to ensure accessibility. With coordinated efforts, bioethanol could transform Ghana’s clean cooking landscape and improve public health and environmental outcomes.
********
Source- https://gna.org.gh/2025/04/unlocking-the-potential-of-bioethanol-for-clean-cooking/