Baseline report and analysis on local market and consumer profiles

Most households in developing countries do not have access to clean cooking and heating energy, owing to inadequate access to energy grid, old and inefficient energy infrastructure, remoteness of most of the rural areas that are off grid, including lack of capacity for these developed countries to invest in renewable and sustainable energy sources. These communities often resort to the use of fuelwood to cook under open fire conditions. Through Super-Heated Steam (SHS) technology there is potential to harvest and convert bush encroachment into safe and sustainable renewable energy ,that would provide cooking and heating energy to the benefit of these unconnected households and those who cannot afford other energy sources.This report presents the results of the baseline market assessment for solid biofuel produced through Super-heated Steam (SHS) process from bush and other woody biomass in the domestic household sector. The survey identifies factors that could influence consumer behaviour and market acceptance of this fuel in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa across rural, urban, and peri-urban areas.Survey questionnaires were administered to one hundred and ninety-eight (198) household in urban, peri urban and rural areas of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa to collect socio economic characteristics and energy consumption patterns of these households, with a view to identify factors that influence energy consumption. This information will be used to develop energy consumer profiles in these countries.The results show that communities in the study areas use a mix of energy sources, and that they would be interested in trying out proposed solid biofuel energy source as long as they are efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly. The respondents were however not prepared to pay for participation in the trial for the proposed new biofuel.