Potential of Bioethanol as a Household Fuel for Middle-Income Urban Kenya

Abstract

Access to clean sources of energy constitutes a necessary condition for poverty alleviation. Provision of modern energy services is essential to improving the livelihood of households in the developing world. This study addresses both the demand and supply of bioethanol as a household fuel in urban Kenya. On the demand side, the study establishes that there is demand for clean fuels. The study establishes that households prefer the clean and convenient fuels. Even though LPG and electricity are indicated as expensive, they are the preferred fuels for cooking and lighting respectively. On the supply side, the study reviews the production of bioethanol from sugarcane and sweet sorghum. It is established that Kenya has suitable climate and land is available to grow sugarcane and sweet sorghum to supply bioethanol. Bioethanol is a modern clean fuel similar in characteristics to LPG and therefore can replace it as a household fuel. Bioethanol production and use will stimulate rural development.