Energy Potential

OVERVIEWBiomass is material from plants and animals. It is a renewable source of fuel for producing energy. Biomass technologies break down organic matter to release stored energy from the sun. This technology is critical for social economic development in Uganda. All rural households and 98 % of urban households use biomass energy for cooking. Biomass can be a significant source of modern and clean form of energy like electricity. Despite its importance as a major fuel, biomass receives little recognition and prioritization in terms of funding. The level of biomass technology in Uganda is low. This policy brief discusses the unexploited potential of the biomass technology and highlights the efforts for its implementation. The brief also gives recommendations on how the technology can be promoted. KEY ISSUES • Inadequate awareness of the availability of appropriate technologies to harness the biomass. • Despite the economic importance and significance as a major fuel, biomass has received little recognition in terms of prioritization and funding. • High upfront cost is a critical barrier to adoption of improved biomass technology