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Africa and Asia have the highest adoption rates for biomass cooking, with millions of households using traditional or improved biomass cookstoves. Countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, and India have implemented large-scale programs to promote the use of efficient biomass cookstoves. These regions face significant energy access challenges, making biomass a vital cooking fuel.
Regions with High Biomass Adoption Rates
Biomass cooking is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where traditional biomass fuels like wood, charcoal, and agricultural waste are readily available. In Ethiopia, for example, 80% of households use biomass for cooking, with many relying on traditional open fires or inefficient cookstoves. To address this, the Ethiopian government has launched the “Biogas Program,” which aims to install 1.5 million biogas digesters by 2025, providing clean energy for cooking and reducing reliance on wood fuels.
Cookstove Adoption Programs
In India, the government has implemented a large-scale program to promote the use of efficient biomass cookstoves. The “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana” (PMUY) aims to provide LPG connections to 80 million poor households, but also supports the adoption of improved biomass cookstoves, especially in rural areas. This program has led to the distribution of millions of efficient cookstoves, reducing indoor air pollution and improving cooking habits. Techniques like the “Rocket Stove” design, which uses a combination of insulation and airflow to increase efficiency, have been widely adopted in these regions.
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