Contribution of Biomass Valorization for Renewable Energy Generation in Low Emission Development Pathways: A Policy Review

Zimbabwe has an untapped or underutilized energy generation potential from biomass estimated at over 1000MB with more than half of its population not having access to electricity. Policies and strategic plans have been developed aimed at increasing the exploitation of the available RETs including biomass related power generation RETs. This study reviewed the contribution of biomass-based power generation in the low emission development trajectory for Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe plans to install 1100MW and 2100MW of renewable energy by 2025 and 2030 respectively. Of the 2100MW to be developed and installed by 2030, 275MW (13%) is anticipated to be from biomass based renewable energy technologies corresponding to 28% utilisation of the national biomass-based energy potential. It has been noted that provided for biomass-based policy interventions for power generation are limited to biogas production hence the need to explore other commercially available such as pyrolysis and gasification as well as those under piloting and demonstration like hydrothermal liquefaction, hydro pyrolysis and coal-biomass energy with carbon capture and storage (CBECCS). Several factors that hinder the uptake of biomass based renewable energy generation technologies in Zimbabwe have been noted which if not addressed, the proposed policy targets will likely not be achieved.