Determining the biomass energy potential derived from agricultural wastes in Uganda

Biomass energy derived from agricultural residues holds significant potential for addressing energy needs in Uganda. As a country heavily reliant on traditional biomass sources, the utilization of agricultural waste, such as crop residues, offers a sustainable and renewable energy alternative. This study explores the availability, energy potential, and environmental benefits of using agricultural residues for biomass energy production in Uganda. By analyzing various types of residues, including maize stalks, rice straw, and potatoes stalks, the energy yield was estimated. The findings highlight the potential of agricultural residues to contribute significantly to Uganda's energy supply while reducing environmental degradation associated with conventional biomass use. The amount of agricultural residues produced from annual crops cultivated in Uganda, measured in tons of dry matter per year, was determined using agricultural production data from the Food and Agriculture Organization Statistical Database of the United Nations (FAOSTAT) for the year 2021. The annual gross potential of agricultural residues was calculated by applying the residue-to-product ratio. The total amount of agricultural wastes in Uganda, encompassing annual crop residues such as barley, maize (corn), millet, potatoes, rice, sorghum, soya beans, and wheat was calculated to be approximately 24.9 Kt. The primary crops contributing to the overall residue quantity ratio are maize (59.52%), beans (13.65%), rice (10.53%), sorghum (8.76%), and soya beans (3.85%). Uganda has a significant supply of raw materials suitable for energy production from agricultural residues. For the 2021 production period, the total energy potential of these residues was estimated to be around 432.1 TJ.