Energy

Bioethanol for clean cooking in Africa and Asia

©FAO/Asim Hafez

Introduction	Traditional use of biomass for cooking can have harmful effects on people’s health and wellbeing, and the environment, leading to increased emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, poor indoor air quality and deforestation.
Country	Rwanda Uganda
Start date	15/09/2023
End date	30/09/2025
Status	Ongoing
Recipient / Target Areas	Africa, Asia-Pacific, Rwanda, Uganda
Objective / Goal	Ethanol cookstoves have recently emerged as a valuable and widely accepted bioenergy option for clean cooking. Ethanol is a plant-based alternative that could be produced from crop residues or dedicated crops in marginalized land, without affecting food production. In the context of the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), the project aims to facilitate cross-sectoral dialogues for the adoption of sustainable bioenergy, focusing on ethanol for clean cooking in African and Asian markets. It seeks to increase understanding, awareness, and adoption of internationally recognized standards related to ethanol fuel and related cookstoves. The final objective is to support the increased use of ethanol for household energy, resulting in positive impacts on human health, the global environment, green jobs, and economic growth for farmers. Ethanol cookstoves have several benefits, such as improved indoor air quality and reduced emissions, but their widespread adoption in developing countries faces challenges: limited infrastructure, high costs, and limited awareness about the need for high quality and safety standards for both ethanol cookstoves and fuel.
Beneficiaries	Asian and African countries are the main beneficiaries. National Stakeholders dialogues will be held in Uganda and Rwanda.
Activities	Activities include engaging key stakeholders in African countries to discuss transitioning from traditional to modern bioenergy, with a special focus on ethanol's benefits for clean cooking. The plan involves organizing national-level dialogue events, conducting an online workshop to raise awareness, and developing a report on the advantages and challenges of ethanol as a clean cooking fuel in African and Asian countries. A full list of related events can be found on GBEP's project page.
Contact	[email protected]
More on this topic	Global Bioenergy Partnership Clean cooking
Related publications	Bioethanol for clean cooking - An analysis of its role in energy transition in Africa 25/08/2025 This study provides insights on the potential of bioethanol for clean cooking in various African countries, highlighting key enabling factors and barriers, and areas for further research. It draws on literature reviews, policy analysis, case studies, and stakeholder consultations in Rwanda and Uganda. The findings aim to support governments and policymakers to evaluate the suitability and sustainability of bioethanol and other clean cooking options.