Energy

Sustainable Bioenergy Assessment (BEFS) and capacity building in Seychelles

©FAO/Sophie Perolari

Introduction	Seychelles heavily depends on imported fossil fuels for its energy needs. To develop the sustainable bioenergy strategy, the project assessed possible bioenergy pathaways using FAO’s Bioenergy and Food Security (BEFS) approach, provided capacity building on the use of the BEFS tools to key stakeholders involved in the bioenergy sector and set a roadmap and an action plan with governmental agencies.
Country	Seychelles
Start date	01/02/2019
End date	31/12/2021
Status	Closed
Recipient / Target Areas	Seychelles
Project Code	TCP/SEY/3702 (18/IX/SEY/221)
Objective / Goal	To support MEECC to analyze and identify potential bioenergy feedstock and technologies that can be developed in Seychelles for sustainable bioenergy production using stand-alone power system (SAPS) intended to rural electrification a medium/large scale combined heat and power (CHP) systems. To provide capacity building on the use of the BEFS tools to key stakeholders involved in the bioenergy sector and in the formulation of a biomass energy strategy to support the development of a sustainable bioenergy sector in the country.
Partners	Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment (MACCE), formerly Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change.
Beneficiaries	Staff of MACCE, in particular, the Energy and Climate Change Department and the Environment Department (Forestry section); Seychelles Energy Commission; Public Utility Corporation; Seychelles National Park Authority and Land Waste Management Agency.
Activities	The project assessed sustainable bioenergy potential and ensured the capacity building to analyse the bioenergy options in the Seychelles. The appraisal was needed to develop an evidence-based sustainable bioenergy strategy and strengthen the sustainable development of the sector. The project made use of FAO’s Bioenergy and Food Security (BEFS) approach, which assists countries in developing a framework integrating food security and agriculture needs into bioenergy supply chains. It also provided capacity building on the use of the BEFS tools to key stakeholders involved in the bioenergy sector. In addition, relevant technologies and bioenergy feedstock in the forestry, agriculture and waste sectors were identified that can be harnessed for sustainable bioenergy production and consumption. In order to develop the sustainable bioenergy strategy, a roadmap and an action plan were also set with the stakeholders, constituted by several governmental agencies.
Impact	The operational knowledge of the existing bioenergy options in the country was enhanced thanks to the implementation of the BEFS approach (centred on delivering assessments and trainings) that was carried out in close collaboration with local stakeholders and experts, focusing on the country’s context and needs. The project also improved bioenergy policy processes. The achievements were critical to providing the basis of an evidence-informed bioenergy strategy to lower fossil fuels dependency and strengthening Seychelles’ environmental and economic resilience.
More on this topic	Sustainable bioenergy from agriculture The Bioenergy and Food Security (BEFS) Approach
Related publications	Bioenergy and food security (BEFS) assessment – Seychelles 03/06/2022 This Sustainable Bioenergy Assessment report for Seychelles looks at the potential for sustainable bioenergy within the country, considering the country context, conditions and delicate habitat. The report considers sustainable biomass sources from the agrifood sector and from the biodegradable portion of waste.