It is our opinion that with a robust certification scheme in place and with food security policies in place, there’s no reason why African nations couldn’t do what Brazil is doing below. In the process, sub-Saharan Africa nations could also ensure their supply of energy for cooking (sustainable charcoal) and electricity generation.

via Bloomberg News:

ERB to Sell Pellets From Brazil Biomass Site to Europe Utilities

By Stephan Nielsen – Oct 28, 2011 10:24 AM ET

ERB Energias Renovaveis do Brasil Ltda., the Brazilian developer of biomass energy projects, will build a demonstration plant next year to turn wood into charcoal-like pellets that it will sell to European utilities.

The company is in talks to supply the biomass fuel to power generators in the U.K., the Netherlands and Germany, and may build a commercial-scale facility in 2013, Luiz Pellegrini, industrial development manager of the Sao Paulo-based company, said today in a telephone interview.

Europe is seeking to generate 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources in 2020, and converting Brazilian wood into easily transportable pellets may help the region reach it’s goal, Pellegrini said.

“Demand in Europe for biomass is very big,” he said. “Many old coal-fired thermoelectric plants are making the decision to co-fire with biomass to extend their lives, principally in England.”

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