The Clean Cooking Industry in Africa
The recent €4 million investment by the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and EDFI Management Company in Emerging Cooking Solutions (Supamoto) underscores the growing momentum behind Africa’s clean cooking sector. However, this investment is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The clean cooking industry in Africa is at a critical juncture, with immense potential to address some of the continent’s most pressing challenges—energy access, public health, environmental sustainability, and gender inequality. Yet, significant barriers remain, particularly in terms of financing and scalability.
The State of Clean Cooking in Africa
Over 900 million people in sub-Saharan Africa rely on traditional biomass—such as firewood and charcoal—for cooking. This reliance has far-reaching consequences:
- Health Impacts: Traditional cooking methods produce harmful indoor air pollution, which contributes to respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and premature deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 600,000 deaths annually in Africa are linked to household air pollution, with women and children disproportionately affected.
- Environmental Degradation: The widespread use of charcoal and firewood drives deforestation, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation. In Zambia alone, deforestation rates are among the highest in the world, with charcoal production being a major contributor.
- Economic Burden: Collecting firewood and purchasing charcoal consume significant time and financial resources, particularly for women and girls. This limits their ability to pursue education, employment, and other income-generating activities.
Clean cooking solutions, such as those offered by Supamoto, present a viable alternative. By utilizing biomass pellets made from agricultural waste and IoT-enabled stoves, these solutions reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and lower costs for households. However, despite their potential, clean cooking technologies remain underutilized across the continent.
The Financing Gap
One of the biggest challenges facing the clean cooking industry is the lack of adequate financing. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), achieving universal access to clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 would require an annual investment of $4 billion. Currently, the sector receives only a fraction of this amount.
Several factors contribute to this financing gap:
- Perceived Risk: Many investors view clean cooking as a high-risk sector due to its reliance on low-income consumers, who may have limited purchasing power. Additionally, the lack of established distribution networks and consumer awareness further deters investment.
- Lack of Data: There is a scarcity of reliable data on the clean cooking market, including consumer preferences, adoption rates, and impact metrics. This makes it difficult for investors to assess the viability and scalability of clean cooking solutions.
- Policy and Regulatory Barriers: In many African countries, the clean cooking sector lacks supportive policies and regulatory frameworks. For example, subsidies for fossil fuels and charcoal often make it harder for clean cooking technologies to compete on price.
- Limited Access to Carbon Finance: While clean cooking projects have significant potential to generate carbon credits, many developers struggle to navigate the complex and costly process of carbon credit certification and trading.
The Importance of Clean Cooking in Africa
Addressing the clean cooking challenge is not just a matter of energy access; it is a prerequisite for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here’s why this industry is so critical:
- Health and Well-being (SDG 3): Clean cooking solutions reduce exposure to harmful pollutants, improving respiratory health and reducing mortality rates. This has a direct impact on the well-being of millions of households.
- Gender Equality (SDG 5): Women and girls bear the brunt of traditional cooking practices, spending hours collecting firewood and cooking over open flames. Clean cooking solutions free up their time, enabling them to pursue education, employment, and other opportunities.
- Climate Action (SDG 13): By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, clean cooking contributes to global climate goals. Supamoto’s partnership with the Zambian government on an Article 6.2 carbon credit programme is a prime example of how clean cooking can align with international climate commitments.
- Economic Growth (SDG 8): The clean cooking industry has the potential to create thousands of jobs, from manufacturing and distribution to maintenance and customer service. Supamoto’s plan to quadruple its workforce in Zambia is a testament to this potential.
The Path Forward
To unlock the full potential of the clean cooking industry in Africa, a multi-stakeholder approach is needed. Key actions include:
- Scaling Up Investment: Governments, development finance institutions, and private investors must increase funding for clean cooking initiatives. Blended finance models, which combine public and private capital, can help de-risk investments and attract more funding.
- Strengthening Policy Frameworks: Governments should implement policies that support clean cooking, such as subsidies for clean technologies, taxes on charcoal, and awareness campaigns to promote adoption.
- Leveraging Carbon Finance: Clean cooking projects should be integrated into carbon markets, enabling developers to monetize their emissions reductions. Simplified certification processes and capacity-building support can help more projects access carbon finance.
- Building Consumer Awareness: Many households are unaware of the benefits of clean cooking solutions. Targeted marketing campaigns and demonstrations can help drive adoption.
- Fostering Innovation: Continued investment in research and development is essential to improve the efficiency, affordability, and accessibility of clean cooking technologies.
A Model for Transformation
Supamoto’s success in Zambia demonstrates the transformative potential of clean cooking solutions. By combining innovative technology, local waste utilization, and strategic partnerships, Supamoto has created a scalable and sustainable model that can be replicated across Africa.
As PIDG’s Gilles Vaes aptly notes, “Access to clean cooking is a key driver for improvements in human and planetary health.” By addressing the financing gap and scaling up clean cooking initiatives, we can unlock a future where clean, affordable, and sustainable energy is accessible to all.
The clean cooking industry is not just about stoves and pellets; it is about empowering communities, protecting the environment, and building a more equitable and sustainable world. The time to act is now.
