Sawdust Briquette: A Renewable Energy for Sustainable Livelihood of Rural Dwellers in Nigeria
Keywords:
Renewable energy, fossil fuel, sawdust briquette, deforestation, desertificationAbstract
Available energy applicable in Nigeria is mainly of fossil-type (coal, petroleum products and natural gas). These are costly to acquire and intermittent in supply and for most times unavailable and/or unaffordable to majority of the citizenry. Therefore, the easily affordable energy source is fuel wood the high demand of which has resulted in rapid deforestation with attendant adverse consequences as desertification, erosion and global warming. This work does not only review the various energy resources available in Nigeria and their level or limit of applicability but also proposes the use of sawdust briquette as alternative source of energy most especially for the rural dwellers in view of the attendant socio-economic benefits. The simplicity of the manufacturing process, the thermo-graphic superiority of the product over ordinary fuel wood, and contribution to environmental amelioration are also highlighted.
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