James M Gatimu
Email: gatimumbatia @gmail.com
Phone: +254 724 583 217
Project Title: Assessing the prevalence of Energy Stacking practice in Kenyan households with a view to predicting fuel switching patterns
Introduction
Over time, researchers have often applied the ‘energy ladder model’ in investigating households’fuel consumption patterns for cooking energy.The model assumes a perfect, linear substitution of primitive fuels (mainly biomass)with cleaner ones (kerosene, LPG, bio-fuels etcetera)at a rate dictated by level of disposable incomes. However, the ‘energy ladder model’ has been disapproved on account that empirical evidence has pointed to an ‘energy stacking’ practice whereby households do not exhibit a complete switch between different energy ladders but rather gradually integrate cleaner fuels into their fuels use mix and that they are a whole range of other factors besides level of income that influence choice of cooking of fuel.
Project aim
The project aims at investigating the extent of this fuel stacking practice in Kenyan households and the findings will be used to predictswitching patterns and hence fuel use scenarios likely to prevail going forward. Through in-depth evaluation of factors that determine the choice of cooking fuel in a household, the research will also attempt to explainthe slow pace characterizing theswitch from biomass fuels to cleaner fuels as well as the low uptake of efficient biomass conversion technologies by majority of Kenyan households.
Proposed research questions
What fuel(s) are the households using for cooking?
What factors influenced the choice of the fuel(s)?
What fuel (s) the households consider aspirational and the factors inhibiting the switch?
What factors influence the choice of a biomass cooking stove?
Expected outcome
Generation of high-quality, scientific rigorous data that will provide content for athesis documentingthe extent of the fuel stacking practice in Kenyan households, projections on likely future cooking fuel adoption patterns, factors influencing choice of fuels/inhibiting switch to cleaner fuels and factors that influence adoption of biomass conversion technologies. This information will contribute to the body of knowledge onsuccessful adoption, knowledge, attitudes and barriers towards clean cooking technologies.
Proposed supervisors
Prof. Jacob Kithinji- Senior lecturer, Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi
Dr. Mabel Isiolo- Lecturer, University of Nairobi
Faith Odongo Wandera- Ministry of Energy & Petroleum
Project timelines
Budget