Low-carbon solutions: Emission reduction insights from Senegal & Bangladesh
A new analysis by ADA conducted in collaboration with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) highlights the positive impact of two projects in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thereby advancing the progress toward achieving SDG 13 on climate action.
The ADA-LIST methodology analyses the lifecycle of new (energy-efficient) and old equipment from the purchase of raw materials to the production, use and end-of-life treatment (recycling and/or disposal). It then compares their carbon impact for the same output.
This methodology was applied to two of ADA’s projects in Senegal and Bangladesh.
Access to solar lighting and efficient cooking in Senegal
People living in rural areas of Senegal have limited access to energy to meet their basic needs, particularly for domestic purposes. Through a two-year project, ADA and its partner organisation Le Partenariat supported women in distributing solar lamps and energy efficient cookstoves to communities in the Delta region of Senegal. The project thereby enhanced their entrepreneurial skills while contributing to improving the living conditions of these communities and reducing their carbon footprint.
The ADA-LIST methodology showed that using a solar lamp instead of two paraffin lamps reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 98% over its lifetime. A bio charcoal stove (a fuel made from agricultural and forestry waste and other biomass) generates 56% less emissions than a traditional wood-burning stove.
Setting up a solar farming system in Bangladesh
‘Chars’ are unstable alluvial islands in the main rivers of Bangladesh. Agriculture on these islands is increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change. Alternating periods of drought and flooding present a major challenge for communities who struggle to manage their water resources effectively.
ADA and the NGO Friendship Luxembourg ran a 15-month project to improve irrigation management for growing rice in dry periods on the Chitulia Digha char. A solar farming system was installed with two water pumps, a rice threshing machine and a dryer, all powered by 48 photovoltaic panels and 45 batteries.
The ADA-LIST analysis showed reduced greenhouse gas emissions: replacing a diesel-powered system with a solar-powered electric agricultural system helps reduce emissions by 91%, while producing the same quantity of rice.
This methodology is the result of a successful collaboration between a research institute and an NGO. It enables the quantification of greenhouse gas emission reductions and can be broadly applied to sustainable development practices and interventions. ADA will keep applying this methodology to assess the environmental impact of energy projects, such as through its EVER programme, thus reinforcing its commitment to SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy.
– ADA