Faecal Sludge Briquettes as an alternative cooking biofuel in reducing negative environmental impacts: A study based on Nakuru, Kenya

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The high demand for solid biofuels for cooking is driving intensified logging activities, leading to rapid deforestation in many African countries. Poor management of faecal sludge is polluting surface water bodies, increasing public health risks. In this context, Faecal Sludge Briquettes (FSB) emerge as a potential alternative cooking fuel that can mitigate water pollution and deforestation, which are investigated, using the city of Nakuru, Kenya. Both primary and secondary data were collected to model potential FSB production, and related environmental emission-replacement opportunities were quantified. The gathered data have also been modelled to quantify the potential carbon credit yield for different future scenarios. Results show that the city can produce 3.45 tons per day of FSB, which could contribute to 4.9% of the overall traditional cooking fuel demand. The FSB production has the potential to increase to 31.1 t/d due to population growth and improved sanitation, which could replace 30.9% of the traditional solid cooking fuel demand. Analysis also shows that every ton of FSB produced could prevent 0.091 hectares of deforestation, saving 115 hectares of forest annually. Results also indicated that the improvement of the sludge drying process would lower the carbon emissions from FSB production, leading to monetization through carbon credits—a potential incentive mechanism for attracting private-sector investment to improve water and sanitation systems. The research findings in Nakuru indicates that FSB has the potential to serve as an alternative to traditional cooking biofuels, reducing deforestation and water pollution and thereby improving livelihoods in many energy-scarce regions worldwide.