Zimbabwe - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

We recycle and transform biomass into clean energy in particular wood sawdust, a byproduct of the timber industry typically dumped in landfills, we create wood briquettes, a sustainable fuel source for cooking and heating.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Our solution to recycle thousands tones of saw dust which are dumbed in the timber industry forestry into wood briquettes as an alternative sustainable fuel for clean cooking and heating. The solution is intended to reduce/ substitute the use of firewood used for domestic cooking, Agriculture activities such as tobaccos curing and Mopane worm drying in bid to reducing deforestation promoting forestry regeneration to enhance carbon sink capacities. This presents the foundation for environmental protection and the promotion of clean cooking and green buildings in Zimbabwe to prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation, and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Lack of readily available clean energy options is the most pressing challenge in Zimbabwe and across the African continent contribute to deforestation in rural communities, especially where firewood is used for drying and processing, leaving thousands of acres deforested. Analysis shows that in 2017, Zimbabwe's net GHG emissions were 35.84 MtCO2eq, with the Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector contributing 54%. This number is expected to rise without effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. Firewood constitutes 49% of the total energy used with over 90% of rural and urban households depending on firewood energy because of countrywide power shortages experienced daily. Therefore, it is a concern that, while demand for firewood continues to grow in rural Zimbabwe, rapid land use and deforestation is increased.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Wood briquettes replace traditional firewood, significantly reducing the demand for cutting down trees (1 cubic meter of wood briquettes which is equivalent to approximately one tone will give as much heat a 5 cubic meters of firewood). This helps protect forests, promoting regeneration and enhancing their ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Briquettes burn more efficiently (have higher thermal calorific value equal to B grade coal and have a continuous burning and smouldering time, burn over 30mins and smoulders for 4 hours giving a long lasting fire) and cleanly than firewood (produce 10 times less carbon dioxide than LPG and 50 times less than coal), minimizing air pollution and promoting cleaner homes and healthier communities. Promotes environmental best practices by utilizing waste materials and fostering a circular economy. This aligns with the principles of sustainable development, ensuring both economic growth and environmental protection

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our project is aiming to serve the following beneficiaries: 1. Rural and Domestic Households that uses firewood as the main source of firewood for cooking and heating. Zimbabwe faces a critical energy gap. Daily power cuts leave households and businesses struggling. According to ZIMSTAT (2017), a staggering 95% of rural households rely on firewood for cooking, while a 2011 ZimVAC survey reveals a similar story in urban areas. Even those who use electricity for cooking (73.8%) resort to firewood when power cuts, which can last over 15 hours a day, disrupt their lives. 2. Farmers and food Processors and Producers in particular Tobacco farmers and Mopane worm producers, relies heavily on firewood for drying their products leaving thousands of acres deforested.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-11-03

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Kudakwashe Pedzisai Expertise: • Designing, installing, integrating, and commissioning renewable energy power plants. • Developing renewable energy systems for climate mitigation and adaptation Experience: • Open Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET) to model least-cost electrification strategies for off-grid communities • Crafting computer models that allows to generate accurate demand forecasts, analyze various energy supply strategies, and assess their environmental and economic impacts. • Clean Cooking and Heating Solutions to finding the most cost-effective clean cooking and heating technologies, improving public health and environmental sustainability. Tawona Tawedzera. Experience and Skills: • Green finance expert • crafting compelling funding proposals that attract investment from diverse sources. • Develops innovative financing solutions. • structures and packages climate finance instruments. • Environmental and Social Sustainability (ESS) standards

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Reduced Time Burden: Collecting firewood is a time-consuming task, often falling on women and girls. Transitioning to briquettes eliminates this burden, freeing up valuable time for education, income-generating activities, or leisure. Improved Health: Smoke inhalation from traditional cooking fires is a major health risk, particularly for women and children who spend more time cooking. Briquettes burn cleaner, reducing indoor air pollution and associated respiratory illnesses.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Clean Cooking Solution: Briquettes are a readily available, affordable fuel source that burns cleaner than firewood. This provides a healthier and more efficient cooking option for households, especially in rural areas with limited access to electricity. Reduced Deforestation: Excessive reliance on firewood for cooking contributes to deforestation. By offering a sustainable alternative, briquettes can help reduce or substitute reliance on firewood thus significantly reducing the demand for cutting down trees. In addition its affordable 1 cubic meter of wood briquettes which is equivalent to approximately one tone will give as much heat a 5 cubic meters of firewood

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

2

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

3

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Sustainable Fuel Source: Briquettes is made from agricultural waste or sustainably harvested wood, minimizing deforestation and associated carbon emissions. Improved Efficiency: Briquettes burn hotter and longer than firewood, requiring less fuel for the same cooking task. This translates to lower overall emissions.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

5

05.08 Justification

Firewood constitutes 49% of the total energy used with over 90% households relying on it due to daily power cuts. We create wood briquettes from recycled sawdust, a timber industry byproduct typically dumped in landfills. Our product will result in integrating fuel-efficient stoves creating a complete clean cooking package that maximizes energy efficiency and user benefits. In addition, it aligns with environmental initiatives and programs that promotes reforestation or integrates clean cooking for a sustainable forest management A staggering 95% of rural households rely on firewood for cooking, while those who use electricity for cooking (73.8%) resort to firewood during power cuts. Tobacco and Mopane worm producer also accounts for thousands of acres deforested every year Our product utilizes forestry waste by recycling thousands of tons of sawdust to produce a sustainable energy source that burn hotter and longer than traditional firewood.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Competitors: 1. Traditional Firewood suppliers 2. Other Clean Cooking Solutions: o Charcoal: Widely used, but often produces more smoke than briquettes and can contribute to deforestation through unsustainable production practices. o LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas): Clean and efficient, but can be more expensive and require access to reliable distribution networks. o Solar Cookers: Environmentally friendly but may not be suitable for all cooking needs and can be limited by weather conditions. Competitive advantage: Sustainability, we recycle forest residue i.e. sawdust, diverting waste from landfills and promoting a circular economy. • Efficiency, briquettes burns hotter and longer than traditional firewood. • Briquettes have lower smoke emissions compared to wood, coal and charcoal • Affordability, cost-effective and locally produced and readily available alternative to other clean cooking solutions like LPG. • Potential Integration with other fuel-efficient stove makers and chimneys

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

n/a