Located in Southeast Asia, Cambodia covers an area of 181,035 square kilometers, with a population of over 14 million (July 2008) of which approximately 85-90 % live in rural areas (Ministry of Rural Development 2006, Central Intelligence Agency 2008). Over 80% of energy comes from biomass (De Lopez, 2003). Firewood is the main source of energy for the rural population and for the brick industries. According to De Lopez, natural forests are the main source of firewood in Cambodia, causing severe forest degradation over the past twenty years. Currently, woody biomass can also be obtained from old rubber plantations by harvesting old rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) (Abe, 2007). Furthermore, biomass is not only the product of woody plants, but also the residues of agricultural crops such as rice, sugarcane, and corn (ReCambodia, n.d.). Tree plantations would be very suitable for providing biomass fuel for rural mini-grid electrification. especially fast-growing legumes such as Leucaena spp. and Gliricidia spp., farmers are able to harvest stems and branches...
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