Power generation is the second largest source of greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), in Burkina Faso's energy sector. When preparing the National Communications on Climate Change, Burkina Faso uses the default emission factors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to estimate emissions from power generation. This study presents an assessment of CO2 emission factors from power generation for 2018 in Burkina Faso and an assessment of the contribution of renewable energy to the reduction of CO2 emissions. The national electricity company of Burkina Faso was chosen as the scope for this study. The estimation of emission factors for combustion is based on an analysis of fuels which are characterised in terms of molecular composition, density and water content. For CO2, the emission factor is 76 903 kg/TJ for the combustion of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and 73 525 kg/TJ for that of Distillate Diesel Oil (DDO). Using these emission factors, the CO2 emissions attributable to power generation in 2018 were estimated at almost 580 Gg. The CO2 emission factor for thermal power generation was estimated at 0.663 kg/kWh and that of the electricity generation mix at 0.569 kg/kWh. Finally, the use of 14.25% renewable energy in electricity generation avoided 16.7% of CO2 emissions in 2018. The emission factor of electricity production decreases with the increase in the share of renewable energy in the energy mix.

Valorisation of local and low-cost eco-materials have become an imperative for the sustainable development of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) in West Africa. In this study, the compatibility tests were carried out. These involve the application of jatropha curcas oil (JCCO) and ceramic balls, which were developed from clay coal bottom ash and sands with a focus on Burkina dune sand ceramic. The aim was to assess the applicability of using JCCO as heat transfer fluid in CSPs with direct thermocline thermal energy storage. The tests involve the use of a small container to put in contact with Jatropha oil with ceramic balls for 2160 hours and at 210 °C. From the chemical properties’ analysis, the peroxide value in the oil decreases with aging time while the acidity increase. However, the acidity remains below the limited value that is 25 mg KOH.g^-1. Therefore, thermal properties that drive heat transfer and rheological properties (density, thermal conductivity, kinematic viscosity and so on) were not adjusted significantly at the storage temperature (of about 210°C). Thermal stability temperature decreased to 261.93°C for the oil aged alone as against 263.41 °C for the one that was put in contact with filler material. In the nutshell, there is no incompatibility between JCCO, and the new thermal energy storage material (TESM) developed. These couple of materials could be suitable for thermocline energy storage in CSP plant and for other applications like there use in solar cooker box.

Reliable air pollution monitoring remains a major challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), limiting the assessment of population exposure and the development of effective mitigation strategies. Recent advances in low-cost (LC) sensors offer promising opportunities, but their deployment in low-infrastructure settings still faces significant technical and logistical challenges. This study presents the experience gained from deploying LC sensor networks in Burkina Faso, Niger, and the Republic of Guinea, focusing on the practical challenges of installing and maintaining these systems under demanding conditions. In Burkina Faso, an LC station was co-located with a reference-grade instrument, enabling field calibration. In Niger, factory-calibrated LC sensors were deployed across urban, semi-urban, and rural settings, while in Guinea they were installed in a remote area. Several practical issues and challenges emerged, including unstable power supplies, limited internet connectivity, safety, and logistical constraints. Careful planning and involvement of local expertise proved essential for the long-term sustainability of LC sensors. Knowledge transfer to local partners supported ongoing maintenance and strengthened data ownership. Overall, this study demonstrated that the reliability of LC air quality networks in SSA depends not only on technology, but also on adaptive strategies, robust calibration, and strong local engagement, offering practical guidance for future scalable and sustainable implementations in resource-limited settings.

This study is a contribution to the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions in the waste sector in developing countries, especially through the determination of specific emission factors. The purpose is to determine the greenhouse gas emission factors of the various waste treatment units at the waste treatment and recovery centre in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) using the Life Cycle Analysis method. The emission factors were evaluated and then reduced to an equivalent CO2 emission per tonne of waste. The results show that landfill has the highest emission factors, with values ranging from 751.19 to 1,818.6 kg CO2 eq/tonne of waste for direct emissions, depending on whether or not sequestered carbon is taken into account, and from 7.24 to 1.31 kg CO2 eq/tonne for indirect emissions. Composting and plastic recovery units have negative EFs over their entire life cycle (-69.69 and -1736.65 Kg CO2 eq/tonne), thus contributing to net greenhouse gas savings. This study is the first of its kind to provide data that can be used for national accounting of greenhouse gas emissions in the waste sector