Introduction
Due to the increasing prices of fossil fuels and taxes on energy sources, finding alternative, clean and economical sources of energy has nowadays become a major concern for households’ and nations’ economies. In addition, economic prosperity and quality of life, which are linked in most countries to per-capita energy consumption, is a great determinant and indicator of economical development [1–4].
Energy demand is a critical reason for extensive climate change, resource exploitation, and also restricts the living standards of humans [5,6].
By the time fuel and fertilizer reaches rural areas, the end price is relatively expensive due to high transport costs, leaving people to find alternative resources other than oil [7]. Starke [8] reported wood as the traditional source of fuel to produce energy for domestic purposes for 2.5 billion people in Asia. Many of the rural communities in developing countries are forced to rely on the traditional energy sources such as firewood, dung, crop residues, and paraffin. These traditional methods are often expensive and/or time-consuming [9–11]. Cooking accounts for 90% of energy consumption in the households of developing countries [12]. Furthermore, access to electricity in rural areas is relatively scarce [13].