Do small-scale Biomass power generation systems are beneficial for rural/low-income communities in developing countries?

Socio-Technical Map for Small-scale Biopower systems. Submitted by Daniel Arenas Castellanos (4123980) November 7th 2010

1.

Introduction

Society faces an important dilemma for the future: are the current means of generating energy and power sustainable, affordable and enough to satisfy the basic human needs and activities? Energy demand is constantly increasing and so are the needs of research and development of new energy generation technologies to complement the current system and replace the obsolete technologies which are still on working in order to meet goals of grid coverage, power demand and green house gases reductions. In this context, power generation using biomass gains a relevant role as mean of power supply and also as an option for energetic decentralization. Biomass power generation can be a mean for development in rural communities away from the central supply grids, especially in developing countries. Biomass is the most primitive source of energy known by man, in recent years new technologies have been developed to amplify its uses and to increase its efficiency in order to obtain not only fuel for heating power, but also for transportation and electrical power generation. Biomass in form of wood and agriculture disposals is mainly used by poor families in rural areas of developing countries to satisfy their basic energy needs such as heating power and fuel for daily activities, however this use is not done in a sustainable way nor a efficient way causing environmental problems and even health harms to the people. In the following STM the present state of small-scale biopower technologies is presented along with some societal issues, mainly the stakeholders involved in the deployment of this types of technologies. Some successful case studies are also presented in order to show real benefits that people from developing countries are already experiencing with the use of biomass as an alternative energy source.

2. Technological Map 2.1. State of development for power generation technologies using biomass Biomass mainly in form of wood is the most antique energy source used by mankind. Traditionally the energy from biomass has been obtained from direct combustion and used for heating in households, this process is still common nowadays and is widely used worldwide. Nevertheless bio-energy has opportunities to be worldwide modernized, produced and used at low cost and higher performance rates using technologies to convert it to gas fuels, liquid fuels or direct electric supply [9]. Biomass can be transformed into useful forms for using its energy with a variety of processes from which three main byproducts can be obtained: Products for heat and power generation. Products to be used as transport fuels. Chemical products whose last use is not concerned with energy generation.

The following figure summarizes the type of process and final product for energetic use:

Figure 1: Biomass transformation processes for energy [10].

2.2. Technologies for small-scale power generation. Combustion: Biomass combustion is the most spread way to obtain energy from biomass feedstock both in form of heat or for power generation purposes. Domestic heaters can achieve performance rates up to 70%[5]. The dominant technology for power generation are small scale boilers attached to a turbine system that can reach up to 1MW of power; these technologies hardly reach performance rates between 20% y el 40%[10]. There is a wide range of technologies available for using biomass combustion as a source of small-scale energy production; its main advantages, disadvantages and appliances are summarized in table 1. Gasification: Several projects can be found worldwide using biomass gasification technologies as a small-scale generation mean of electricity. Three different types of gasification can be distinguished based on the gasification agent, and the way heat is involved in the process:

184
TABLE V

Biomass Combustion

Gasification using air and direct heating Gasification oxygen and direct heating Global Overview of Current using indirect heating. Data for the Main Conversion Routes of Biomass to Power and Heat And gasification and Projected Performance
Summary of Technology Status and Deployment in the European Context

In the first two cases the gasification agent (air and oxygen respectively), is Conversion Typical capacity Net efciency (LHV Investment cost Status and deploym introduced in the gasifier, the burn a small part of the biomass generates enough option range basis) ranges (Euro/kW) Europe heat for the ignition of the process. Air gasification leads to a gas with low heating power and a high content of nitrogen, this technology is low Combustion Heat Domestic From very mainly used in small-scale Classic rewood use s B100/kWth 184 Biomass Combustion appliances. Oxygen gasification15 MWth needs pure oxygen feedstock making it very costly. deployed in Europe (classic replaces) 300700/kWth up to 7090% for Its product gas has a lower content of nitrogen and thus a higher for larger furnaces heating power. decreasing. Replace modern furnaces Indirect heating gasifiers do not require oxygen nor air. Biomass inside the gasifier modern heating sys TABLE V can be heated to ignition using external systems [11]. Table 1 summarizes main automated, ue gas Global Overview of Current and Projected Performance Data for the Main Conversion Routes of Biomass pellet ring) in, for to Power and Heat biomass gasification appliances.
Summary of Technology Status and Deployment in the European Context Conversion option

Austria, Sweden, G ongoing for years

Widely deployed in Sc Status and deploym countries, Europe G Austria, and to a lesser exte Combustion Heat Domestic B100/kWth Classic rewood use s in general increasing 15 MWth 300700/kWth deployed in Europe increasing electrical for larger furnaces decreasing. Replace over time modern heating syst Stand-alone 20100s MWe 2.5001600 Well-established techn automated, ue gas especially deployed pellet ring) in, for Scandinavia; variou Austria, Sweden, G advanced concepts ongoing for years bed technology givi CHP 0.11 MWe 6090% (overall) Widely deployed costs efciency, low in Sc B10% (electrical) countries, commerci exibility Austria, G 80100% and to a lesser exten deployed; mass bur (overall) 1520% in general increasing waste incineration g (electrical) increasing electrical much higher capital over time lower efciency; wi applied in countries Stand-alone 20100s MWe 2040% (electrical) 2.5001600 Well-established techn especially deployed Netherlands and Ge Scandinavia; variou Co-combustion Typically 520 MWe 3040% (electrical) B250 costs of Widely deployed in m advanced conceptsfu at existing coal existing power countries; interest bed technology givi red stations; station biomass coring sha efciency, lowmore higher for new utilization of costs exibility commerci multifuel power options (e.g., by fee deployed; gasiers) i plants. gas from mass burn waste incineration g in more recent year much higher capital Gasication Heat Usually smaller 8090% (overall) Several 100s/kWth, Commercially availab lower efciency; wi capacity range depending on deployed; but total applied in countries around capacity contribution to ene Netherlands and Ge 100s kWth production in the E Co-combustion Typically 520 MWe 3040% (electrical) B250 costs of Widely deployed in m limited at existing coal existing power countries; interest fo CHP gas engine 0.11 MWe 1530% 3.0001.000 Various systems on th red stations; station biomass coring sha (depends on deployment limited higher for new utilization of more conguration) relatively high costs multifuel power options (e.g., by fee operational demand plants. gas from gasiers) i fuel quality in more recent year BIG/CC 30100 MWe 4050% (or higher; 5.0003.500 Demonstration phase Gasication Heat Usually smaller 8090% (overall) Several 100s/kWth, Commercially availab electrical (demos) 2.000 510 MWe range ob capacity range depending on deployed; but total efciency) 1.000 (longer rapid development around capacity contribution to ener term, larger scale) 1990s has stalled in 100s kWth in the E production generatio years; rst Table 1 Global Overview of Current and Projected Performance Data for the limited prove capi concepts CHP gas engine 0.11 MWe 1530% 3.0001.000 Various systems on th Main Conversion Routes of Biomass to Power and Heat [5] intensive (depends on deployment limited conguration) relatively high costs Based on a variety of literature sources. Due to the variability of data in the various references and conditions assumed, all c operational demand should be considered as indicative. Generally they reect European conditions. fuel quality 4 Demonstration phase BIG/CC 30100 MWe 4050% (or higher; 5.0003.500 electrical (demos) 2.000 510 MWe range ob efciency) 1.000 (longer rapid development i term, larger scale) 1990s has stalled in
Investment cost ranges (Euro/kW)

CHP

0.11 MWe Typical capacity range

6090% (overall) Net efciency (LHV B10% (electrical) basis) 80100% From very low (overall) 1520% (classic replaces) (electrical) up to 7090% for modern furnaces 2040% (electrical)

Another known process for biomass gasification anaerobic digestion and is based on biomass waste decomposition. Waste must be stock in silos in absence of oxygen with controlled pressure and temperature in order to ease the role of bacteria. The product is a mixture of fermentation gases, mainly methane [11]. 2.3. Appropriate Technology determination. When determining the most appropriate technology for a small-scale biopower system the main factors to take as guidelines for such projects are: Type of biomass; biomass must fulfill some basic characteristics according to content of humidity (eg. Low for combustion and gasification, high for anaerobic digestion). Amount of biomass feedstock on the site. Logistics and cost of transporting the biomass from its main source of production to the biopower system. Process selection according to the final product either fuel gas, heat or direct electricity. Current state of the technology, since there are still some biomass technologies which are in stage of research and not yet commercial. Final use of the power or heat generation. Energetic demand of the community in which the system will be or is deployed. Efficiency ratios of the system.

2.4. Technical alternatives available In order to achieve goals of energy supply for low-income rural communities and energy supply decentralization there are a wide range of alternatives. From traditional fuel oil engines to sophisticated renewable energy technologies like PV. However these options are often costly and need higher technical training for the final users, efficiency and environmental goals are not successfully met and some of them do not rely on local resources otherwise disposed as waste. 2.5. Prospective for biopower According to a prospective study for different renewable energy sources held by the international Energy Agency [1] biomass offers many applications for power generation, from co-generation to distributed generation. In some areas, biopower can compete with conventional base-load power in the 30-100 MW range or provide electricity for specific services. Worldwide biopower generation capacity is expected to grow by more than 30 GW by 2020. Still the main concerns are on the development of such technologies rely on the biomass feedstock issue in where new logistical methods must be developed in order to reduce transport and handling issues of the feedstock as well as making it more cost efficient and environment friendly. In the same way mature technologies such as combustion, anaerobic digestion and biogas will still benefit from mass-to-energy efficiency improvements [1].

3. Social Map The majority of the worlds poor families living in rural and urban areas rely on traditional biomass to satisfy their most immediate energy needs. Biomass fuels like wood and food residues are used mainly in inefficient ways to produce energy for everyday life activities like cooking, household heating and small commercial activities. Nevertheless small-scale power generation applications have shown some success when deployed in these types of communities. The following are the social interactions between different take holders concerning the development of smallscale biopower technologies. Figure 1 show a gross scheme of stakeholders involved in the small-scale biopower applications.

Figure 2 Stakeholders for small-scale biopower generation 3.1. Society: End users of small-scale biopower systems In many developing countries, the lack of access to convenient and efficient energy services is a major barrier to achieving meaningful and long-lasting solutions to poverty. The lack of access to clean and convenient energy services in rural areas limits economic opportunities and drives people, most frequently male household members, to seek employment in towns and cities. This leads to increasing numbers of female-headed rural households, and adds to the burdens on poor women and children, who already expend a great deal of effort in gathering wood and other traditional fuels, as well as meeting the other subsistence needs of the household. [4] Heavy reliance on biomass energy in poor urban and rural communities of the developing world is unlikely to change in the near future. Poor households generally spend more money buying, or more time collecting, each unit of energy they consume compared to wealthier households. They are limited in their ability to do more than satisfy basic needs because value-adding activities require energy inputs electricity, shaft power, and controlled process heating that are simply not available through simple combustion of solid fuels. [3] Commercial energy in the form of grid-based electricity and fossil fuels is often unavailable in rural areas of developing countries, and even many urban residents do not receive reliable energy services. It is believed that between 2 to 3 billion people

in developing countries use traditional biomass fuels to satisfy their basic needs, there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding their consumption and its effects on personal health, and local and global environments since it is consumed in archaic and inefficient ways. [4] 3.2. Biomass Producers The biomass industry relies heavily on the agricultural sector. Biomass feedstock for energy production can be classified in three different groups as suggested by Faaij [5]. A distinction can be made between this types of residues which are available as waste from other agricultural activities: Primary residues: Are obtained through food harvesting and forestry exploiting. Some examples of this type of biomass include waste from production of cereals, grains and maize. This type of biomass is found in rural areas and is needed a logistic of collecting and storage for its use. Secondary residues: These are waste generated from industrial processes of transforming primary harvested biomass into processed goods. This type of biomass is abundant and is generally available in large industrial facilities both in rural and urban areas. Tertiary residues: This type of residue is available once the biomass has lost all its commercial value for consumption. In this category we include urban waste found in landfills and sewage. Biomass production needs to meet sustainability criteria in order to be not only environmentally sustainable but also socially, this includes for example not being competitive with food production and avoid any environmental damage when harvested specifically for energy generation. Guidelines for this are listed in the following table: Criteria
Greenhouse gas balance Competition with food, local energy supply, medicines and building materials Biodiversity

Description
Net emission reductions must be achieved with biomass production and biopower systems implementation. The availability of biomass for food, local energy supply, building materials or medicines must not decrease. No deterioration of protected areas or valuable ecosystems, Plantations must not be located in or in the immediate vicinity of protected areas or areas of High Conservation Value Possible negative effects on the regional and economy must be avoided No negative effects on the social well-being of the workers and local population, taking into account: Working conditions must be within the framework given by International Labor Organization (ILO). Comply with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights concerning: non-discrimination; freedom of association; child labor; forced and compulsory labor; disciplinary practices; security practices and indigenous rights. Property rights and land use comply with requirements such

Economic prosperity Well-being

as no land will be used without the consent of sufficiently informed original users and official property and use, and customary law of the indigenous population is recognized and respected. The Environment No negative effects on the local environment, this relates to: Waste management and use of agrochemicals and fertilizers meets local regulations and good agricultural practices. Prevention of erosion and soil exhaustion, and conservation of the fertility level. Conservation of quality and quantity of surface and ground water.

Table 2 Sustainability criteria for biomass production [6]. 3.3. Industry According to a report on renewable energy prospects done by the OECD [1] there are few specialized biomass technology manufacturers furthermore main technology manufacturers dont see biomass as an attractive market. The same report advices that if in a near future biomass are not a sufficiently profitable market, it is relatively easy for these companies to stop biomass activities and produce systems for other fuels. The Nordic countries in the EU are likely to become major producers and exporters of equipment and services for biomass power generation. This is due to their strong position in the related timber, paper and pulp industries; their abundance of domestic biofuel supply; and national policies that have historically favored bioenergy.[1] The biomass power industry in the US is mainly located in the Northeast, Southeast and on the West Coast, representing a USD 15 billion industry. More than 200 companies outside the wood product and food industry sectors generate biopower in the United States. As mentioned, forestry and agriculture play a crucial role in the biopower industry. In the US, for instance, the forest products industry uses 85% of all wood waste for energy. [1] 3.4. Market No exact data is available on how much biomass contributes to the global energy supply, but estimates are around 13% of primary energy supply worldwide. Likewise there are no completed studies that estimate the overall market potential for smalland community-scale direct combustion and gasification systems that convert biomass into heat, power, or CHP. The potential to utilize the technology is significant. [2] Many developing countries present interesting markets due to rapid economic growth, high demand for electricity/electrification, environmental problems and significant agricultural/forestry residues. These countries depend on biomass to supply most of the energy needed for heating and cooking. For example, biomass supplies 70-90% of Africas energy needs and about one-third of Chinas and Brazils. [1] With appropriate funding and company during the deployment of a project the

potential market for small-scale biomass power generation projects in developing countries is large and interesting both for industry and governments pursuing development in rural areas. 3.5. Other actors: Other actors play also an important role in the potential deployment of biopower projects. National governments and transnational organizations: They develop the policy instruments to promote sustainable management and sustainable consumption patterns. Also provides information for policy making and for establishing standards. Intergovernmental Organizations: Organizations such as the UN or FAO have a huge potential role since they can mediate between policy makers, NGOs and all other stakeholders. NGOs: Provides information on the impacts of project development and deployment for the communities involved. Also provides information whether these projects meet quality or technical standards they have a huge potential as an instrument to promote sustainable management. 3.6 Biomass in the Context of Kyoto Protocols In recent years several efforts had been made worldwide to establish strategies that succeed in reducing the impacts of the unsustainable development of mankind. The World Summit For Sustainable Development`(WSSD) for example introduced in 2002 the subject of renewable energy sources as a mandatory issue in the developed countries government agenda [7]. The goal is to promote regional, national and worldwide substantial increase in the use of renewable in the world energy market. Guidelines for the effort that countries must do in order to promote sustainable development are registered in the Article 12: Clean Development Mechanisms introduced in the Kyoto Protocols with the objective of finding solutions for development that can reduce GHG emissions, mainly in developing countries. Projects based in the use of biomass fit perfectly into these guidelines when they address the following scheme as suggested in the GDMs: Belong to priority areas of development such as Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Technologies like gasification, anaerobic digestion or combustion for power generation are based in the use of a renewable resource such as biomass. Processes are based in the use of locally accessible resources: Most biomass can be found in form of residues or waste in rural areas. Furthermore, biomass can also be Harvest for energetic purposes. Encourage local community in cooperative participation: Extra energy obtained from biomass can be used to start small entrepreneurial activities at a local level. Also curiosity generated by the deployment of this type of projects motivates locals to get small technical expertise around them.

Bring extra job opportunities for developing regions: Biomass harvest and Collection are labor-intensive activities. Furthermore employment can be generated from side entrepreneurial activities. Technology must be flexible: Biomass transformation technologies are flexible since they can be used for power generation as well as for heating purposes. Furthermore they are flexible on the feedstock they use, mainly agricultural residues like: Coffee husk, rice husk, wood chips, sugar cane bassage etc. Reduce Carbon emissions and gives benefits to the environment: The use of biomass as a renewable energy source is directly related with a series of positive impacts on the environment. On the first place the use of biomass as an energy source displace the use of fossil fuels.[8] Other option for biomass to reduce carbon emissions is through carbon sequestration in the soil and in the growing biomass. Biomass harvesting is directly involved in the carbon cycle; new harvest absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. Forests and harvests can capture and retain CO2 emissions, also activities of forestation and reforestation play an important role in this subject. Furthermore one of the process byproducts Bio-Slurry can also be used as a soil fertilizer. [8] Contribute to Technology Transfer: These types of technologies are usually produced in developed countries. Their deployment in rural communities from the developing world helps to transfer the knowledge and encourage further research for them by local institutions. 3.7. Successful examples of small-scale biopower projects around the developing world. small-scale bio-power some

To analize some of the social benefits offered by examples across the globe can be examined:

In the Filipines some projects have been developed arround the coconut industry. With a biopower gasifier manufactured by Community Power Corporation and using coconut husk as feedstock, basic energy needs have been satisfied for households and small businesses in the province of Alkan. This project is possible with thanks to the economic support given by the american Sustainable Energy Fund and The Shell Fundation. Remarkable impacts of this project are an increased employment (arround 100 new) created arround the new biotextile industry which uses the coconut residues in the village of Alaminos. [4] Another example that drives attention is the use of anaerobic digestion to gereate gas that is further provided to households in Nepal. Biomass Support Program in Nepal has already prove succesful since it has Installed 205,820 biogas plants, 17 Biogas appliances manufacturing workshops have been developed, 63 to 69 % toilets are connected with biogas plants, 74 to 89 % of bio-slurry is utilized as an organic compost fertilizar, 1,235,000 persons are directly benefited by biogas plants and 13,000 persons got employment. [12] In Kenya 80% of primary energy comes from wood, over 500000 tons of wood charcoal are consumed every year and every ton of chardust consumes over 10 tons of forest wood as feedstock. Some comunities in Kenya Gather to form Chardust Ltd. Company that manufactures small wood briquettes that prove efective to

10

replace wood charcoal. The briquetes made of coal dust provide a higher efficiency and their price is arround 30% less tha traditional coal. Briquettes not only provide more energy but also slowly diminishing the abuse of the Kenyan wood industry. [13],[4] Other case is the CHIA MENG RICE MILL, a rice industry in Thailandia. In this cogeneration project using a gasifier with rice husk as feedstock and a generator of 2,5 MW the company provides electricity to the communities surrounding the factory and the heating is used for industrial appliances in the rice process. With an inicial cost of nearly 4 million USD, the project saves CHIA MENG RICE MILL nearly 1 million USD in electricity and fuels every year.[14] Another similar is the one of the firm HUSK POWER SYSTEMS. Using small biomass gasifiers, the company provides energy for about 4000 people living in the rice belt of India. In an enviornment friendly process the company also adress the issue of waste management since the main feedstock for the gasification are tons of rice huks waste.[15] The Chinese province of Shadong the Peoples Congress and the Office for Enviornmental Protection have been promoting since 2005 the use of renewables by instaling 40 biomass gasifiers that operate in rural areas across the region. Low income villages have now gas for heating and coocking and also for electricity generation. Improves in public health due to the irresponsible disposal of agroindustrial waste, respiratory desease and quality of living have been proven. [16]

11

4. Conclusions The development of small-scale biopower generation needs the active participation of all actors. A demanding community for improvements in their quality of living mainly concerning the satisfaction of basic energy needs, public health and higher quality in sanitary services. Participation of local firms, especially in the agro-industry to provide quality feedstock in an organized way to the projects. Government supervision and encourage for these projects to be deployed and finally funding from local and international institutions concerned with sustainable development for lowincome communities in the development countries. One of the main obstacle for bio-power is that is seen as a competing technology with other renewable power generation systems. Bio-power should be deployed in areas where the biomass feedstock is abundant and the budget for power generation projects is reduced like developing countries where PV projects and wind energy can be more expensive and the technology is more difficult to acquire. Bio-power can be costly efficient and should not be a competing technology but a complementary technology. After analyzing some case-studies some social benefits achieved by small biopower generation projects are: Access to cheap sources of energy, cooperation between agro-industrial firms and surrounding communities, technological transfer from developed countries to poor regions in the developing world, employment and startup opportunities for locals, transforming waste into value added products, decrease in public health problems, in summary improvements in the quality of life of the population. Attention received by bio-energy in the last decade is no just for is because of fashion, various reasons give bio-energy its current placement: it is celebrated for its potential contribution in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, is believed to reduce fossil fuels dependency and it can contribute to alleviating rural poverty by additional sources of income in low-income countries and regions [16] and finally it adapts perfect in the framework of the Clean Development Mechanisms suggested in the Kyoto Protocols.

12

References 1. International Energy Agency. Renewables for Power Generation, Status & Prospectives, 103 122, 2003. 2. Peterson, D. Haase, S. Market Assessment of Biomass Gasification and Combustion Technology for Small- and Medium-Scale Applications. NREL 2009. 3. Dutt, G., S. and N. H. Ravindranath (1993). Bioenergy: Direct Applications in Cooking. Renewable Energy: Sources for Fuels and Electricity, T. B. Johansson, H. Kelly, A. K. N. Reddy and R. H. Williams. Washington, D. C., Island Press: 653-697. 4. Kammen, Daniel M., Robert Bails, and Antonia V. Herzog. Clean Energy for Development and Economic Growth: Biomass and other renewable energy options to meet energy and development needs in poor nations. Policy Discussion Paper, Enviormentally Sustainable Development Group (ESDG) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2002. 5. Faaij, Andre. Biomass Combustion. Encyclopedia of Energy, 175-191. Elsevier 2004. 6. Project Group Sustainable Production of Biomass. Criteria for Sustainable Biomass Production final report. Interdepartmental Programme Management Energy Transition, Ministry of economic affairs, agriculture and innovation (Netherlands). 2006 7. Deutsch fr Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Economic Summit for Latin America and the Caribean (CEPAL). Renewable Energy Sources for Latin America and the Caribean. Page 11. United Nations 2004. 8. Klass, Donald. Biomass for Renewable energy and Fuels. Encyclopedia of Energy, 193 211. Elsevier, 2004. 9. Demibras, Faith, Mustafa Balat, and Havva Balat. Potential contribution of biomass to the sustainable development. Journal of Energy Conversion and Management 1746 - 1760, 2009. 10. McKendry, P. Energy production from biomass. Part II: Conversion Technologies. Journal of Bioresource Technology 47 - 54, 2002. 11. Bauen, Ausilio. Biomass Gasification. Encyclopedia of Energy, 213 221. Elsevier, 2004. 12. Biomass Suport Program, Nepal. www.bspnepal.org.np 2010. http://www.bspnepal.org.np/achievements (accessed November 3rd 2010). 13. Chardust LTD, Kenya. www.chardust.com 2009. http://www.chardust.com/What_we_do.html (accessed November 3rd 2010). 14. IEA (International Energy Agency), Technology without borders. Case Studies Of Succesful Technology Transfers. 2001. 15. Katz, Rob. www.nextbillion.net. 2008. http://www.nextbillion.net/blog/poptech-rice-power-to-the-people-with-husk-power-systems (accessed March 20th 2009).

13

16. Han, J. Mol, A. Lu, Y. Zhang, L. Small Scale Bio Energy Projects in Rural China. Energy Policy 2008.

14