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國立臺灣大學生物資源暨農學院農業經濟學系
碩士論文
Graduate Institute of Agricultural Economics
College of Bio-Resources and Agriculture
National Taiwan University
Master Thesis
甘比亞生質燃料棒生產潛力之研究
A study of biomass briquettes potential in the Gambia.
Ibrahim Colley 柯里
指導教授 :徐世勳
指導教授:蘇忠楨
Advisor: Dr. Shih-Hsun Hsu, National Taiwan University
Co Advisor: Dr. Jung-Jeng Su , National Taiwan University
中華民國 103年 6月
June 2014
i
ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to ALLAH THE ALMIGHT, for given me the strength and courage to
complete my program.
I specially wish to express my sincere and warmest gratitude to Taiwan International
Cooperation Development Fund (ICDF) for providing me the scholarship to pursue MSc degree
in Agricultural Economics.
I wish to express my profound gratitude and appreciation to my untiring and open hearted
supervisor, Dr. Shih-Hsun Hsu, Dr. Jung-Jeng Su and Dr. Pio-Po Lee for the successful
completion of this thesis.
I also wish to express my heartfelt thanks to staff of the Department of Agricultural
Economics of the National Taiwan University for the support during the program.
Final thanks to my dad and late mother for having the foresight of taken me to school,
and I will always remember you people. More so my late mum may the blessing of Allah
Almighty continues to shower on you, Amen.
Ibrahim Colley
Department of Agricultural Economics,
National Taiwan University,
June 2014
iii
DEDICATION
This piece of work is dedicated to my beloved wife Mariama Makalo and kids Muhammad
Sheriff Colley, Amatul Malik Teeda Colley, Umar Ahmad Colley and Abubakr-As-Siddiq
Colley who was born while I was away, I cherish their patient and understand during my absent
from them.
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ABSTRACT
A Study of Biomass Briquette Production potential in The Gambia, Taiwan New
Bonafide Company as the best practice model for the Gambia to follow using SWOT analysis.
The need for alternative sources of energy becomes a fast necessity against the backdrop of
decreasing trends of availability of fuel wood and charcoal for cooking in the country and also
high price of petroleum products. The world economy is dominated by technologies that rely on
fossil fuel energy (petroleum, coal, and natural gas) to produce fuels, power, chemical and
materials. While the use of conventional energy like oil, coal and electricity has grown
enormously in the last half century. This heavy dependence on imported oil leads to economic
and social uncertainties.
Biomass have the ability to substituted for fuel and the conversion technologies are well
developed which can transformed biomass to solid and liquid for heating, cooking and
electricity generation.
In the Gambia there is ample availability of biomass for efficient energy conversion and
production of briquettes is both economic and financial viable and there’s no legislative barriers
for the conversion biomass into briquette, currently the non participation of private individual or
companies in the sector prevent it from reaching its full potential.
Keywords: Biomass; Briquettes; Bio-energy; Densification; pellets.
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Table of contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1
1.1: Motivation of the Study ..................................................................................................................... 1
1.2: Energy Sub-Sector .............................................................................................................................. 3
1.3: Importance of the Different Energy Sub-Sectors in the Gambia ....................................................... 4
1.4: Energy and Biomass from Agriculture: an important Policy issue for the Gambia ........................... 4
1.5: Objective of the Study ....................................................................................................................... 6
1.6: Organization of the Thesis ................................................................................................................. 6
CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND OVERVIEW OF THE ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS OF BIOMASS
BRIQUETTE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION .............................................................................. 8
2.1: General Overview of Economics and Business of Biomass Briquette Production and Consumption 8
2.2: Global market for biomass production and consumption ............................................................... 11
2.3: Uses of Biomass Briquettes.............................................................................................................. 14
2.4: Biomass Power Generation in developed nations. .......................................................................... 15
2.5: Biomass Advantages Compared to Renewable Energy ................................................................... 16
2.6: Cost Comparison of Energy Sources. ............................................................................................... 17
2.7: PRICE OF BRIQUETTE. ...................................................................................................................... 18
2.8: Biomass Densification in Africa. ....................................................................................................... 19
2.9: Raw materials for biomass Densification in different regions. ........................................................ 20
2.10: Benefits from biomass briquettes production ............................................................................... 21
CHAPTER 3: Biomass Briquette Technology and Uses in Different Countries. ....................................... 25
3.1: biomass and bio-energy ................................................................................................................... 25
3.2: Biomass Power Generation Technologies ....................................................................................... 26
3.3: How Briquetting Work. .................................................................................................................... 28
3.4: Biomass Briquetting Technologies ................................................................................................... 29
3.5: Economic analysis of briquetting technologies ............................................................................... 33
3.6: Densification technologies in different countries. ........................................................................... 34
3.7: Biomass briquetting processes. ....................................................................................................... 36
3.8: Pretreatment Technologies to Improve Quality Attributes. ............................................................ 37
3.9: Common binders used in biomass densification. ............................................................................ 38
3.10: Factors Affecting Densification/ Briquetting ................................................................................. 39
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3.11: Applications of briquette ............................................................................................................... 39
CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY and CASE STUDY ON TAIWAN EXPERIENCE OF BIOMASS
BRIQUETTE .............................................................................................................................................. 41
4.1: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................... 41
4.2: Data Collection Methods. ................................................................................................................ 43
4.3: Data Analysis Method ...................................................................................................................... 44
4.4: Introduction on Taiwan. ................................................................................................................... 44
4.5: Background Information of New Bonefide Machinery Company. ................................................... 45
4.6: Operational Model. .......................................................................................................................... 47
4.7: Cooking stove. .................................................................................................................................. 48
4.8: APPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF BIOMASS ENERGY TECHNOLOGY. ...................................... 49
4.9: Amount of biomass needed to keep the different machines operational for 320 days ................. 51
4.10: SWOT ANALYSIS. ............................................................................................................................ 52
4.11: The role New Bonafide Machinery Company can play. ................................................................. 53
CHAPTER 5: FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF BIOMASS BRIQUETTE PRODUCTION IN THE
GAMBIA .................................................................................................................................................... 54
5.1: Overview of the brief history of the first briquette plant in the Gambia ........................................ 54
5.2: The Plant .......................................................................................................................................... 55
5.3: Economic, Social & Environmental Impact of the Briquetting Plant ............................................... 57
5.4: Successes ......................................................................................................................................... 58
5.5: Survey of the Main Crops in Relation to Biomass Production ......................................................... 58
5.6: Analysis of Calorific values and ash content, the Biomass Materials Available in The Gambia. ..... 62
5.7: Major Determinants of Biomass Production in The Gambia ........................................................... 63
5.8: Analysis and discussion of the results off the current period from 2003-2013. ............................. 64
5.9: Current status of biomass briquetting plant in The Gambia. .......................................................... 69
5.10: Biomass use in The Gambia ........................................................................................................... 70
5.11: GREENTECH COMPANY .................................................................................................................. 72
5.12: Political and Institutional support .................................................................................................. 76
5.13: SWOT Analysis for Briquette Production in The Gambia ............................................................... 76
5.14: Comparative Advantages between New Bonafide Company and Green Teach Company. .......... 79
5.15: Potential investment areas in the Gambia. ................................................................................... 79
5.16: Impacts of biomass briquettes production .................................................................................... 80
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5.17: Out Come of the Study. ................................................................................................................. 82
CHAPTER: 6 -CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ................................................................. 84
6.1 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 84
6.2 Recommendation. ............................................................................................................................. 86
REFERENCE .............................................................................................................................................. 88
viii
List of tables List of tables ............................................................................................................................................... viii
Table 1.1: Percentage Contribution of the Different Energy Sub-sector to the National Household
Energy Balance in 2004. ................................................................................................................................ 4
Table 2.1: People (in millions) relying on traditional biomass .................................................................... 10
Table 2.2: comparison of coal and biomass characteristics ....................................................................... 10
Table: 2.3: Biomass of advantages compared to renewable energy .......................................................... 17
Table: 2.4: cost comparison of energy sources .......................................................................................... 18
Table: 2.5: price of briquettes ..................................................................................................................... 18
Table 3.1: Economic comparison between piston press and screw press technology ............................... 34
Table 3.2: Applications of briquettes in various industries ........................................................................ 40
Table 4.1: SWOT matrix .............................................................................................................................. 43
Table 4.2: Mini scale 150kg -200kg per hour .............................................................................................. 51
Table 4.3: Large scale 1500kg -2000kg per hour ........................................................................................ 51
Table 5.1: Estimates of National Production of Agricultural Residues (1994-2003 Average) in tones ...... 62
Table 5.2: Estimates of Available Industrial Waste (1994-2003 Averages) in tonnes ................................ 62
Table 5.3: Analysis of Calorific values and ash content of the Biomass Materials Available in The Gambia
.................................................................................................................................................................... 63
Table 5.4: Annual Residue Productions by Crop From 2003 to 2013, in tonnes ....................................... 66
Table 5.5: Total residues for the period 2003-2013 ................................................................................... 67
Table 5.6: mean, median, standard deviation, minimum and maximum................................................... 68
Table 5.8, show the amount of briquette the Greentech company can produce. ..................................... 73
Table 5.7: Median scale 400kg -600kg per hour ......................................................................................... 73
Table 5.8: Comparative Advantages of NBM and Greentech Company. .................................................... 79
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List of figures
Figure 2.1: 2011 fuel shares of world total primary energy supply……………………………9
Figure 2.2: wood pellet global production, by country or region, 2000-2012…………………11
Figure 2.3: biomass to energy pathway…………………………………………………………15
Figure 3.1: roller, screw press, piston press, pelletising machine…………….………………...32
Figure 3.2: manual press………………………………………………………………………..32
Figure 3.3: shows the products of different machines……………………….…………………33
Figure 4.1: cooking stove…………...………………………………………………………….49
Figure 4.2: the flow chart of biomass production processes……………………….………….50
Figure 5.1: Total residues for the period 2003-2013……………………………………...…..68
Figure 5.2: C F Nielsen heavy-duty machine………………………………………………….73
Figure 5.3: Rockefier/ Forno Nopal……………………………………………………..…….74
1
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1: Motivation of the Study
Currently there is huge and growing demand to find alternative cleaner energy sources
that meet new legislation requirements to reduce emission from fossil fuels in the Gambia. Agro-
waste and timber milling waste as sources of energy in The Gambia shows great potential. The
process of briquetting is the physical transformation of loose raw material mostly made of agro
waste like peanut shells, rice husk and straw, maize stalks /cobs, cotton stalks, saw dust to name
but not a complete list, into high density fuel briquettes through a compacting process. The
resultant form change increases the calorific value (combustion efficiency) of the product as
compared to loose material.
Biomass briquettes have the potential as a household domestic energy and a substitute for
fossil fuel consumption due to the facts that it could also be used in thermal electricity generation
as it is happening in developed nations. The utilization of briquettes for in the boiler for co-firing
will reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuel and also created domestic energy source for
the power generation.
Biomass briquette production and trade will contribute to the national economy by
providing incomes, tax revenue and employment whereby a large number of people can be
employed in the various phases of the biomass briquette value chain, including: collection of
agro-waste and wood saw dust for preparation of briquettes, packaging and transportation.
2
In additions a huge quantity of agro-waste residues which goes either rotten or mostly set
on fire, because they are considered to be useless, or worthless item and or as a nuisance, can be
transformed into a very useful form of cleaner sources of energy.
Briquette production can also significantly reduce pressure on the already fragile
Gambian forest, as evident shows that ample agro- residues and timber milling product are
available in the country which can be transformed into briquettes.
Furthermore, the heating and boiling capability of biomass briquettes are more efficiency
than fuel wood and charcoal. Briquettes are considered to produce less ash and are smoked free
during burning. Therefore it is imperative to say, the development and marketing of an efficient
cooking stove for utilization of briquettes is deem a necessity.
The use of fuel wood as an energy source can also contribute to the accumulation of Co2,
the main greenhouse gas, both because burning fuel wood produces Co2, and because
deforestation destroys an important Co2 sink. The use of such unprocessed bio-fuels results in
several hard ships and injury’s especially for women and children, time spent on fuel collection,
health impact suffered from air pollution, with an increased in burden of cleaning utensils, walls,
floors and clothes, and ecological changes are severe negative consequences.
It is important to note that, lucrative investment in briquette productions will also chart
ways for us not to depend on one sources of energy or foreign supply of fuel wood and charcoal
into the country, as it could have a serious implication during trade stand-off from a foreign
supplier.
3
Marketing of briquettes to the international market will earn foreign currency for the
investors or government which will also stabilize the rate of inflation in the country.
Biomass briquettes can offer a Sustainable supply of fuel for the energy demand.
And above all it is clear that it can save money, even make money, if people switch to
sustainable alternative fuels.
1.2: Energy Sub-Sector
One of the determinants of social-economic development is the availability of reliable
and affordable sources of energy since these have direct positive impacts on quality of life and
poverty. A review of The Gambia energy sector reveals that the country’s energy resource base
is limited and the supply system is unreliable. The main source of energy used in the country is
fuel wood, followed by petroleum products, electricity and renewable energy. In the energy
sector, fuel wood obtained from biomass represents over 80% of the total primary need of the
country (GOTG, 2007)
The Government of the Gambia envisions a diversified energy system that is reliable,
efficient, affordable and environmentally-friendly and pursed improvement in electricity,
renewable energy and petroleum supplies.
Renewable energy sources consist of solar energy, wind energy and biomass. These
energy forms, in particular solar and wind belong to the modern sector. Currently the solar
energy is in the market and a number of companies are operating in the solar energy sub-sector.
They include Gam Solar, VM The Gambia Limited, Gambia Electrical Company, SWEGAM
and Dabakh Malick Energy Centre. On biomass briquette energy sources only one company is
4
operating in the briquettes energy sector, which cannot even supply of the population in the
urban area and are only manufacturing groundnut shells as briquettes.
1.3: Importance of the Different Energy Sub-Sectors in the Gambia
Table 1.1, shows the percentage shares of each type of energy in the household energy
basket. The importance of the different energy types, in a descending order, based on their shares
of the household energy balance are fuel wood (firewood & charcoal), petroleum (kerosene &
LPG), electricity (thermal) and renewable energy. Fuel wood tops the list in terms of both
quantity and value. The rural households consume more fuel wood than the urban household.
However, whereas the rural households consume more firewood than the urban households, the
latter consume more charcoal.
Both households consume more fuel wood than electricity. The urban households spend more on
electricity whereas the reverse is true for the rural households. Electricity attracts the highest
value. Report of the charcoal sector review, (2005) about 60 percent of total fuel wood
consumption comes as import from Senegal.
Table 1.1: Percentage Contribution of the Different Energy Sub-sector to the National
Household Energy Balance in 2004.
Source Percentage (%) Contribution mix
Fuel Wood 96.96
Petroleum 1.60
Electricity 0.88
Renewable 0.56 Source: Household Energy Consumption Survey 2004
1.4: Energy and Biomass from Agriculture: an important Policy issue for the Gambia
5
The Gambia should now establish policy goals and targets to develop bio-energy
production from agriculture. The following six points are the foundation why the Gambia should
enter into biomass briquette production.
Energy Security: with recent concerns rose over the reliability of fuel supplies and the
raising price, the country need to seek for an alternative energy security for domestic energy
supplies by expanding biomass briquettes production.
Environmental Effectiveness: the expansion of bio-energy and biomaterial production
are seen to help toward achieving other government environment objectives, such as improving
air quality e.g. to reducing smoke particulates and also inhalation of hazardous smoke emanating
for burning of waste.
Rural Development: the increase in biomass briquettes production will offers the
potential to expand market opportunities for agriculture, while providing a raw material to
stimulate rural and regional industrial development and employment.
Economic Efficiency: bio-energy production offers the opportunities to use agricultural
wastes and reduce costs of their disposal, but also, through using less non-renewable products,
lowering costs of non-recyclable and hazardous wastes. With the creation of a recycling society,
there is a determination by many governments to improve economic efficiency of energy and
raw material use in household and industry.
Market Innovation: agricultural biomass is also associated with the development of a
bio-economy as an engine of growth and market innovation. This can offer possibilities in
developing local solutions to energy needs and industrial development, but also the opportunity
for export potential based on new and emerging bio-based technologies
6
Climate Change: with many countries committed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions under the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, bio-
energy provides a source of renewable energy associated with low carbon dioxide emission
levels compared to the use of fossil fuels. In addition, there are possible future business
opportunities from carbon credits (such as bio-energy) and carbon sinks through international
carbon markets.
1.5: Objective of the Study
To estimate the sustainable supply of agricultural residues for biomass briquetting
production in the Gambia.
To identify the potentials of producing briquettes from agro-residues that are grown in
the country and in addition to the ample availability of forest wood residues such as saw
dust.
To examine the financial and economic viability of producing biomass briquettes at a
lower cost, compared to fuel wood and charcoal
To determine the efficiency of biomass briquettes as a good sources of heating and
boiling
1.6: Organization of the Thesis
The thesis is organized into six chapters. Chapter I presents introduction which covers
country profile, brief discussion on country’s energy sector and biomass, motivation, aim and
objectives of the research and the methodology, Chapter II provides a General overview of
Economic and Business of biomass briquette production and consumption industry globally.
Chapter III reviews Biomass Briquette Technology and uses in different countries. Chapter IV
7
Methodology and a case study on briquette production in Taiwan with Reference to the New
Bonafide Machinery Company (NBM). Chapter V provides an Analysis of Feasibility study on
biomass briquette production in the Gambia and Chapter VI summarize our Conclusions and
Recommendations.
8
CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND OVERVIEW OF THE ECONOMICS AND
BUSINESS OF BIOMASS BRIQUETTE PRODUCTION AND
CONSUMPTION
2.1: General Overview of Economics and Business of Biomass Briquette Production and
Consumption
Energy is key in economic growth of a country. The global energy use is rising very
rapidly, and the world will continue to see energy demand skyrocket. The creation of biomass
energy dates back to first time fire was lit. Modern energy projects go far beyond the primitive
resources of simply lighting and sustaining a fire. Benefiting from computer aided design and
latest incineration technologies, this system are used to heat whole communities, and meet
utility-scale electrical demand. To that end, both investors and governments have been exploring
solutions, such as efficiency measures and renewable energy generation as a way to satiate that
exploding demand. The use of biomass residues and wastes for chemical and energy production
was first seriously investigated during the oil embargo of the 1970s, Nandini Shekhar,(2010).
Many of the developing countries produce huge quantities of agro residues but they are used
inefficiently causing extensive pollution to the environment which is truly visible in the third
world counties. The major residues are rice husk, coffee husk, jute sticks, bagasse, groundnut
shells, oil palm, maize stalk, cotton stalks and even saw dust.
Traditional biomass fired cooking stoves have two major draw problems, ie., low
efficiency and indoor air pollution created by pollutants (which have been linked to different
health problems) released inside the kitchen. The biggest improved cook stove (ICS) programs of
the world are being undertaken in China where 177 million stoves have been installed so far
covering 76 percent of the rural households (Junfeng et al. 2000) and in India where about where
about 333.8 million improved cook stoves were installed by 2001(MNES, 2002).
9
Biomass energy currently plays a major role in meeting the present energy needs of
developing countries. A number of authors (Beyea et al., 1991), have also expressed the view
that biomass has the potential to meet the additional modern energy demands of urban and
industrial sectors, thereby making a significant contribution to the economic advancement of
developing countries. Biomass can also offer an immediate solution for the reduction of the Co2
content in the atmosphere. In addition to its positive global effect by comparison with other
sources of energy, it presents no risk of major accidents, as nuclear and oil energy do.
Figure 2.1: 2011 fuel shares of world total primary energy supply
Source: IEA, key world energy statistics, 2011
The dynamic of price rise in commercial fuels (oil, kerosene, coal), has forced even the
urban poor to use fuel wood for cooking in developing countries. (IEA, 2006).
Fuel wood still serves as the major sources of energy in the rural areas and business of
fuel wood collection is the livelihood most resorted to for millions of people, fuel wood
collection is an indicator of severe rural distress, ecological degradation and failure of agriculture
to sustain the rural economy.
Hydro
Coal/Peat
Oil
Natural gas
Nuclear
Biofuel/waste
Others
5.80
%
20.90%
10.20 % 2.30 %
27.20 %
32.80 %
10
Biomass briquettes may hold the answer for emerging and developing countries, as well as
countries which are more established.
Table 2.1: People (in millions) relying on traditional biomass
Countries 2004 2015 2030
Sub Saharan Africa 575 627 720
North Africa 4 5 5
India 740 777 782
China 480 453 394
Indonesia 156 171 180
Rest of Africa 489 521 561
Brazil 23 26 27
Rest of Latin America 60 60 58
TOTAL 2528 2640 2727 Source: International Energy Agency, 2006
For example in Asia nations, India, Malaysia and Vietnam, Nepal, Thailand and
Philippines are doing very well in biomass briquettes production, in India (Maninder et al., 2012),
the potential of biomass briquetting in India was estimated at 61,000 MW, while the estimated
employment generation by the industry is about 15.52 million and the farmers earn about $ 6 per
ton of the farm residues. A comparison of coal and briquettes reveals that, briquette has superior
qualities as well as environmental benefits in comparison with coal. As shown in Table 2.2.
Table 2.2: Comparison of coal and biomass characteristics
Fuel Density g/cm3 Calorific value
Kcal/Kg
Ash content %
Coal 1.3 3,800-5,300 20-40
Biomass briquettes from
Saw dust 1.1 4,600 0.7
Groundnut shell 1.05 4,750 2.0
Rice husk 1.3 3,700 18.0
Saw dust cotton 1.12 4,300 8.0 Source: Maninder et al., 2012
11
In Malaysia, the briquette industry was started with wood wastes, mainly in the form of
saw dust. Most of the local saw dust briquettes or charcoal briquettes are exported for oversea
markets. The products are rarely used in the local markets as it could not compete with
availability of cheap fuels such as wood, charcoal and kerosene.
2.2: Global market for biomass production and consumption
In 2012, global production and transport (by road, rail, and ship) of pellets exceeded 22
million tones. (See Figure 2.2). It suitable for co-firing in coal-fired power plants and the option
of automatic control options in small heat plants. About two-third of pellets production is used in
small heat plants and one-third in large power plants. (Ren 21, 2013).
Figure 2.2: Wood pellet global production, by country or region, 2000-2012
Sources: REN 21, 2013
Germany is currently the EU’s largest pellet producer, with more than 2 million metric
tons of production in the 2013. Sweden and Austria are each expected to produce a relative 1.25
million metric tons and 950,000 metric tons of wood pellets in 2013. Portugal, France, Italy and
Poland are also ranked among Europe’s top wood pellet producing nations. Overall production
12
capacity use in Europe has held steady at near 62 percent since 2010. That trend is expected to
continue into 2014. (Erin Voegele, 2013).
The U.S. was the main supplier of wood pellets in the 2012, with 1.764 million metric
tons delivered. Canada supplied 1.346 million metric tons of pellets to Europe. Russia, Ukraine,
Croatia and Belarus supplied a relative 637,000 metric tons, 217,000 metric tons, 136,000 metric
tons and 112,000 metric tons of wood pellets to Europe. Martin Junginger et al (2014)
The EU is by far the biggest pellet consumer worldwide, burning some 15 million tons in
2012. According to the latest available figures from Aebiom, the European biomass energy
association, biomass accounted for 8.4 percent of the total final energy consumption in Europe in
2011, while in some Baltic countries, such as Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Sweden, the figure is
above 25 percent. The trade group adds that EU pellet consumption for heating has grown by
more than one million tons per year since 2010. (David appleyard, 2014).
Around 8.2 million tons of pellets were traded internationally in 2012. More than 3.2
million tones (40%) of pellets were shipped from North America to Europe, an increase of nearly
50% over 2011. This increase in demand was due to rising consumption in UK, where large
volumes are required to supply the 750 MW Tilbury bio-power station and a 4 GW coal-fired
power plant ( half of which is being converted to combust 7.5 million tons of pellets annually).
Denmark and the Netherlands round out the top three consumers, with 2.5 million metric tons
and 2 million metric tons of consumption expected this year. Sweden, Germany and Belgium
also consume large volumes of pellets (Ren21, 2013).
13
While pellet consumption in the U.K., the Netherlands and Belgium is dominated by
large-scale power plants, demand in Denmark and Sweden also results from household and
medium-scale district heating consumption. Pellets consumed in Germany, Austria, Italy and
France are mainly used in small-scale residential and industrial boilers for heating purposes.
( Sikkema et al. 2011; E. Voegele, 2013).
Pellets consumption is growing in other region as well. in South Korea, eight new pellets
plant were under construction as of early 2013. There are also plans to import an additional 2
million tones. The demand for fuel briquettes is huge and increasing every year. The annual
demand is increasing by more than 11% each year. If such a small country has such a steadily
increasing demand, the global scenario needs no explanation. (Altprofit., 2013). Production in
Asia largest consuming nations is low which is South Korea and Japan, Countries likes Chain,
Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia are also using plenty of biomass (piers even, 2013)
In underdeveloped African countries, the demand for briquette is even higher than the
global scenario. For example, in Uganda, over 93% of domestic fuel is in the form of briquettes
and wood charcoal. And some east African nations like Tanzania, Kenya, and also in west
African nations like Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Liberia which have an
agreement with the Swedish utility company vottenfall AB to supply them one million tons of
wood chips sourced from Liberia rubber plantation annually, (Task 40., 2011), nevertheless,
there is no statistical data to support the consumption in tons are not available.
In considering a global forecast for bio-energy in the coming years, a recent study from
the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the German Biomass Research Centre
(DBFZ) “Biomass Potential in Africa,” is perhaps instructive.
14
The analysis drily observes: “Due to the large range in results presented by the reviewed
studies, no definite figures regarding the availability of biomass in Africa can be provided.”
As much in Africa as anywhere else, with resources, demand, markets and technology,
like nature itself, bio-energy really is world of possibilities. (David Appleyard, 2014)
NB: Modern renewable energy can substitute for fossil and nuclear fuels in four distinct
markets: power generation, heating and cooling, transport fuels, and rural/off-grid energy
services.
2.3: Uses of Biomass Briquettes
Until in the middle 19th
century, biomass dominated the global energy supply with a
seventy percent shared (Grubler and Nakicenovic, 1988) and fuel wood are the most prominent.
When it come to the rapid increase in fossil fuel use, the share decline steadily through
substitution by coal in 19th
century and later by refinery oil and gas, during 20th
century.
During 1974 to date global biomass consumption of energy grew annually by over 2
percent. Biomass resources contribute about 12 percent of global energy, and about 38 percent
energy in developing countries. The biomass briquettes are mostly used for cooking, heating,
barbequing and camping in the countries such as U.S.A, EU, Australia, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
But of recent they are now use for thermal power electricity generation in the developed nations.
In the developing countries, biomass briquettes are mainly for household usage only for cooking
and heating. Considering the facts that, biomass is the fourth largest source of energy worldwide
and provide basic energy requirement for cooking and heating of rural households in developing
15
countries. For large commercial scale it can be used as fuel in producing steam, district heating
and electricity generation (A.B. Nasrin et al. 2008). Figure 2.3 below shows the usage.
Figure: 2.3: Biomass to energy pathways
Sources: REN 21(2013)
2.4: Biomass Power Generation in developed nations.
Biomass is now used for power generation in developed nation exclusively or through co-
firing with coal in coal plant. New wood fired plant in UK and France will see biomass capacity
in these countries grow 50% by 2013; new biomass power plants have also been built currently
in Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Japan, South Korea and China. Scandinavia countries will
continue to have the biggest use of biomass, due to their relatively large quantity of timber
resources. A further 130 new plant are being built all over Europe and UK, which take the total
plant in Europe to 1050 biomass plants and biomass generating capacity to 10,000 MW by 2013.
In USA 222 Biomass plants already established and the total capacity 7,475.20 in million and
additional 660 coal power plant which can co-fire with biomass. (Treena Hein 2014).
In Asia, the demand for biomass for power generation is on the increase, in South Korea
the short term development of biomass demand growth from 200,000 tones pellets equivalent to
1.8-2.0 million tons by 2015, and 5 million tons by 2020 which will account for 10% of energy
16
power supply. In Japan an expect increase from 1,5 million tons in 2012 to 3.0-3.5 million tons
in 2015 because of the Fukushima Nuclear disaster Japan is eyeing all renewable energy to dilute
it heavy reliance on nuclear power. Countries like China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and
Malaysia uses plenty of biomass, but Japan and South Korea look set to dominate the sector in
Asia, while in Taiwan the market is showing movement. (Piers even, 2013).
In Africa it development have not yet reached the stage of power generation, it’s mostly in the
form of cooking and heating.
2.5: Biomass Advantages Compared to Renewable Energy
A comparative analysis was done to know the difference on the economic advantages of
different renewable for power generation, it proved that biomass have advantages over the solar
and wind energy sources. The cost of biomass power is already been decreasing. According to
(US DOE, 2007), it is expected that biomass power facilities will show a decrease trend during
the next years. But considering evidence, we see that most costs of installed facilities are already
decreasing. On a global scale, the wind, solar and hydro industries are worth more than $1
billion annually, and developing countries continue to embrace the waste-based technologies of
biogas and biomass power. While cost has typically been the biggest development hindrance,
that is slowly starting to change. The International Renewable Energy Agency points out those
recent years have seen dramatic cost reductions as a result of research and development and
accelerated deployment. Table 2.3, below illustrates the advantageous of biomass over the other
renewable energy sources, looking at the different categories of comparison.
17
Table: 2.3: Biomass of advantages compared to renewable energy
Power General
Solar Cell Wind Biomass
Total Investment (million
US$)
1,830 12,700 6,300
Facility Scale (KW/year)
1,000,000 10,000,000 10,000,000
Yearly Operation Rate (%)
12 20 70
Yearly Electricity Generation
(million KWH)
1,100 17,500 61,300
Unit Investment (US$)
1.66 0.72 0.10
Source: “21 century by biomass energy”, Sakai Masayasu, 2012.
2.6: Cost Comparison of Energy Sources.
The cost comparison of energy source reveals that in their raw form they are both free
and practically infinite, the equipment needed to collect, process, and transport the energy to the
users are neither one. Currently, the RE costs are generally higher than that of fossil-based and
nuclear energy. In addition to this, unlike well-established conventional designs, the
advancement in different RE technologies still requires substantial investments. The economists
often use so-called levelized energy costs (LEC) when comparing different technologies.
The LEC represents the total cost to build and operate a new power plant over its life
divided to equal annual payments and amortized over expected annual electricity generation. It
reflects all the costs including initial capital, return on investment, continuous operation, fuel,
and maintenance, as well as the time required to build a plant and its expected lifetime. Table 2.4
compares the US average levelized electricity cost in dollars per kilowatt-hour for both non-
renewable and alternative fuels in new power plants, based on US EIA statistics and analysis
from Annual Energy Outlook, 2013.
18
Table: 2.4: cost comparison of energy sources
Power Plant Type Cost $/kW-hr
Coal $0.10-0.14
Natural Gas $0.07-0.13
Nuclear $0.11
Wind $0.09-0.22
Solar PV $0.14
Solar Thermal $0.26
Geothermal $0.09
Biomass $0.11
Hydro $0.09
Source: US DOE (2013)
Note that the numbers for each source are given for a different capacity factor, which
complicates direct comparison. Notwithstanding, I believe these figures are useful in comparing
different power generation methods. Also note that the values shown in the table do not include
any government or state incentives. In other words, they represent the actual cost to the society.
We can see that so far coal and natural gas are the most economic fuels. However, in future the
price of coal-based electricity can nearly double due to government imposed cost on CO2
emissions. Photovoltaic systems can be three times more expensive than fossil-based ones.
2.7: PRICE OF BRIQUETTE.
Table 2.5, below shows the price of biomass briquettes at the global level in different
countries: the difference in price is not only the country specific but the products; the price of
wood briquettes is high on the market than rice straw, husk, and bagasse etc, because wood
product produce little ash compared to other straw, husk, and bagasse. Countries in the
Scandinavian region are trying to have a common purchasing price for briquettes at a range of
£125 per tones and some other EU countries. The briquette price in Canadian market is too high.
Table: 2.5: price of briquettes
COUNTRY PRICE PER TONNE
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Malaysia, kuala lumpur, sabah, and perak $75-$140
Nepal Chitwan $160
Serbia $89
Nigeria Lagos $70-$90
USA, Wisconsin, Washington, Colorado $64-$160
Ghana Accra $75
Vietnam Ho Chi Minh $75-$145
Tanzania $250
China Hunan $170
Canada $250-$350
Scandinavia €125
India Rupee 5000-8000
Taiwan, Taichung, Keelong $120-145
Japan $150-160 Sources: Biomass Briquette system LLC (2010)
NB: It’s important to note that prices in Europe, America, Canada and Africa and Asia
differ considerable, it appears that no single price prevail in all the nations.
2.8: Biomass Densification in Africa.
According to Karekezi (2002), recent years have seen an upsurge of interest in biomass
briquetting. There are large-scale functioning briquetting plants in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi,
Uganda, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania (OSCAL, 2002). Biomass briquettes have
found limited application in certain other countries as well, e.g. Cameroon, Eritrea, Ghana,
Rwanda, Senegal, etc. however, briquetting experience in Africa appears to be limited to certain
pockets in most countries.
The main raw material commonly used for briquetted in Africa include coffee husk,
groundnut shell, saw dust, bagasse and cotton stalks etc.
Practically all types of densification machines have been tried in Africa; these include
imported screw presses for briquetting saw dust in Eritrea, Malawi, Tanzania, and Ghana, piston
presses used for briquetting coffee husk in Kenya and groundnut shell in Sudan, and pellet
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presses for densification of groundnut shells in Zimbabwe and Senegal and sunflower husk in
Zambia. ABC Hansen A/S, a group of companies headquartered in Denmark, appears to have
established nineteen briquetting plants in several African countries, e.g. Burkina Faso (1),
Ethiopia (7), Eritrea (1), Gambia (1), Kenya (2), Nigeria (1), Rwanda (1), Sudan (4), Zambia,
Zimbabwe; it appears that more than half of these are still in operation.
Besides, conventional binder less briquetting, low-pressure cold briquetting using binder
has also been tried in some places. The carbonization-briquetting process has been tried for
cotton stalk in Sudan and coffee husks in Kenya. Briquetting of bagasse using molasses as binder
has been reported to have had limited success in Sudan. Low-pressure binder less briquetting
process of Legacy Foundation has been attempted in some African countries, notably Kenya and
Malawi and most East and Southern African countries (Stanley, 2002).
In the African Great Lakes region, work on biomass briquettes production has been
spearheaded by a number of NGOs with GVEP (Global Village Energy Partnership) taking a
lead in promoting briquette products and briquette entrepreneurs in the three great lakes
countries; namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania. This has been achieved by a five year EU and
Dutch government sponsored project called DEEP EA (Developing Energy Enterprises Project
East Africa). The main feed stock for the briquettes in east Africa has mainly been charcoal dust
although alternatives like saw dust, bagasse, coffee husk and rice husks have also been used.
2.9: Raw materials for biomass Densification in different regions.
The most common raw material for heated-die screw-press briquetting machines are saw
dust and rice husk. Some other raw materials, e.g., coffee husk, tamarind seeds, tobacco stems,
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coir pith and spice waste have also been used in India (vempaty, 2002). Saw dust is practically
the only raw material used for producing briquettes, which are subsequently carbonized; it is the
dominant raw material in Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Korea. On the other hand, rice
husk is the only raw material used in Bangladesh, Vietnam etc.
Piston press briquetting machines use a wide range of pulverized raw materials; in India,
these include saw dust, ground nut shell, coffee husk, sugar cane bagasse, cotton stalks, sun
flower stalks, spent coffee waste etc. peanut shell and cotton stalks appear be to the most
important raw material in Africa.
The raw material mostly used in developed countries is saw dust and wood wastes.
2.10: Benefits from biomass briquettes production
Below are some points of indication in regards to benefits from biomass briquettes
production.
Health
Thousands of people are exposed to indoor air pollution from toxic fumes of cooking
fuels and kerosene lanterns, resulting in chronic eye disease, respiratory disease and lung
conditions. Biomass briquettes have the capability to supply high quality, more efficient and
cleaner forms of energy for cooking so as to reduce the incidence of associated deaths and
diseases.
Pollution
Briquettes are immeasurably cleaner than the other sources alternatives fuel. Eg coal,
because it does not contain any sulphur. Dust pollution associated with direct combustion of
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loose biomass can be avoided by switching over to Briquettes. Moreover the chance of fly ash is
minimized when Bio Coal Briquettes are burnt.
Efficiency
Uniform physical dimensions & combustion characteristics, results in more efficient
energy conversion. Briquettes burn in a controlled manner, slow and efficiently because of lower
moisture content, higher bulk density, and lower ash content. More and more, utility Industries
are using biomass briquettes to supplement or replace coal as a solid fuel source.
Reducing pressure on the forestry cover
A large area of the forest is been cut for fuel wood for cooking, which have lead to
drastically deterioration of the environment of it natural vegetation and also endanger the
survival of animals in the forest land, biomass briquettes productions from the agricultural
residues can significantly address the pressure on the forest wood fuel or charcoal for cooking.
Cost
The purchase price of biomass briquettes is less than, petrol, diesel, and Coal , and fire
wood.
Quality & Clean Fuel
Biomass Briquettes has consistent quality & it is very clean to handle.
Economic benefits
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Economic activity associated with biomass briquettes production can supports deals in
the business and create employment opportunities, which could significantly benefit rural
economies.
Biomass energy crops can be a profitable alternative for farmers, which will complement,
not compete with, existing crops and provide an additional source of income for the agricultural
industry. Biomass energy crops may be grown on currently underutilized agricultural land. In
addition to rural jobs, expanded biomass power deployment can create high skill, high value job
opportunities for utility, power equipment, and agricultural equipment industries.
Environmental benefit
Biomass fuels produce virtually no sulfur emissions, and help mitigate acid rain, Biomass
fuels "recycle" atmospheric carbon, minimizing global warming impacts since zero "net" carbon
dioxide is emitted during biomass combustion, i.e. the amount of carbon dioxide emitted is equal
to the amount absorbed from the atmosphere during the biomass growth phase. biomass wastes
mitigates the need to create new landfills and extends the life of existing landfills, produces less
ash than coal, and The biomass ash can also be used as a soil amendment in farm land.
Reduction in Injury and bruises
Biomass briquettes will considerably reduce the injuries and bruises occur during
collecting of fuel wood in the forest.
Reduction on child labor
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Briquettes production will may it possible to reduce the number children, who go to
forest for collecting fire wood for family use, and it will help the children to spend more time
studying them these hazardous work.
Serve as pesticides
The remaining products after burning can serve as pesticides against insects attached to
field crops.
It can motivate high production
Briquettes production can motivate farmers to produce and even diversify their
agricultural production. The residues that were considered as waste can also provide some
additional income for the farmers.
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CHAPTER 3: Biomass Briquette Technology and Uses in Different Countries.
3.1: biomass and bio-energy
Biomass: is any organic materials, i.e. decomposing, matter derived from plants or
animals available on a renewable basis. Biomass includes all kinds of vegetative and organic
waste. Good examples of biomass are (i) Agricultural waste left behind in the fields after
harvesting (ii) plant material left in the forest after collection of timber (iii) bagasse in the sugar
industry (iv) rice husk in rice mills (v) saw dust from timber milling machine wood (vi)
groundnut shell (vii) municipal solid waste (MSW) (viii) energy crop that are separately
cultivated for their fuel content Ghosh, K.P., 2002.
Bio-energy: is energy derived from the conversion of biomass where biomass may be
used directly as solid fuel, or processed into liquids OECD, 2004.
(International Energy Association, IEA, 2009, biomass-based energy accounted for roughly 10%
of world total primary energy supply in 2009. Most of this is consumed in developing countries
for cooking and heating using very inefficient open fires or simple cook stoves with considerable
impact on health (smoke pollution) and environment (deforestation). Modern bio-energy supply
on the other hand is comparably small, but has been growing steadily in the last decade. A total
of 280 TWh of bio-energy electricity, i.e. 1.5% of world electricity generation, was generated
globally in 2010, and 8 EJ of bio-energy for heat were used in the industry sector.
Analysis in the IEA Technology Roadmap: Bio-energy for heat and power suggests, that
in order to achieve significant emission reductions in the energy sector, sustainably produced
bio-energy will play an increasing role in the future with demand increasing three-fold to 2050.
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While several technologies for generating bio-energy heat and power already exist, there is a
need to extend the use of the most efficient technologies available today, and to complete the
development and deployment of a number of new technology options. Co-firing biomass with
coal will be an important option to achieve short-term emission reductions, and make use of
standing assets. In addition, new dedicated bio-energy plants will become increasingly important
to meet growing demand for bio-energy electricity and heat.
While in favorable circumstances producing energy from biomass can be cost
competitive today. In many cases, economic incentives are currently needed to off-set cost
differences between bio-energy and fossil fuel-generated electricity and heat. Such support is
justified by the environmental, energy security and socio-economic advantages associated with
sustainable bio-energy, but should be introduced as transitional measure leading to cost
competitiveness in the medium term. Support measures should be backed by a strong policy
frame work which balances the need for energy with other important objectives such
greenhouse-gas (GHG) reduction, food security and biodiversity, and socio-economic
development.
3.2: Biomass Power Generation Technologies
There can be many advantages of using biomass instead of fossil fuels for power
generation, including lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, energy cost saving, improved
security of supply and demand, waste management/reduction opportunities and local economic
development opportunities. However, whether these benefits are realized, and to what extent,
depends critically of the sources and the nature of the biomass feedstock.
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Thermo- chemical conversion processes of biomass feedstock
Thermo-chemical process
Combustion process: the cycle used is the conventional rankine cycle with biomass
being burned (oxidised) in a high pressure boiler to generate steam. The net power cycle
efficiencies that can be achieved are about 23% to 25%. The exhaust of the steam turbine can
either be fully condensed to produce power or used partly or fully for another useful heating
activity. In addition to exclusive use of biomass combustion to power a steam turbine, biomass
can be co-fired with coal in a coal power plant. (EPRI., 2012)
Direct co-firing is the process of adding a percentage of biomass to the fuel mix in a coal-
fired power plant. It can be co-fired up to 5-10% of biomass (in energy terms) and 50-80% with
extensive pre-treatment of feedstock (i.e. torrefaction) with only minor changes in the handing
equipment. For percentages about 10% or if biomass and coal are being separately in different
boilers, known as parallel co-firing, the changes in mills, burners and dryers are needed,
EPRI.,2012.
Gasification process: is achieved by the partial combustion of the biomass in a low
oxygen environment, leading to the release of gaseous product (producer gas or syngas). So-
called “allothermal” or indirect gasification is also possible. The gasifier can either be of a “fixed
bed”, “fluidized bed” or “entrained flow” configuration. The resulting gas is a mixture of carbon
monoxide, water, CO2, char, tar and hydrogen, and it can be used in combustion turbines, micro-
turbines, fuel cells or gas turbines. When used in turbines and fuel cells, higher electrical
efficiencies can be achieved than those achieved in a steam turbine. It is possible to co-fire a
28
power plant either directly (i.e Biomass and coal are gasified together) or indirectly (i.e gasifying
coal and biomass separately for use in gas turbines), EPRI. 2012.
Pyrolsis process: pyrolsis is a subset of gasification systems. In pyrolsis, the partial
combustion is stopped at a lower temperature (450°c to 600°c) resulting in the creation of liquid
bio-oil, as well as gaseous and solid products. The pyrolsis oil can then be used as fuel to
generate electricity, EPRI, 2012.
3.3: How Briquetting Work.
There are two approaches to briquetting; both require the loose biomass to be ground to a
coarse powder like sawdust.
High Pressure Briquetting: high pressure briquetting uses a power-driven press to raise
the pressure of dry powdered biomass to about 1500 bar (150 Mpa). According to D. Fulford et
al (2014)This compression heats the biomass to a temperature of about 120°C, which melts the
lignin in the woody biomass material. The press forces the hot material through a die at a
controlled rate, as the pressure decrease, the lignin cools down and re-solidifies the briquette and
then binding the biomass powder into uniform, solid briquettes. This high pressure machines are
produced in a wide range of sizes, for example a range capable of processing 30kg/hour to
2000kg/hour. Piston press, screw press and roller press are examples of high pressure
briquetting machines.
Low Pressure Briquetting: can be used for materials with low amount of lignin, such as
paper and charcoal dust. In this process, the powdered biomass is mixed with water to form a
paste and then binder with starch or clay material. A briquetting press is used to push the paste
into a mould or through an extruder, or it can simply by shaped by hand, the briquettes thus
29
produced are left to dry, so that the binder sets and holds the biomass powder together. Low
pressure briquetting machines are often hand operated, using a level that drives a piston to
compress the paste. According to D. Fulford et al (2014)
3.4: Biomass Briquetting Technologies
The utilization of agricultural and forestry residues is usually cumber sum due to uneven
and troublesome of their characteristics. But these have been overcome by means of
densification, i.e. through compaction of the residues into products of high density and well
define regular shape. Densification of biomass can be categorized into two main types: briquettes
and pellets. Briquettes are of relatively large size (typically 5-6 cm in diameter and 30-40 cm in
length) while pellets are small in size (about 1 cm in diameter and 2-4 cm in length), S.C.
Bhattacharya, 2008.
Biomass densification represents a set of technologies for the conversion of biomass residues
into a convenient fuel. The technology is also known as briquetting or agglomeration. Depending
on the types of equipment used, it could be categorized into five main types: Maninder et al;
2012.
1. Piston press densification
2. Screw press densification
3. Roll press densification
4. Pelletizing
5. Low pressure or manual presses.
Piston press densification: there are two types of piston press (1) the die and punch
technology; and (2) hydraulic press. In the die and punch technology, which is also known as
ram and die technology, biomass is punched into a die by a reciprocating ram with a very high
pressure thereby compressing the mass to obtain a compacted product. The standard size of the
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briquette produced using this machine is 60 mm, diameter. The power required by a machine of
capacity 700kg/hr is 25 kW. The hydraulic press process consist of first compacting the biomass
in the vertical direction and then again in the horizontal direction. The standard briquette weight
is 5 kg and its dimensions are: 450 mm x 160 mm x 80 mm. the power required is 37 kW for
1800 kg/h of briquetting. The technology can accept raw material with moisture content up to
22%. The process of oil hydraulics allows a speed of 7 cycles/minute (cpm) against 270 cpm for
the die and punch process. The slowness of operation helps to reduce the wear rate of the parts.
The ram moves approximately 270 times per minute in this process.
Screw press: the compaction ratio of screw presses ranges from 2.5:1 to 6:1 or even more. In
this process, the biomass is extruded continuously by one or more screws through a taper die
which is heated externally to reduce the friction. Here also, due to the application of high
pressures, the temperature rises fluidizing the lignin present in the biomass which acts as a binder.
The outer surface of the briquettes obtained through this process is carbonized and has a hole in
the centre which promotes better combustion. Standard size of the briquette is 60 mm diameter.
Roller press: in a briquetting roller press, the feedstock falls in between two rollers, rotating
in opposite directions and is compacted into pillow-shaped briquettes. Briquetting biomass
usually requires a binder. This type of machine is used for briquetting carbonized biomass to
produce charcoal briquettes.
Pelletizing: pelletizing is closely related to briquetting excepted that it uses smaller dies
(approximately 30 mm) so that the smaller products are called pellets. The pelletizer has a
number of die arranged as holes bored on a thick steel disk or ring and the material is forced into
the dies by means of two or three rollers. The two main types of pellet presses are: flat/disk and
31
ring types. Other types of pelletizing machines include the punch press and the cog-wheel
pelletizer. Pelletizers produce cylindrical briquettes between 5 mm and 3 mm in diameter and of
variable length. They have good mechanical strength and combustion characteristics. Pellets are
suitable as a fuel for industrial applications where automatic feeding is required. Typically
pelletizers can produce up to 1000 kg of pellets per hour but initially require high capital
investment and have high energy input requirements.
Manual press and low pressure briquetting: there are different types of manual presses
used for briquetting biomass feed stocks. They are specifically designed for the purpose or
adapted from existing implements used for other purposes. Manual clay brick making presses are
a good example. They are used both for raw biomass feedstock or charcoal. The main advantages
of low-pressure briquetting are low capital costs, low operating costs and low levels of skill
required to operate the technology. Low-pressure techniques are particularly suitable for
briquetting green plant waste such as coir or bagasse (sugar-cane residue). The wet material is
shaped under low pressure in simple block presses or extrusion presses. The resulting briquette
has a higher density than the original material but still requires drying before it can be used. The
dried briquette has little mechanical strength and crumbles easily. The use of a binder is
imperative.
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Below is the portrait of different briquetting machines that are used for biomass densification.
Figure: 3.1: roller, screw press, piston press, pelletising machine
Sources: www.alibaba.com Ashen foundation http://www.ashen.org/briquettes
Figure: 3.2: manual press
Sources: Legacy foundation and engineers without borders
33
The picture below shows the different briquette types produce from different
technologies.
Figure3.3: shows the products of different machines.
Source: www. Google.com.
3.5: Economic analysis of briquetting technologies
Table 3.1, highlight high compaction technology or binderless technology consist of
piston and screw press and are becoming more important commercially. In the screw extruder
press, the biomass is extruded continuously by a screw through a heated taper die. In the piston
press the wear of the contacts parts e.g, the ram and die is less compared to the wear of the screw
and die in screw extruder press. The power consumption in the former is less than that of the
latter. The briquette quality and production procedure screw press is definitely superior to the
piston press. The piston presses are two type, the mechanical and hydraulic press. The
mechanical are typically large scale installation 200kg/h to 1800kg/h and hydraulic presses are
50kg/h to 200kg/h and 400kg/h to 1500kg/h. the screw presses are usually available with
capacity from 75kg/h to 250kg/h.
Screw press Piston press Pellets
Roller press Manual or low pressure
34
Table 3.1: Economic comparison between piston press and screw press technology
Piston press Screw press
Optimum moisture content of raw
material
10-15% 8-9%
Wear of contact parts Low in case of ram and die High in case of screw
Output from the machine In strokes continuous
Power consumption 50 kWh/ton 60 kWh/ton
Density of briquette 1-1.2gm/cm 1-1.4gm/cm
Maintenance high Low
Combustion performance of
briquettes
Not so good Very good
Carbonization of charcoal Not possible Make good charcoal
Suitability in gasifiers Not suitable Suitable
homogeneity Non-homogeneous homogeneous
Capacity 150-2000kg per/hr 75-250kg per/hr
Capital cost Us$ 20-30,000 Us$ 1,350
Sources: FAO, 1996 and EEP, 2013
3.6: Densification technologies in different countries.
Two common types of briquetting presses employed in developing countries are heated-
die screw press and piston press. It appears that heated-die screw press technology was invented
in Japan in mid-1940s. the technology has spread to most of its neighbouring and nearby
countries, particularly Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines,
Bangladesh, etc. where heated-die screw-press briquetting machines are used almost exclusively.
35
Also, the design of screw-press briquetting machines appears to have evolved and been adapted
to suit local conditions in different countries.
The piston press technology is the dominant technology in India, Brazil, and Africa.
While these are locally made in India and Brazil, the African machine appears to be mostly
imported. Compared to piston-press machines, heated-die screw press machines have smaller
capacity but produce stronger and denser briquettes. Screw press technology is therefore more
suitable if the briquettes are to be carbonized to obtain briquetted charcoal.
Besides, conventional binder less briquetting, low-pressure cold briquetting using binder
has also been tried in some places. Most worthy among these is the carbonization-briquetting
process; in which biomass is first carbonized and the resulting charcoal is briquetted using a
suitable binder. The process has been tried for cotton stalks in Sudan and coffee husks in Kenya;
limited use of this technique has been reported in India and Nepal. Briquetting of bagasse using
molasses as binder has been reported to have had limited success in Sudan.
Another low-pressure binderless briquetting process involves mixing pulverized chopped
and decomposed biomass with water into a pulp. The pulp is pressed inside a perforated pipe to
get 4-inch diameter cakes, which are sun-dried to get briquettes, Stanley, 2002. The basic press is
made on site and the product is normally of lower density compared with conventional briquettes.
A non-profit organization, Legacy Foundation, is currently involved in dissemination of the
technology.
Briquette made from a mixture of pulverized coal, biomass and slaked lime has been
introduced by a Japanese company in two Asian countries, China and Indonesia. The briquettes,
called coal-biomass briquettes are produced by using a roll-press. It is claimed that the use of the
36
desulfurizing agent (slaked lime) and biomass results in cleaner combustion of the briquettes in
stove and less of ash compared with coal or coal briquettes Kobayashi, 2002.
Densification technology employed in developed countries, capacity of these plants is
much larger, being in the range 1-30 tons per hour.
3.7: Biomass briquetting processes.
There are two main types of briquettes carbonized and non-carbonized, produced by the
application of two different processing techniques. Carbonized briquettes are made from biomass
sources that have been processed through partial pyrolsis (which drives off volatile compound
and moistures leaving a higher concentration of carbon per unit). Hereafter, they are mixed with
binders, cast into appropriate shapes through pressing and finally dried. Un-carbonized briquettes
are processed directly from biomass sources through various casting and pressing processes,
which is known as solidification, EEP, 2013. Depending upon the type of biomass, three
processes are generally required involving the following steps. FAO, 1996.
1. Sieving – Drying – Preheating – Densification – Cooling – Packing.
2. Sieving – Crushing – Preheating – Densification – Cooling – Packing.
3. Drying – Crushing – Preheating – Densification – Cooling – Packing.
Step 1, is used for saw dust, Step 2, is used for agro and mill residues which are normally dry.
Eg coffee husk, rice husk, groundnut shell etc. and Step 3, is used for materials like bagasse,
mustard, coir path and other cereal stalks.
Converting residues into a densified form has the following advantages
1. The process increase the net calorific value per unit volume
37
2. Densified product is easy to transport and store
3. The process helps to solve the problem of residue disposal
4. The fuel produced is uniform in size, shape and quality.
3.8: Pretreatment Technologies to Improve Quality Attributes.
Pretreatment improved both the physical and chemical properties, thereby making the
material easy to densify and transport.
1. Grinding: biomass is ground to a certain particle size. This grinding partially breaks
down the lignin, increases the specific area of the materials, and contributes to better
binding, Peleg, 1977.
2. Preheating: is widely used as it results in a higher quality product. Most briquette
producers use preheating to form more stable and dense pellets or briquettes,
Bhattacharya, 1993.
3. Stream conditioning and Explosion: an efficient method of pretreatment for both
herbaceous and woody biomass, either for densification or ethanol production. The
compressed hot water or steam is commonly used in this process. During steam explosion,
which is a high-temperature, short-time process, the material is introduced into a rector
and heated under pressure at elevated temperatures. This process produces significant
physical, chemical, and structural changes in the biomass and makes more lignin sites
available for binding during pelletization, Lin and Wyman, 2005.
4. Torrefaction: a method of changing the properties of biomass materials by slowly
heating it in an inter-environment to a maximum temperature of 300 degree, Felfli et al.
1998. The process is also called mild pyrolysis as most of the smoke-producing
38
compounds and other volatiles are removed resulting in a final product that has
approximately 70% of the initial weight and 80-90% of the original energy content
Arcate, 2000 and 2002. Thus, treatment yields a solid uniform product with lower
moisture content and higher energy content compared to the initial biomass.
3.9: Common binders used in biomass densification.
Binders improve the binding features of the biomass and for long durability of the product.
Binder helps to reduce wear in production equipment and increase abrasion-resistance of the fuel.
Sometimes addition of binders can results in increase sulfur content of densified biomass.
Binders are allowed, but must be specified to final product. The following are the most common
binders used for densification purposes, Tabil et al, 1997.
1. Lignosulfonate: are used in animal feedstuffs and have been considered the most
effective and popular binder, Anonymous 1983; MacMahon 1984. The composition
includes sulfonate salts made from lignin of sulfite pulp mill liquors. The general levels
of inclusion for effective binding are 1-3%.
2. Protein: Proteins are considered natural binders which are activated through the heat
produced in the dies. Some agricultural biomass, such as alfalfa, has high protein content
and can used as binder. To improve the pellets durability.
3. Bentonite: also referred to as colloidal clay, is commonly used as a binder in feed
pelleting and is made up to aluminum silicate composed of montmorillonite. During
processing, binders form a gel with water to improve the binding characteristics. Pfost
and Young , 1973 report that the addition of bentonite at an inclusion of ground yellow
corn, ground sorghum grain, and soymeal ingredients
39
4. Starches: mostly used in the food industry as a thickener or binder. Wood, 1987, reports
that precooked starch works as a good binder during pelletization.
3.10: Factors Affecting Densification/ Briquetting
The following factors greatly influence the densification process and determine briquette
quality, according to Maninder et al; 2012.
Temperature and Pressure: it was found that the compression strength of densified
biomass depended on the temperature at which densification was carried out. Maximum strength
was achieved at a temperature around 220 c. it was also found that at a given applied pressure,
higher density of the product was obtained at higher temperature.
Moisture content: moisture content has an important role to play as it facilitates heat
transfer. Too high moisture causes steam formation and could result into an explosion. Suitable
moisture content could be of 18-12%.
Drying: depends on factors like initial moisture content, particle size, types of densifier,
throughout the process. 4.4 particle size and size reduction: the finer the particle size, the easier
is the compaction process. Fine particles give a larger surface area for bonding. It should be less
that 25% of the densified product. Could be done by means of a hammer mill, wood or straw
may require chopping before hammer mill.
3.11: Applications of briquette
Briquettes are widely used for any thermal application where coal can be utilized i.e.
steam generation in boilers, heating purpose etc. They are used as a flammable material in brick
40
kilns, paper mills, chemical plants, distilleries, pharmaceutical units, dyeing houses, food
processing units, oil mills etc. according to www.altprofits.com/ref/ct/wei/wtsf/briquettes.html.
Table 3.2: Applications of briquettes in various industries
Source: (altprofits.com 2011)
Textile process houses Dyeing, bleaching etc.
Agro-products Tobacco curing, tea drying, oil milling etc.
Clay products Brick kilns, tile making, pot firing etc.
Domestic Cooking and water heating
Gasification Fuel for gasifiers
Charcoal Suitable for making charcoal in kilns
41
CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY and CASE STUDY ON TAIWAN EXPERIENCE OF
BIOMASS BRIQUETTE
4.1: METHODOLOGY
The study was based on secondary data gathered on biomass briquette production
potential in Taiwan and the Gambia.
SWOT analysis
S.W.O.T. is an acronym that stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and
Threats. A SWOT analysis is an organized list of your business’s greatest strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats.
Strengths and weaknesses are internal to the company (think: reputation, patents,
location). You can change them over time but not without some work. Opportunities and threats
are external (think: suppliers, competitors, prices)—they are out there in the market, happening
whether you like it or not. You can’t change them.
Existing businesses can use a SWOT analysis, at any time, to assess a changing environment
and respond proactively. In fact, its recommend to conducting a strategy review meeting at least
once a year that begins with a SWOT analysis.
New businesses should use a SWOT analysis as a part of their planning process. There is no
“one size fits all” plan for your business, and thinking about your new business in terms of its
unique “SWOTs” will put you on the right track right away, and save you from a lot of
headaches later on.
42
The main purpose of SWOT analysis is to make some proper recommendations to
potential investors and public sector, a SWOT analysis has been done on biomass briquette
production sector.
SWOT analysis (alternatively SWOT Matrix) is a structured planning method used to
evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in
a business venture. A SWOT analysis can be carried out for a product, place, industry or person.
It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal
and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective. The technique
is credited to Albert Humphrey, who led a convention at the Stanford Research Institute
(now SRI International) in the 1960s and 1970s using data from Fortune 500 companies. The
degree to which the internal environment of the firm matches with the external environment is
expressed by the concept of strategic fit.
Setting the objective should be done after the SWOT analysis has been performed. This
would allow achievable goals or objectives to be set for the organization.
For the purpose of the present study, the SWOT analysis is applied to the biomass briquette
production potential in the Gambia.
To develop strategies that take into account the SWOT profile, a matrix of these factors can be
constructed. Table 4.1 SWOT matrix (also known as a TOWS Matrix) is shown below:
43
Table 4.1: SWOT matrix
Strengths Weaknesses
Opportunities S-O strategies W-O strategies
Threats S-T strategies W-T strategies
S-O strategies pursue opportunities that are a good fit to biomass briquette production strengths.
W-O strategies overcome weaknesses to pursue opportunities.
S-T strategies identify ways that the biomass briquette production can use its strengths to reduce
its vulnerability to external threats.
W-T strategies establish a defensive plan to prevent the firm's weaknesses from making it
highly susceptible to external threats.
4.2: Data Collection Methods.
The methodology used for this research was based on secondary data collected from
Ministry of Energy the Gambia, department of agriculture and report of feasibility study on
charcoal briquettes and a small scale privet briquetting plant called Greentech in the Gambia, to
assess and evaluate the potential of the biomass briquettes production for a sustainable supply of
energy, cognisance of the facts that a large quantity of agro waste are barely unuseful after the
harvesting of crop by farmer. And also the review of documents from New Bonafide Company
base in Taiwan and personal communication with staff’s.
44
4.3: Data Analysis Method
SWOT analysis was done to know the internal positive and negative factors that affected
both NBM and Greentech, and also the external positive and negative factors that affect both
companies.
4.4: Introduction on Taiwan.
Taiwan is a small country in the heart of Asia and have been rigorously involved in
research and technological development which have witness a relentless level of industrial
development in the island nation. In Taiwan only New Bonafide Company specialize in the
manufacturing of biomass briquette densification machines and is also into the production of
biomass briquettes and their main market is in mainland China and Vietnam. The company has
been selling briquetting machines to Philippines and other countries, although in Taiwan the
Government are very much delight with the innovation of transforming the agricultural residues
into a cleaner sources of energy, but still the Taiwan house of common, the legislative Yuan have
not yet approved the use of briquettes as a sources of energy, there is hope that before the end of
this year 2014 the legislators will sanction the production and selling of the briquettes in Taiwan.
It is worthy to mention that an insignificant number of people used the biomass briquettes for
their daily needs which are produced by the new bonafide company. The major reason why there
is low usage of biomass briquettes in Taiwan are, an uninterrupted electricity supply to the mass,
the low prices of petroleum products and also the ease access and availability of the petroleum
products, eg diesel, petrol, and gas. Basically there is abundant availability of biomass material
for densification in Taiwan, for the fact that there is all year round agricultural production taking
place eg amount of corn stalks and rice straw and husk which could be transformed into
briquettes. According to Council of Agriculture is about 3- 4 million tons of stalks, straw and
45
husk are produced in Taiwan. These suffice to say the amount of briquettes can be produce. This
have forced the company to invest in Vietnam for utilizing the rice husk and straws as energy
sources and also to fill the energy gap that exist in the country and also have a foresight for the
international markets.
4.5: Background Information of New Bonefide Machinery Company.
The NBM Company starts operation in 1980 and is 34 years old in this year, recalling the
pass years of New Bonafide who start from nothing, but get growth steady and success in
competition.
They made further investment in 1985 with the purpose of enlarging the business scope and
strengthening the management. Through cooperation with Japanese manufacturers and German
manufacturers, were they gain a lot of technology and experience.
New-Bonafide Machinery Company is the largest pulp & paper machinery in Taiwan.
Business scope has covered all kinds of machinery, engineering, biomass energy, biomass
treatment, agricultural process and equipment relatives manufacture & turn key export service.
With the development of the company, they have the capacity in outputting machines for
whole paper mills. Nowadays, they could produce the Fine Paper within 200T/D, Industrial Paper
within 600T/D , Tissue and Toilet Paper within 50T/D . In 1992, they began to organize installation
and engineering group to accumulate the experience in high speed machine and start training there
staff for Specialized skill during working. They have been dealt with some large-scale installations.
Some paper machine installations are listing as following:
46
300T/D Coating White Board, 600T/D Liner Board and 500T/D, Coated Printing Paper for
YUEN FOONG YU PAPER MFG.CO., TD in Taiwan, 200T/D Fine Paper for Taiwan CHUNG
HWA PULP CORPORATION, 1000T/D Liner Board, 650T/D Coating White Board and 1500T/D
Fine Paper for SINAR MAS GROUP in Indonesia, 600T/D Coating White Board for Ning-Bo
China Mill, 1200T/D Culture Paper(Fine paper) for Asian and Pacific Group.
In the last two decades the company has supplied sets of paper making machines and the
equipment to over 40 domestic and foreign customers. Quality, to which the company is ardently
committed, dominates operation procedures from planning, designing, manufacturing and installing
to test runs. Each link goes through strict quality control checks; therefore, the products have
always been highly praised by their customers.
The company sold their products in mainland Chain market from 1992. And in China, they
established Liao-yang New Bonafide Company, Ji Nan, Shang Hai and Fo Shan branches, in order
to make convenience for customers and to strengthen the after-sale service from 1996. They has
also passed the ISO 9002 recognition, and formally becoming the first member in the field of paper
making machine in Taiwan in Aug 1998.
In April, 1999, they cooperate with ASEC (Ashizawa), one of the best manufactory in pulp
equipment in Japan. To research and put in manufacturing actively in the field of pulp process
together. Looking forward to advance into the whole area of Asia and mainland China based on the
higher technique and value of economic benefits.
In 2005, the company made it transition into biomass green energy, venturing into research
and development in agro waste recycling technology and investing in agricultural biomass fuel
production for sustainable low carbon future.
47
The company specialized in the production of two types of machines for biomass briquette
production, one is stationary and the other one is mobile briquetting system machine. The stationary
can produce 1500-2000 kilogram/set of briquettes per hour, while the mobile briquetting system
can produce 150-200 kilogram/set of briquettes per hour and be set up in factories, forest parks,
sugar cane mill, and palm tree garden. The company also has conceptualized the development of
cooking stove for the burning of biomass briquettes.
NBM, established a global production base in Chain, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia,
and other Southeast region, it capitalized on the resource available in any geographic location.
From 2008, the Company have start to look for agency or experienced machinery plant to
cooperate for local service, supplying the spare parts and free repair within the period of guarantee
to customers, and now there are more than 7 countries we have our own technology team or agency
can service our customers. (in China, Vietnam, Spain, Russia, Malaysia and Indonesia).
4.6: Operational Model.
In Taiwan NBM has established one stationary biomass briquetting plant in Yulin county
but not yet fully operational because of some legislative issue, and have also negotiated with the
Taiwan to supply six other county Government with mobile briquetting machines for
densification of rice husk and rice straw. The company has established companies in Vietnam,
Malaysia, and in mainland China, for the production of biomass briquettes, eg in Vietnam where
the company has set Ten machines which manufactured 6000 tons of briquettes on monthly
bases, and planning to double the machines so that 12000 tons of briquettes can be processed
because of the popular demand on the energy in Vietnam. In Vietnam the company have been
transforming rice husk into briquettes which is only for promotion and selling of the business
48
idea, and also to conceptualization the development of rich husk into an alternative and a reliable
energy source to fill the energy gap in Vietnam.
In Malaysia the company through the negotiation with the Government have started
processing old and underproductive palm tree wood into biomass briquettes in partnership with
MUDA Company as their best customer and in mainland China also a strong and reliable
customer base has been create.
4.7: Cooking stove.
The company in it moves to become competitive in the market and not to lose it business
opportunities have developed a two gasifier cooking stove which can burn the briquette in an
efficient way and ease to handle, NBM country side biomass micro gasification stove and NBM
disaster relief biomass gasification stove, as they provides strong and constant heat during
burning. Air circulation at the bottom of the stove improves the combustion process and
minimizes smoke emission visibility. The gasification stove also has the facility to electrically
charge mobile phone and solar panels, during the burning of briquettes in the stove.
The gasification stove has been used in the Philippines during the Haiyen Typhoon hits
hard in 2013, for quick boiling of water and cooking during power outage and fossil fuel
shortage.
49
Figure 4.1: Cooking stove
Source: NBM.
4.8: APPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF BIOMASS ENERGY TECHNOLOGY.
The processes flow of biomass briquetting of different raw material like oil palm waste,
forest waste, sugar cane, rice straw and corn Stover shows that, when they are collected in the
field, they are sent to the Stover shredder and shredded on site and then later to the biomass dryer,
after drying the material it’s then crush and dust materials to be remove and finally into the
briquetting machine system for densification of the raw material into briquettes or pellets in other
to achieved higher density for a higher calorific value which suitable for industrial boiler and
stove, as low density are not suitable for burning, but can be used as livestock and poultry
bedding.
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PPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF BIOMASS ENERGY TECHNOLOG
Figure 4.2, shows the processing flow of biomass briquetting from the collection of
different raw materials in field to the dryer and to briquetting machine for densification.
Figure 4.2: the flow chart of biomass production processes
Source: (NBM, 2013)
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4.9: Amount of biomass needed to keep the different machines operational for 320 days
Table 4.2 and 4.3, below is the amount of biomass needed to the various biomass
briquetting machines to operating for 10hr/.day to 21hr/.day and 320 days in the year, these
different machines capacities ranges from 150kg per hour - 2000kg per hour. All the machines
are used for commercial productions of briquettes.
Table 4.2: Mini scale 150kg -200kg per hour
(Mobile type based on
Max.10hr./day)
& 27 days/per month or
320 days/per year
(Mobile type based on
Max.10hr./day)
& 27 days/per month or
320 days/per year
Capacity of unit system 150kg per hour 200kg per hour
One day 1.5 tonnes 2.0 tonnes
One month 40.5 tonnes 54 tonnes
Six months 243 tonnes 324 tonnes
Twelve months(based on
320days)
480 tonnes 640 tonnes
Source: Author
Table 4.3: Large scale 1500kg -2000kg per hour
(Fixed type based on
Max.21hr./day)
& 27 days/per month or
320 days/per year
(Fixed type based on
Max.21hr./day)
& 27 days/per month or
320 days/per year
Capacity of unit system 1500kg per hour 2000kg per hour
One day 31.5 tonnes 42 tonnes
One month 850.5 tonnes 1134 tonnes
Six months 5103 tonnes 6804 tonnes
Twelve months(based on
320days)
10,080 tonnes 13,440 tonnes
Source: Author
Note: The quantities of biomass that can keep the different briquetting machines
operational for the year have been calculated in the table above. Putting into account holidays
and the available time for work
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4.10: SWOT ANALYSIS.
The strengths
Technical capacity: the company has both the human and material resources to design,
manufacture and operation and maintenance of the briquetting machine, since the company
specialized in the production machinery.
Financial opportunities: the capital outlay for the production briquettes is not limited to
the company, for the simple reason that NBM company have established company in Vietnam
for the massive production of briquettes to local market and companies that used briquettes for
co-firing in there broiler for electricity generation
Knowledge base: the company has both the knowledge base for supply and demand side
dynamics and also the innovative for addressing issues and problems confronting the company.
They have reliable information on the products and marketing of products.
Weaknesses
Operational barrier: Lack of access to the agricultural residues in the Taiwan for
transformation into briquettes.
Lower usage of briquettes: due to reliable and abundant supply of electricity.
Opportunities
Access to markets; the company have now developed the market base for briquette and
into agreement with major briquetting user in Taiwan and other Asian countries.
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Threats
Legislative barriers: the production and consumption of biomass briquettes have not yet
been approved by executive Yuan as at now; there are hopes that before the end of year 2014 the
houses relax the sanction on briquettes production, so that the production of biomass briquettes
can take place in Taiwan. Given the facts, that a large quantity of agricultural residues and agro-
industrial are produced in abundance in the country.
4.11: The role New Bonafide Machinery Company can play.
To help eco-energy regimen of agricultural park planning, construction and benefit
assessment.
To assist more than 10 machines in a plants in the establishment and collection of
fuel resource and introduction of technology with relative equipments.
To assist in the planning and introduction of electricity, heating and other equipment
at industrial park.
To help fine converting of agricultural products, herbs, mushroom in energy-saving
baking, and which preservation technology in briquetting process.
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CHAPTER 5: FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF BIOMASS BRIQUETTE
PRODUCTION IN THE GAMBIA
5.1: Overview of the brief history of the first briquette plant in the Gambia
Some years ago the Gambia Government established a long term commitment to
replacing environmentally damaging urban wood consumption with groundnut shell briquettes.
In 1982 a groundnut shell briquetting plant was installed in the GPMB (Gambia Produce
Marketing Board), aiming to substitute wood and charcoal use in the urban areas of the country.
Now stands idle and 1987 it was clear that the new fuel has had little impact on domestic fuel
users. Over this period sales have been low, and briquettes have only managed to retain a small
market amongst higher income groups who have access to private transport and can therefore
collect briquettes directly from the GPMB depot near Banjul. The packing, local distribution and
marketing of briquettes has not proved to be very attractive economic proposition with relatively
cheap and abundant wood available throughout the urban areas. ( Keith Bennett) Also, during the
original campaign to popularize the briquettes, users had the expectation that briquettes were the
'new charcoal.' This certainly caused disappointments to people who tried briquettes with their
traditional coal pots and were dismayed with volumes of acrid smoke issuing from their kitchens.
The United Nation Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Stoves
Project, working under the Department of Community Development, were then successful in
developing the Noflie Furno, a wood/briquette burning cook stove that has proven to be an
effective briquette burner.
The GPMB insist that they cannot afford to fill warehouses with briquettes that sell very
slowly and have recently indicated that they will not produce briquettes unless they can negotiate
supply contracts. GPMB are not interested in what they consider to be an unprofitable sideline.
55
The local domestic market offers little profit and the GPMB have not developed exports or
industrial markets to compensate. (Keith Bennett).
These developments ensure that we have again witness burning and rotting heaps of
groundnut shells in the Gambia, a country facing deforestation and escalating oil import bills.
where foreign exchange costs for oil imports place such a heavy burden on national economics.
Keith Bennett also reports that the price of wood in Banjul has increased by 180% in the
past year. He has therefore proposed that the stove project establish a retail store in Banjul to sell
10 kg bags of briquettes over the counter and 50 kg bags delivered.
5.2: The Plant
As stated above, the plant was originally installed at Denton Bridge. However, following
the modernization of the Denton Bridge complex in the early eighties (80) with the use of more
groundnuts shells in direct combustion in boilers to produce steam for power generation and
process, it was envisaged that there would not be enough excess shells to operate the briquetting
plant. It was thus transferred to Kaur. According to (Report of the study on the feasibility of
producing charcoal briquettes in the Gambia, 2005)
The plant had an installed capacity of 6 tons of shell briquettes per hour. The major plant
equipment was: -
Nut Extractor, Air Pump, Rotary Valve with hopper, Cyclone c/w pipeline, Buffer tank,
Slide gate, Distribution Screw Conveyor, Screw Conveyor with hopper, Screw doser, Briquetting
presses (4no), Overflow bin, Compression tracks , Tracks, Belt Conveyor, Bagging balance,
Water dosing system, Control Panel.
56
The plant was a turnkey project and cost (GMD918,821.00) in 1978. The plant was not
used extensively due to several factors.
Below are some of the problems that were associated with the failure of biomass briquettes
plant in the Gambia.
The absence of extensive and intensive marketing strategy to promote the sale and use of
briquettes as domestic fuel. Sales were low and the operation of the plant became unviable.
Resistance to change, The briquettes were meant to replace wood charcoal and firewood for
cooking and heating, especially in the urban areas. At the time the briquette was introduced
into the market, there was no legislation banning the use of wood charcoal. The briquettes
being new and having unfamiliar initial burning characteristics were thus required to compete
with the traditional domestic fuels. This coupled with lack of extensive sensitisation and
other factors resulted in the briquettes loosing out in the competition.
A survey carried out by Hoff & Overgaard in 1978 found that some households’
members complained that the briquettes were smoking a bit more excessively during the
starting of the fire as compared to wood charcoal.
Most retailers involved in the marketing of charcoal were reluctant to sell briquettes
complaining amongst other things low profitability, storage difficulties (briquettes were
fragile and break up easily, susceptible to damage by moisture and termites).
Lower price of fire wood and it abundant supply.
Lack of patience from the management.
Most of the above issues could have been resolved if there were commitments and proper
marketing strategies in place highlighting the positive side of the briquettes such as the lower
energy cost per unit calorie, the greater heat generated by the briquettes compared to charcoal.
57
The issue of smoke could have been overcome by either a slight change in technology to make
the briquettes more compact and smaller in size or ensuring enough ventilation during the initial
stages of starting the fire. Notwithstanding the above constraints, the conclusions of the quoted
survey were that:
The production of groundnut shell briquettes was viable both financially and
economically.
There would be need for legislation to curtail the sale of charcoal. Of course this
legislation was later put in place but at the time the legislation came on board, there were no
briquettes for sale. The plant had ceased operation on the pretext that it was not viable because of
low sales.
5.3: Economic, Social & Environmental Impact of the Briquetting Plant
The briquetting experience in The Gambia made very little, if any, economic and social
impacts on the country, reason being the limited use made of the briquettes. The briquette project
could have helped in the development and use of improved cooking and heating stoves. Both
projects should have been conceptualized and implemented simultaneously. It is unfortunate that
vast amount of energy in groundnut shells are being wasted by burning openly, which increases
air pollution and degradation of the environment. This is made worst when one considers the fact
that nutrients within the shells are not returned to the soil resulting in serious soil mining. It was
estimated that the briquettes to be produced would replace about 60% of household domestic fuel
needs of the urban areas [Hoff & Overgaard A/S]. This would have reduced the demand on the
forests in terms of the cutting down of trees for firewood and the production of charcoal.
58
If there had been proper strategic plans and vision, the groundnut shells alone could have
gone a long way to reducing the import bills on fossil fuels for power generation. During the
period when the briquetting plant was installed, groundnut production in the Gambia was very
high and GPMB used to handle about 100,000 tons annually. This amount of groundnuts was
capable of producing about 30,000 tons of groundnut shells, which could have generated about
2.7MW of electricity. GPMB’s Denton Bridge factory complex electricity demand was in the
region of 750KW. Thus GPMB could have supplied to national grid over 1.8MW for about 200
days and over 2.5MW for another 100 days. At that time, this would have constituted over 25%
of the Gambia National Utility’s (GUC) installed capacity.
5.4: Successes
In the context of briquetting experience in The Gambia, it is difficult to pinpoint any
success except for the realization earlier on, of the potentials of using agro-industrial waste for
the production of briquettes as alternate source of domestic fuel. The use of agro-industrial waste
as a source of fuel in industry in The Gambia had long been recognized and put in practice. The
Gambia Produce Marketing Board (GPMB) used groundnut shells to fire boilers (direct
combustion) to produce steam for process and electricity generation at its Denton Bridge Factory
Complex. This had saved the Board a lot in terms of electricity cost on its operation of the
factory.
5.5: Survey of the Main Crops in Relation to Biomass Production
A survey have been conduct on the availability of biomass on the following crops in the
Gambia: groundnuts, millets, maize, sorghum, rice and cotton
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Groundnuts: The cultivation of groundnuts is a culture in The Gambia. It is both a food
and cash crop. Department of Planning of DOSA out of a total land area (304,856 hectares under
cultivation in 2001/2002), 138,888 hectares (45.5%) was devoted to groundnuts cultivation. The
average area under groundnut cultivation over the past ten years is 92,825 hectares with
corresponding production of 92,989 tons (DOP, 2003), an average yield per hectare of 1.1 tons.
The by-product (residue) produced at farm level is groundnut fodder (hay). Estimated
yield of fodder is about 1.5 tonnes per hectare DOP, 2003. The other by-product is groundnut
shell but this would be looked at from an agro-industrial waste point of view. Thus, based on
2001/2002 national agricultural census, there is potential to produce over 208,000 tonnes of hay
annually. Groundnut hay is a good candidate for carbonisation and briquetting. However, there
are other competing uses for it. As a result of its palatability and digestibility, it is used
extensively as an animal feed within the farming community. The high animal population density
in The Gambia and the lucrative trade in hay within the sub-region, especially Senegal, has made
its availability for conversion into biomass energy rather uneconomical as shown in the cost
analysis. (Study on the feasibility of producing charcoal briquettes in The Gambia, 2005)
Millet: Two varieties are grown in The Gambia – early and late varieties. The crop is
basically a subsistence food crop although the excess is traded locally and within the sub-region.
The average area under cultivation for millet (both early & late) over the past ten years is 76,374
hectares with corresponding production of 78,464 tonnes DOP, 2003. Yields of the early variety
in terms of grains are higher than that of the late variety. However, the latter produces more by-
product than the former. For the purpose of this study an average will be assumed using a by-
product to grain ratio of 2.1 (COWI consult). The main agricultural wastes are millet stalks and
leaves. Although the leave are valuable feed material when wet, both the leaves and the stalks are
60
in general low in feed value especially when dry and are therefore good candidates for other uses
such as conversion to energy. However, the stalks are used extensively for fencing at village
level. (Study on the feasibility of producing charcoal briquettes in The Gambia, 2005)
Maize: It is also a subsistence food crop that is grown throughout the country. The crop is
an early variety maturing within about 90 days after planting. The average area under cultivation
with maize for the past ten years is 12,872 hectares with corresponding production of 18,177
tons (DOP, 2003). Two waste products can be obtained from maize; the leaves & maize stalks on
the one hand and the ‘cob-stalks’ (this is what remains after the grains are removed from the cob)
on the other. (Study on the feasibility of producing charcoal briquettes in The Gambia, 2005)The
leaves and the stalks are valuable feed materials provided proper husbandry, such as early
collection and drying after picking cob, is practiced. The cob-stalk is not used as feed. At village
level, some of the cob-stalks are used as fuel for heating and cooking through direct combustion
and therefore suitable candidate for biomass conversion to low-grade energy. The yield of maize
stalks can be calculated from the ratio stalks to grain of 3:1.
Sorghum: It is a subsistence crop with the average land area under maize cultivation over
the past ten years being 17,588 hectares. Average production over the same period was 17,885
tons, DOP, 2003. The main by-products are the stalks and the leaves. The yield of by-product
can be calculated from the ratio of by-product to grain of 3:1 (COWI consult). The leaves and the
upper part of the stalk have good animal feed value. However, the lower part of the stalk is
highly lignified and not suitable as feed material. This part can therefore be used for other
purposes. Like millet, it is also used for fencing at village level thus reducing availability for
energy purpose.
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Rice: In The Gambia, rice is the staple diet of most households. Although most of the rice
consumed is imported, a reasonable quantity is grown locally. For the past few years, vigorous
efforts are being made to increase rice production and productivity and the area under cultivation
has been increasing steadily. We distinguish two types – upland and swamp rice. With
increasing incidences of short rainfall cycles in the country and the introduction of high yielding
upland varieties such as “Nerica”, the production of upland rice is increasing rapidly. The
average land area under rice cultivation (upland & swamp) over the past ten years is 14,540
hectares with corresponding production of 19,563 tons DOP, 2003. The main agricultural residue
(by-product) from cultivation of rice is rice straw. The ratio of by-product to straw is estimated at
1:1 (COWI consult). Rice straws are valuable animal feed materials when newly harvested and
the straws are wet. However, when they are dry and fully cured, they become stiff as a result of
the elevated silica content. With increasing animal population, rice straws are mostly used as
animal feed on the farm leaving very little, if any, for other uses. This notwithstanding, and The
Gambia’s vision of self-sufficiency in rice production, the potential exist for the availability of
more rice straws for conversion into low-grade energy. (Study on the feasibility of producing
charcoal briquettes in The Gambia, 2005)
Cotton: This is mainly a cash crop and is grown in the upper part of the country. The area
under cultivation with cotton has been declining over past years. According to cultivation and
production statistics from the ginnery the average area under cultivation over the past eleven
years 1993 to 2003 has been about 2,420 hectares. The average production for the same period
has been 1,270 tons, DOP, 2003. The main agricultural by-product is cotton stalk. (Study on the
feasibility of producing charcoal briquettes in The Gambia, 2005) The stalks are highly lignified
and therefore not suitable as a material for animal feed. In fact proper husbandry of cotton farms
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requires that the stalks are gathered and burnt at field level to avoid pest carry-over, (insects and
their larvae) to the following year’s crop. This therefore makes cotton stalks good candidates for
use as supplier of biomass energy. The yield of by-product can be calculated from the ratio of
cotton-grain to by-product as 1:1 (COWI consult) .
Table 5.1, shows the ten year calculation for all the major crops that is available for
briquette production was done by Department of Planning (DOP). And Table 5.2; show the
estimated available industrial waste for the same period.
Table 5.1: Estimates of National Production of Agricultural Residues (1994-2003 Average) in
tones
Crop Cultivated Hectare Grain Production Residues Production
Groundnuts 92,825 92,989 139,500
Millet 76,374 78,464 156,900
Maize 12,872 18,177 54,600
Sorghum 16,588 17,885 53,600
Rice 14,546 19,563 19,600
Cotton 2,419 1,270 1,270
Total 215,624 425,470
Source: DOP-Average of ten years (1994-2003)
Table 5.2: Estimates of Available Industrial Waste (1994-2003 Averages) in tonnes
Crop National Waste
Production
Waste Production At
Industrial Sites
Waste Remaining In
Villages
Groundnuts (shells)
27,800 12,000 15,800
Rice (husks) 3,300 60 3,240
Cotton 0 0 0
Saw dust 6675 0 0
Total 31,100+ 12,060+ 19,040+
The waste be considered here is groundnuts shell
Source: (DOP, 2005)
5.6: Analysis of Calorific values and ash content, the Biomass Materials Available in The
Gambia.
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This analysis will tabulate the biomass available as reviewed above, giving their calorific
values and ash content.
In table 5.3, can be seen that the biomass considered here, have very good calorific values
comparable to fossil fuels (e.g. Coal Grade B with a value of 5,000 Kcal/kg and Grade C with
4,000 Kcal/kg). The biomass has the added advantage of low ash and sulphite content – thus
reducing atmospheric pollution with sulphuric acid – so-called acid rains. The available materials
in the Gambia are at par with the world.
Table 5.3: Analysis of Calorific values and ash content of the Biomass Materials Available in
The Gambia
Materials Calorific Value Ash Content
Kcal/kg %
Groundnut Shells 4,780 6.9
Cotton Stalks 4,360 6.7
Maize Stalks/Cob 4,150 1.8
Millet Stalks 4,200 2.0
Sorghum Stalks 4,200 2.0
Rice Husks 3,500 19.5
Saw Dust 4,300 2.0
Source: Facilitation India Private Ltd
5.7: Major Determinants of Biomass Production in The Gambia
Agricultural activities in The Gambia are been influenced by several factors:
Weather: the Gambia being in the sahelian zone of West Africa suffers from erratic and
‘unpredictable’ weather pattern. There are years with low precipitation and years with relatively
good precipitation. These conditions negatively or positively affect agricultural production and
productivity for all crops. Rainfall amounts vary between over 1000mm to sometime below
600mm. whenever there is persistent low precipitation; farmers tend to grow crops with short
maturity cycle. The type of crop grown affects the amount of residues produced. As an example,
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the 90 day cycle groundnut (73/33) produces less fodder (hay) than the 120 day cycle variety
(28/206). This therefore makes long term forecasting very difficult, DOP, 2005.
Soil Fertility: due to overgrazing (high density of animal population), over cultivation
and erosion (deforestation & desertification), soil fertility in The Gambia is low. Except along
the banks of the River Gambia where the soil is loamy, the soil is generally sandy with low clay
and organic matter content and therefore low water holding capacity, DOP, 2005. The soil is
poor in nutrients and of frail structure. These factors all results in low productivity of crops.
Farmers are however well aware of this situation and therefore artificial fertilizer is commonly
used to enrich the soil to increase productivity. Availability of artificial fertilizer in sufficient
quantities is sometime a problem.
Farming Practice: the level of mechanization in the Gambia’s agricultural activities is
very low. Farming is mainly a manual job although the use of animal traction is widespread.
Therefore, the low level of mechanization coupled with low soil fertility and
unavailability of artificial fertilizer in sufficient quantities result in the low
productivity of crops and therefore low production and availability of residues. (the
study on the Feasibility of Producing Charcoal Briquettes in The Gambia 2005
5.8: Analysis and discussion of the results off the current period from 2003-2013.
The residues considered here are stalks, hays. The formula for calculating the annual tons
of waste generated in by-product to a ratio of grains or nuts are as follow: for millets stalks to
millet grains ratio is to 2:1, for sorghum stalks to sorghum grains ratio is to 3:1, maize stalks/cob
to maize grains ratio is to 3:1 and for rice straw to rice grains ratio is to 1:1 and groundnuts hay
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to groundnut seed nuts ratio is to 1.5:1. The results of the calculation show that more of
agricultural wastes are generated than the grains or nuts (Report of the study on the feasibility of
producing charcoal briquettes in The Gambia).
It’s important to highlight that all the major crops are grown in all the regions of the
country.
Table 4.1 given the calculation of the amount of annual residues produce national during
the period under review for the crops that have the potentials for biomass briquettes generation.
The annual production trend have been shown below
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Table 5.4: Annual Residue Productions by Crop From 2003 to 2013, in tonnes
Crops
Year
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Millet (stalks) 240,684 264,988 250,780 236,320 178,372 244,324 200,398 192,754 174,468 232,178
Sorghum
(stalks)
90,390 86,997 85,389 60,798 53,853 76,548 38,787 43,320 61,668 69,438
Maize
(stalks/cob)
100,059 87,630 83,109 87,441 94,224 96,459 97,050 107,283 70,839 86,802
Rice (straw) 32,464 35,864 26,215 17,415 12,533 34,294 49,964 62,926 51,136 54,219
Groundnut
(hay)
141,250 205,612 212,106 124,861 109,009 163,326 169,923 146,273 125,787 179,422
Total Residues 606850 683095 659604 528841 449998 616959 556,122 552,556 483,898 622,059
Source:DOP,2013
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Looking at the production trend on the table 5.5, during the period under review, starting
with millet, it is clear that the annual quantity of residues produce is almost steady during the
period under review other than in the year of 2007, 2010 and 2011 were low productivity of
millet was recorded, which was as a result low precipitation, and the production quantity are
little bit below 200,000 tons. In general the productions during the years were all over 200,000
tons. For sorghum the trend reveal that its residues production have been quite encouraging, only
in the years of 2008 and 2009 where the production quantity is below 45,000 tons, for maize it
have been in over roll satisfactory throughout the period under review, only in the year of
2011because of less precipitation shows little drop in the quantity produce. And final groundnut
hay production is consider the second highest after millet, it is only in 2007 which shows slight
drop in quantity produce due mainly to low precipitation. Considering the total amount produce
annually also shows that more than half a million residue is produce during the period under
review, it is only in 2007 and 2011 where the production is little bit below half million.
Table 5.5: Total residues for the period 2003-2013
Crop Total for the period
Millet (stalks) 2,215,266
Sorghum (stalks) 667,188
Maize (stalks/cob) 910,896
Rice (straw) 377,030
Groundnut (hay) 1,577,569 Source (DOP, 2013)
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Figure 5.1 Total residues for the period 2003-2013.
Source: (DOP, 2013)
The total production for the major agricultural residue which can be transformed into
biomass briquettes indictors that millet stalks and groundnut hay capture the largest tonnes
during the period, while rice straw formed the least, it is also important to mention that rice
production have been gaining momentum with the introduction upland rice variety call NARICA
with the support of Taiwan technical cooperation program. It is important to mention that
production of crops in general have been on the increase, simply reason been that majority of
Gambian depends on farming as an occupation. The major determinants are weather and
fertilizer that can make a Holt to productivity of the crops.
Table 5.6: Mean, median, standard deviation, minimum and maximum
Crop
Descriptive Data
Mean Median Sd. Dev Minimum Maximum
Millet (stalks) 221,527 234,249 32171.05 174,468 264,249
Sorghum (stalks) 66,719 65,553 18190.04 38,787 90,390
Maize (stalks/cob) 91,090 90,927 10188.77 70,839 107,283
Rice (straw) 37,703 35,079 16530.48 12,533 62,926
Groundnut (hay) 157,757 154,800 34604.55 109,009 212,106 Source: Author
Total for the period, Millet
(stalks), 2,215,266,
38%
Total for the period,
Sorghum (stalks),
667,188, 12%
Total for the period, Maize (stalks/cob),
910,896, 16%
Total for the period, Rice
(straw), 377,030, 7%
Total for the
period, Groundnut (hay),
1,577,569, 27%
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Using the descriptive analysis for mean, median and standard deviation of all the major
crops for the possible briquettes production data shows during the period under review that, the
mean, median and standard deviation for millet is 221,527, 234,249 and 32171.05 respectively
and the minimum and maximum for millet as follow 174,468 and 264,249 and The difference
between minimum and maximum is 89,781 tons. Sorghum the mean, median and standard
deviation stands as 66,719, 65,553 and 18190.04 and the minimum and maximum also stands as
38,787 and 90,390 and difference between mini and maxi is 51,603 tons. The mean, median and
standard deviation for maize stands as 91,090, 90,927 and 10188.77 respectively and minimum
and maximum also stands as 70,839 and 107,283 and the difference between mini and maxi is
36,444 tons. The mean, median and standard deviation for rice stands as 37,703, 35,079 and
16530.48 respectively and minimum and maximum also stands as 12,533 and 62,926 and the
difference between mini and maxi is 50,393 tons. The mean, median and standard deviation for
groundnut stands as follows 157,757, 154,800 and 34604.55 respectively and the minimum and
maximum stands as 109,009 and 212,106 and the difference between the mini and maxi is
103,097 tons.
This table 5.6 reveals that most of the low productions happen in the year of 2007 and
2011, eg. groundnut and rice 2007, millet and maize 2011. For sorghum the low productivity
occurs in the 2009. As mentioned early the year of 2007 and 2011 record a low precipitation.
5.9: Current status of biomass briquetting plant in The Gambia.
As at now the first plant for briquetting productions which was owned by Gambia
Groundnut Cooperation (GGC) and there partner has paralyses, due to inadequate marketing
strategies and lack of proper distribution strategy of the briquettes. Currently there is only one
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privately owned functional biomass briquetting plant in The Gambia called the Green-tech,
which have the capacity of producing 400-600kg per hour. They currently produced biomass
briquettes consist purely of groundnut shells, which otherwise would have been dumped as waste.
As groundnut shell contains lignin, a naturally binder. Some NGO’s are also into the promotion
of agro-waste biomass energy consumption for fuel efficiency, but they are not into densification
processes.
5.10: Biomass use in The Gambia
Demand
In 2004, energy survey indicated that only 0.88% of the population has access to
electricity, the urban households consume 63.9% of the total electricity supply while the rural
households consume 11.4%. Fuel wood contributes about 97% of the country’s total household
energy needs, constituting about 98% of rural household consumption and about 95.5% of urban
household consumption (95% firewood and 2% charcoal). These statistics eloquently express
the all importance of fuel wood in The Gambia’s household energy basket. ECOWAS ECREEE
2011, 30% of the population in the Gambia have access to electricity, and is mainly used for
lighting and cooling.
The 2004 household energy survey conducted by department of energy state that, Fuel
wood is the main energy resource of the country and contributes more than 80% of the country’s
energy requirement
The biomass component of renewable energy contributes about 0.51% (biomass) to the
household energy balance. Biomass has great potentials as a substitute for fuel wood,
Development Management Consultants International (DMCI), 2005. It is estimated that it has the
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potential to contribute about 30,000 TOE to the household energy balance. Apart from saw dust,
the common biomass resources in the country are agricultural residues. Although the supply of
all biomass resources is exogenously influenced by the vagaries of the climate, that of
agricultural residues is more susceptible. The agricultural residues also have a number of
important alternative uses on the farm such as animal feed and organic manure which may limit
their supply severely.
Biomass can be made into briquettes. The public perception of briquettes in the past has
not been very favorable as it was perceived as being inconvenient and smoky. This image can be
addressed through improving the product and indications from the sector, a study on feasibility
of producing charcoal briquettes (2005) are that this is possible at highly competitive product
price.
There is specific legislation in place concerning renewable energy production. The need
for one in the form of a total ban on the production and import of wood charcoal will be crucial
in the successful establishment of a briquetting plant and promotion of briquettes as substitute for
wood charcoal.
The institutional and legal constraints of renewable energy sources are relatively less
stringent. Renewable energy matters are under the purview of the department of state
responsible for energy matters. The lead technical arm of the department, the Renewable Energy
Centre (GREC) is very weak to adequately respond to the needs of the sector. A strengthened
GREC may greatly enhance the supply of renewable energy appliances at affordable prices.
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SUPPLY
Following a comprehensive study into the agro-biomass resource during the 2005, the
total agro-biomass stock in The Gambia was estimated to be 206,600 tones plus and saw dust
biomass was also estimated at 6675 tone plus, while the forest biomass were not capture, crop
that produce biomass energy from agricultural residues such as cereal and cash crop residues
data are provided by report of the study on the feasibility of producing charcoal briquettes in the
Gambia and also timber milling residue such as saw dust from the source.
5.11: GREENTECH COMPANY
GreenTech is a private business own by two couple, response to the actual poverty situation,
the up-winding energy crises and the environmental challenges in Gambia. Is a small and
medium enterprise and at the moment it is present only in Gambia. Over 250,000€ were invested
in GreenTech Gambia Co. Ltd. It is an infant company which starts its operations in 2012.
The company supplies affordable high quality solid biomass fuel for cooking and heating
to a high diversity of industries and households, whilst supporting international and national
strategies and targets for sustainable environmental and social development. GreenTech focuses
on pro-poor and environmentally friendly products, production and marketing strategies with
high potential of extension and diversification. Its products are fuel briquettes made of ground
nutshells that are used for cooking or heating on household level and commercial uses. They also
supply energy saving stoves that provide constant heat. These locally made stoves cost less than
10€. These two products’ aim is to save the customer’s time, money and natural resources. It is
estimated that if Gambians switch from charcoal stoves to Green Tech stoves they could save
around 250€/ year, which for them is half of their average per capita income.
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Fuel Briquettes Uses in The Gambia
Fuel briquettes consist of groundnut shells, which would have been dumped as waste
otherwise. Biomass briquettes produced by Greentech are for household’s uses in the Gambia
mainly for cooking and heating, some restaurants and bakeries are currently testing GreenTech
briquettes in their existing systems. Industries are testing it for their boilers. Fish smokeries can
use the briquettes for fish processing. Experienced briquette users are even using it for their
barbecue. (Greentech, 2013)
GreenTech is using heavy-duty machines from C F Nielsen of Denmark who are world
leaders in the manufacturing of briquetting presses. The machine has the capacity to process
about 400-600kg per hour.
Figure 5.2: C F Nielsen heavy-duty machine.
Source: Green tech (2013)
Table 5.8: Show the amount of briquette the Greentech company can produce.
Table 5.7: Median scale 400kg -600kg per hour
(Fixed type based on
Max.21hr./day)
& 27 days/per month or
(Fixed type based on
Max.21hr./day)
& 27 days/per month or
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320 days/per year 320 days/per year
Capacity of unit system 400kg per hour 600kg per hour
One day 8.4 tonnes 12.6 tonnes
One month 226.8 tonnes 340.2 tonnes
Six months 1360.8 tonnes 2041.2 tonnes
Twelve months(based on
320days)
2688 tonnes 3032 tonnes
Source: Author
Energy saving stoves
GreenTech supports the invention and marketing of locally made energy saving stoves,
which make GreenTech briquettes even more efficient and suitable to handle, as they provide
strong and constant heat, at the same time as using less fuel than the traditional cooking settings.
Thus the new generation of stoves will save the customer’s time, money and natural resources.
The energy saving stoves reproduce the traditional cooking stove and are simple to handle.
Supplementary separation allows best energy efficiency at the same time as a smart air stream
system improves the combustion process and minimizes visible smoke emission.
Figure 5.3: Rockefier/ Forno Nopal
Source: Green tech (2013)
The Possible Challenges Facing the Company in the Future
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One potential challenge that GreenTech might encounter is the low purchasing power of
the Gambian population. A third of it lives below the International poverty line of US $1.25
dollars a day and thus they might have problems purchasing even the most basic products. On
the bright side, macroeconomic data is quite positive for the country. From 2006 to 2012, the
Gambian economy grew annually at a pace of 5–6% of GDP. This means that energy
consumption will increase and given the lack of electrical infrastructure, the use of biomass
could be a viable alternative both for domestic and industrial use. The challenge for GreenTech
would be to set up a reliable distribution network to be able to supply both the stoves and the
biomass fuel.
The currently produced fuel briquettes consist purely of groundnut shells, which would
have been dumped as waste otherwise. These biomass briquettes are made for cooking and
heating on household level as well as for restaurants, commercial food processing or other
industries using heat in their production process. Given that the service sector is growing and
tourism is increasing, the company might try to look for opportunities in this sector. Their
purchasing power is also quite higher so the company could try to offer products at a premium
price.
Marketing of briquettes
The biomass briquettes produce can be marketed both domestically and internationally, at
the domestic level, the company can target households for providing clean energy, hotels and
food process vendors for cleaner and efficient energy sources. In this case the marketing strategy
and the distribution channels will also play a phenomenal role for the wide adoption of the
briquettes and more so the pricing of the product. At the international front the company can
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explore the trade deficit of the country by exporting to the international market such as EU
market, Asia and USA, or other African countries, putting into consideration the standard
requirements of the trading nation
5.12: Political and Institutional support
The government have banned the commercialization of charcoal production in the Gambia since
1977, in Banjul declaration, which contributed to the deforestation and extinction of our wild life spices,
although the ban have been forest act 1977,but there is still silent commercialization of charcoal still in
Gambia. The Government therefore welcomes the production of biomass briquettes as a substituted to
charcoal wood and fuel wood since in the 1980’s which lead to the establishment of the first briquetting
plant which eventual collapse. In the 2011 a private business entrepreneur established a medium company
for the production of groundnut shells biomass briquetting plant.
5.13: SWOT Analysis for Briquette Production in The Gambia
Strengths
Availability of Raw Material: The amount of raw materials available for briquetting is
huge, for example, agricultural residues, agro-industrial residues and wood dust that remains
unutilized or is used inefficiently is more half million tons annually.
Weaknesses
Financial barriers: finance is an important barrier in the briquette industry, the initial
capital outlay for medium to large scale operation can be very crucial to the development of the
briquetting business as such, this will limits the number of potential entrepreneurs who would
like to venture into the business.
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Technical barriers: which is related to the design, manufacturing and operation and
maintenance of the briquetting machines is limited, cognizances of the fact only one briquetting
exist currently in the Gambia.
Limited Knowledge: the lack of knowledge on the supply and demand side dynamics
will limit the design and innovation, innovation can be used to address issues and problems in a
systematic manner. Information on raw material sources (type, availability, price, quality and
quantity) as well as marketing is needed.
Legislation barriers: legislators should facilitate tough measures on the use of fuel and
charcoal wood production from the fragile existing forest, and to exercise less regulation on the
production of the biomass briquettes as it can substitute for fossil fuel consumption in the
country.
Supply chain challenge: supply of raw materials to the plant can be cumbersome and
tedious due to the facts scatter small scatter scale unit.
Low rate of acceptability of the new fuel sources include:
Opportunities
Markets: markets for briquettes will also develop in the future as the availability of fuel
wood resources for cooking is decreasing at an alarming rate. Combine with rapid population,
persisting drought and in discriminated burning of forest land, makes wood fuel situation a very
serious problem. The production of briquettes can substitute for fuel wood or charcoal
consumption both at the urban and rural area of the country.
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Funding: private sectors participation and access funding from Carbon emission
programmme such as clean development mechanism
One single company exists: currently only one company exist which specialized in the
production of briquettes in the Gambia, they produced only groundnut shell briquette. Therefore,
there is need to have a competitor to explored the weaknesses of the former.
Threats
Trade barriers: which related to the quality standard of the products?
Lack of capability to compete with international companies
Lack of state of earth modern facilities
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5.14: Comparative Advantages between New Bonafide Company and Green Teach
Company.
Table 5.8: Comparative Advantages of NBM and Greentech Company.
Expertise: NBM
Green tech
They have high qualified and capable mechanical
engineering staffs who can design and manufacturing
different types of machinery.
They have skill in the installation of machine.
High skill in the utilization of briquettes for both
household and power generation
They have skill in the services and maintenance of the
only existing machine they are using.
Technology: NBM
Green Tech
They have manufacture different types of briquetting
machines ranges from mobile briquetting machine to
stationary machines. Which can also used different
material like rice husk, rice straw and saw dust.
Depends on imported machine from Sweden.
Capacity : NBM
Green Tech
Research and development is core to the successes of the
company.
Can operated different set of machines simultaneously.
Ability to invest outside of Taiwan.
Ability to ulitilized the groundnut shell at the Denton
bridge
Partnering with environment groups for tree plant
Production: NBM
Green Tech
NBM have the ability to produced more than hundreds
of thousands of briquettes annually.
Can produce less than 30,000 tones of briquettes
annually. Source: Composed by Author
5.15: Potential investment areas in the Gambia.
Energy is a vital force in the economic growth and development of any society, with
revitalization of the Gambian economy coupled with a steady increase in population growth,
additional demands for energy have been created. Only 30 percent of the total population is
connected to the national grid. The grid is unreliable characterized by load shedding and frequent
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power outages, which leaves huge opportunities for investment in alternative electricity
generation.
1. Power supply to Hotel and motels: due to the facts that there is no 24/7 supply of power
in the Gambia and frequent on and offing of power, the hotel and motels should quickly
adapted the biomass briquettes power generation technology for the continuous and
uninterrupted supply of power to their utilities and for customer satisfaction. Especially
the motels in the rural areas and national parks.
2. Food Processing Plants: food processing plant like bakeries which depends on
electricity and fuel wood should be encourage to use briquettes as the cost of electricity is
high and the fuel wood sources is decreasing at an alarming rate.
3. Rural Electrification: small rural communities and farms that are far from the major
electricity power needs to be provided with briquettes power generation plant for lighting,
knowing the fact that more than 70 percent of rural communities lack electricity.
4. Household Cooking Stove: there is need to design an efficient stove for burning of
biomass briquettes.
5.16: Impacts of biomass briquettes production
For millions of households in developing countries, cooking is associated with long hours
spent collecting wood and other fuels, which become increasingly scarce and costly. In addition,
smoky kitchens and the use of high intensity carbon fuels such as charcoal lead to dangerous
emissions, which affect both health and the environment. It is estimated that air pollution caused
by inefficient stoves leads to 4.3 million premature deaths each year – more than those from
malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids. Not to mention that gathering fuel - generally a women’s
activity – is hazardous for they are at risk of rape or attacks. Briquettes are a viable and low cost
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alternative to environmentally damaging fuels such as firewood, kerosene and charcoal. They are
similar in appearance to regular charcoal but they are made out of charcoal waste, agricultural
residues or sawdust, which are normally considered unusable waste. The case for promoting a
widespread use of briquettes is a strong one: the current use of charcoal and firewood is
contributing to wide-scale deforestation in many developing countries. The cost of charcoal is
also increasing. Energy access brings tangible benefits to all areas of society and it has a direct
impact on health, agriculture and food production, small businesses, households and education.
Below are a few examples of the differences that our work has made in these areas.
Energy and health
Millions of people are exposed to indoor air pollution from toxic fumes of cooking fuels
and kerosene lanterns, resulting in chronic eye and lung conditions.
Energy, agriculture & food production
Growing and processing food requires energy. Agricultural by-products represent an
important source of energy. Crops such as maize, cereals and sugar cane all produce residues
that can be used to make briquettes, which serve as a sustainable alternative to charcoal or fuel
wood for cooking. By-products, or animal or food waste as feedstock for anaerobic digestion,
gasification and biofuel production.
Energy and small businesses
Reliable and affordable energy enables increased operating hours for all kinds of
businesses such as restaurants, chilled foodstuffs, mobile phone and car battery charging, sewing,
food processing, artisan workshops, electrical and vehicle repair, internet provision, cinemas,
barber shops, etc.
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The businesses benefit from increased production and profitability, while the surrounding
communities benefit from job creation and increased incomes to pay for education and better
food
Energy in the households
For most households cooking is the most important energy need. However, throughout
the developing world, majority of women still cook and heat water with wood or coal-based fuels
on inefficient and harmful fires and stoves. Furthermore, people with no electricity in their
homes rely on expensive candles or kerosene lamps. These provide poor illumination, affect their
health and are a fire hazard. Radios use expensive batteries and charging a mobile phone could
mean travelling miles.
Energy and education
Improved access to energy means more children can have the chance to receive a better
education, especially children in poor households who spend many hours daily helping in the
fields, doing the house chores, collecting fuel wood and fetching water. Modern energy services
in the home can reduce the burden on children, giving them more time to study and attend school.
They can also provide lighting to allow studying after dark. Meanwhile, access to electricity in
schools offers greater opportunities for learning, as they can operate in the evening and access
computers and the internet.
5.17: Out Come of the Study.
The study reveals that more than half a million tons of agro-residues are produced in the
Gambia, which in no doubt when process into biomass briquette will be an excellent replacement
for wood fuel and fossil fuel in the Gambia.
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With high dependence on foreign imported charcoal, wood and fossil fuel, alternative
source of energy is an indisputable fact, knowing that 60 percent Gambia fuel wood for
household cooking come from Senegal region of (cassemance) and 100 percent of all petroleum
products are import.
The study highlights that only 30 percent of the population have access to electricity
supply in the Gambia. It is imperative to say that alternative energy is an urgent necessity.
The study further reveals that a strong private sector involvement in the production of
briquettes and also technologies for power generation from biomass briquette will be key factor
for the economic growth of the country, as only one company cannot fulfill the bio-energy gaps
in the Gambia.
The study discovers that GreenTech, did not have the expertise to design, developed, and
installed power generation in the Gambia. They also do not have the capacity to produce enough
briquettes that can satisfy the domestic consumption.
The study fines that NBM, Have the both the expertise, technologies, and capacity to
design, developed, and above all installation of biomass power generation in the boiler system of
manufacturing industry, agricultural parks etc.
Inadequate marketing and promotion strategies for biomass briquette is still lacking in the
Gambia. For the general adoption of the eco-friendly fuel.
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CHAPTER: 6 -CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
6.1 Conclusion
The study is confined to the use of biomass and more specifically the use of agricultural
residues to generate energy. Bio – energy offers great opportunities due to the wide spectrum of
biomass available for conversion into low-grade energy for domestic use.
The country imports about 60% of its fuel wood from Senegal region of cassamance; and the
population is rapidly increasing the fuel wood supply base is decreasing, therefore the fuel wood
supply from the country’s forest resources and even cassamance cannot ever meet the demand of
fuel wood in the long run, against these backdrop of deforestation impacts on the climate
change scenario.
The transformation of agricultural residues to briquettes is deem viable both financially
and economically because of it cheap availability of the agricultural residues. Therefore adequate
supplies of briquettes at affordable prices and at large scale should be encouraged.
The lack of conceptualization of cooking stove in Gambia lead to the failure of the first
briquetting plant and inadequate distribution channels for the end user was absent.
A robust gathering, collection and transportation mechanisms should be put in place at
the rural level and the growers should also be encouraged to collect the residue for carbonization
either at the farm or village level which could be sale to the plant.
The biomass briquettes can burn more efficiently than traditional biomass under right
condition, because of composition and sign
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The social and environmental co-benefits, including carbon sequestration opportunities
will be drivers to future energy cropping uptake.
The social and economic potential for bio-energy is not fully realized and sectors growth
has been slower. The finding shows that The Gambia has potentials for the transformation of
biomass into briquettes as a renewable energy. Subsequently can than become a role model to
other countries that have a huge biomass feedstock’s.
Biomass, especially energy crops and woody biomass, is a vital energy carrier and it has
the capability as a substitute of the use of fossil fuel and coal because of the numerous
advantages it have over them, especially in industrialized countries and developing countries.
But the exploitation of this potential is only advisable if there are promising economic and or
environmental effect.
The fact that Biomass technology can potentially have the lowest carbon abatement cost
amongst other renewable energy technologies.
Factors such as collection, processing, low end use efficiency of conventional devices
and insufficient maturity of present biomass energy technologies are major barriers for utilizing
the available bio resources more efficiently and sustainable basis.
Briquettes can boost Gambia energy security by reducing our dependence on the import
fossil fuel, charcoal and fuel wood. The high dependence on import fuel should motivate us to
look for alternative sources of energy
The establishment of a briquetting plant to produce briquettes will be crucial element to
solve the country household energy dilemma.
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The decreasing availability of fuel wood in the country should necessitate the efforts to
be made toward efficient utilization of agricultural residues and wood dust. Given the fact that
biomass can create domestic energy from domestic resources.
6.2 Recommendation.
Conceptualization of a more and efficient cooking stoves that can be used for household
and also for small food processing industries which can have dual purpose for use like the NBM
cooking stove which can charge solar panel and mobile or even to provides some lighting during
burning.
To encourage the medium and large industries to design and facilities the burning of
biomass briquettes in there boilers for power generation, for the facts the cost of petroleum
products are in the increase and the frequent shortages on the market. The used of biomass
briquettes for power generation will make the Gambia a role model for other African countries to
follow.
Government to provide subsidies for the production of briquettes as it have positive
impact on economic, energy, and above to reduce emission and also give incentives like tax free
for the first five year of operation. Furthermore both International and Local NGO’s focusing on
environmental should also contribute by purchasing and distribution of cooking to needed people
or communities for the promotion of the use of briquettes.
Government should put a total and un-reversible banned on the production and
importation of charcoal and fuel wood in the Gambia.
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Private sector capacities have had to be mobilized because of the limited financial
capacity of the public sector.
Enough Retail chain stores should be open in the Gambia for the ease and accessibility of
the briquettes to all domestic consumptions.
Adequate advertising and promotion strategies should be used for the common
understanding of the briquettes uses.
The cost of stoves and briquettes should be made affordability to all. These briquettes
could then be made available at low cost to urban domestic and industrial wood consumers
thereby making some progress towards the government's long-term development objective of
substituting environmentally damaging urban wood consumption to biomass briquettes.
The national electricity provides should put in their plans for the utilization of biomass
briquettes as the price of fuel are increasing and as a backup plan for the shortage of fuel which
the country is always faces.
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