Project Coordination:
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
Project Leader: Mr Evert Strydom
Project Collaborators: Prof Pio Lumaga,
Strategic Partners:
(2) To test this prototype biomass gasified electrical generator, and
(3) To develop a marketable biomass gasified electrical generator.
o Namibia Biomass Industry Group (NBiG)
NBiG is an industry organisation to serve and grow the Namibian biomass industry. They are a hub of biomass information and are actively involved in biomass and other industry related policy development frameworks.
Website
o Combating Bush Encroachment for Namibia's Development (CBEND)
The CCF Technology centre is researching a wide range of biomass technologies with an emphasis on those that can generate sustained economic enterprises and will thus form a key partner in technology development.
The specific deliverables are:
This project stretches only over a period of one year.
(1) A detail investigation into existing operational gasifier units in Namibia,
(2) To publish an assessment report on the economic viability of electrification of remote communities through biomass gasification, including a conceptual prototype design.
Bio gasification is an existing technology that has been used since the advent of the internal combustion engine. Gasification is a process that converts organic- or fossil fuel-based carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This is achieved by reacting the material at high temperatures (>700 °C), without combustion, with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam. The resulting gas mixture is called syngas (from synthesis gas) or producer gas and is itself a fuel. The power derived from gasification and combustion of the resultant gas is a source of renewable energy if the gasified compounds were obtained from biomass.
The efficiency rates of gasifiers allow it to convert about 75% of fuel energy content into a combustible gas that can be used as fuel for internal combustion engines. As a result, this practical application of wood gasification has been found that 1000 kg of wood combustible material could replace 365 litres of petrol.
There are several gasifiers operational in Namibia. The opportunity exists in non-grid connected locations to replace diesel generators with biomass fuelled gasifier units. These units simply connect onto existing internal combustion engines and supplement or even replace the conventional fuel. This is especially viable for places such as lodges or remote communities where bush encroachment is a reality.
Should the economic viability be positive, GIZ may decide to extend this project to a second phase and allocate additional funding to this sub-project. This is to be decided at the Mid 2019 Review.
The second phase’s specific deliverables would be:
(1) To develop a prototype biomass gasified electrical generator suitable to remote communities,
(2) To test this prototype biomass gasified electrical generator, and
(3) To develop a marketable biomass gasified electrical generator.