Cameroon – Palm Oil for Biodiesel and Cooking Oil in Cameroon

June 2, 2010 · 0 comments

Environ. Sci. Technol., DOI: 10.1021/es100067p, May 24, 2010

Life Cycle Assessment of a Palm Oil System with Simultaneous Production of Biodiesel and Cooking Oil in Cameroon

Full-text: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es100067p

Wouter M. J. Achten et al.

Author email – bart.muys@ees.kuleuven.be

The use of palm oil as a biofuel has been heavily debated for its land-use conflict with nature and its competition with food production, being the number one cooking oil worldwide. In that context, we present a life cycle assessment of a palm oil production process yielding both biodiesel and cooking oil, incorporating the land-use impact and evaluating the effect of treating the palm oil mill effluent (POME) prior to disposal.

The results show that the nonrenewable energy requirement, global warming potential (GWP; exclusive land-use change), and acidification potential are lower than those of the fossil alternative. However, the system triggers an increase in eutrophication potential (EP) compared to the fossil fuel reference. This system shows less energy requirement, global warming and acidification reduction, and less eutrophication increase compared to the reference than the same system converting all palm oil into biodiesel (no cooking oil production).

The land occupation of palm oil triggers ecosystem quality (EQ) loss of 30−45% compared to the potential natural vegetation. Furthermore, such land-use change triggers a carbon debt neutralizing the GWP reduction for 45−53 years. The POME treatment scenarios reveal a trade-off between GWP and EP.

LWF stove program in Uganda

June 1, 2010 · 0 comments

LWF World Service is Working to Achieve Environmental Sustainability in Uganda

Today in Uganda, deforestation is taking place at an alarming rate. In the past two decades, the country has lost almost a third of its forests. With 97% of Ugandans relying on firewood as an energy source tree-chopping is a major contributor to the deforestation. People across Uganda are destroying the natural resources on which they depend for survival. Due to deforestation there is land degradation and soil erosion, both of which reduce agricultural productivity. This means smaller crops to harvest, and fewer surpluses to sell, and less food to eat. On a global level, the inefficiency of the stoves means high amounts of greenhouse gasses are released. With rains becoming increasingly unpredictable, people In Uganda are unknowingly contributing to making their greatest fear – a changing climate – a reality.

In an effort to contribute to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 7 – to ensure environmental sustainability – the Lutheran World Federation, Department for World Service, works in Uganda, addressing the imbalance between high levels of consumption- and scarce supply – of firewood. Communities participate in trainings on good environmental management practices, and local Community Environment Resource Persons (CERPs) are being taught how to construct locally sourced energy saving stoves. Consuming 50-60% less firewood, these stoves are dramatically reducing tree consumption for fuel.

Loy’s local CERP recently constructed a new stove in her home, and she is the first to admit that her life has been changed. “I used to walk for hours every week to collect a huge pile of firewood. But now, it lasts for over a month!” exclaims Loy. Time that used to be spent collecting and carrying heavy loads of wood can now be spent doing productive activities; tending to the garden, washing clothes or engaging in income generating activities. Thanks to these stoves, the lives of hundreds of women are being transformed for the better.

Coupled with stove construction, LWF is promoting local reforestation projects. Tree nurseries have been established for communities to come and learn best practices of tree planting. They return home with seedlings in their arms and knowledge in their minds, equipped to create orchards of their own. Teak, neem, cassia, and calliandra trees are planted for fuel and timber. Lemon, mango and guava trees are planted to enhance nutrition and create income generating opportunities. Tens of thousands of trees are being planted each year, meaning the degraded land is being replenished and the local environment restored.

Through reducing their consumption of trees, and replacing the trees they consume, people in Katakwi are contributing to achieving environmental sustainability on both local and global levels.

Source – http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/lwf/12753753863.htm

Toshiba Carbon Offsetting Scheme Helps Kenyan Cooks

June 1, 2010 · 0 comments

Recently ink cartridge manufacturer Toshiba announced a carbon offseting scheme. The company is enabling UK and Irish businesses to opt into a scheme that, rather than funding windfarm development and the like, gives people across Kenya access to greener and healthier cooking appliances.

The scheme is simple. Businesses across the UK and Ireland who purchase Toshiba multi-function printers can opt into something called the African Energy Efficient Stove project. Managed by CO2balance.com, this project gives Kenyan people access to domestic stoves that replace open fires. These stoves both cut the consumption of firewood by more than half – saving 3 tones of CO2 per cooker each year – and bring down the 1.6 million deaths caused by smoke inhalation across Keyna annually.

Businesses that opt into the scheme not only offset the carbon produced in their own use of the multi-function printers. They also offset the carbon used in Toshiba‘s manufacture and distribution of the printers. Moreover, Toshiba’s scheme enables businesses to offset the CO2 produced throughout each printer’s lifetime, including peripherals like paper and ink cartridges. Companies can choose to offset either five years of printing or one million copies.

Toshiba’s TEC Imaging Marketing Director Steve Hewson said: “The African Energy Efficient Stove project delivers savings on two continents and means that as well as contributing to your own environmental efforts, you can make a very real difference to the lives of people in East Africa.”

For more information please visit CO2balance.com.

ProBEC – DRC study on market potential of stoves completed

June 1, 2010 · 0 comments

The “Study on the Market Potential for Improved Cookstoves in Kinshasa, DRC” has been completed by consultants CREFES – Cabinet de Recherche De Formation et D’expertise en Sante et Developpement (International Research and Training Agency for Health and Development).

The main objective of the study was to provide essential information and data to government authorities and development partners on how to promote the use of improved stoves in Kinshasa.

A descriptive survey was conducted in 24 municipalities in Kinshasa, both in urban and rural areas. 5400 households were randomly selected and visited by 24 interviewers. Roughly 225 households were visited in each municipality. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to collect data. Data was collected through: i) a review of strategic documents, records and papers, ii) general observation, iii) one-on-one interviews, iv) focus group discussions. Data was processed, tabulated, and analyzed with both Access and SPSS and the results are presented in the form of a descriptive analysis.

Besides the 5400 households that were visited, several artisans and stoves users were interviewed, and 35 people participated in three sessions of focus groups discussion. A literature review provided further information and context.

In 60% of households, charcoal was the most important source of energy used for cooking, followed by electricity (21%) and wood (9%). 61% of respondents rely on traditional/classical stoves for everyday cooking.

Improved stoves are manufactured in different areas in Kinshasa, but the production still remains very limited. Generally, 45% of improved stoves are purchased at the place where they are manufactured, and 40% are bought by housewives from a salesperson conducting door-to-door sales. Thus, only 14 % of these improved stoves were found in local markets. Housewives who regularly used improved stoves recognized its energy efficiency, and 85% of them noticed a decrease of nearly 25% in their domestic energy expenditure. In Kinshasa, domestic energy expenditure varies according to household size and revenue. In 52% of households, the monthly average expenditure on domestic energy was 15,000 Congolese francs (18USD). Of this, 95% represents the use of charcoal. Domestic energy amounts to between 10 and 15% of total household expenses.

All stoves were locally manufactured, and their prices differed according to where they are sold. Producers said that they can sell only three to four items per week. When the sale is done on site, it generated a profit that represented 20% of selling price. In other cases, sales-persons sold improved stoves direct to housewives at their home or in market places at a profit. In the latter case, the profit margin varied according to the places where they are sold.

Kinshasa has an estimated population of ten million inhabitants. The results of earlier studies show that the potential market for improved stoves is about 1 351 351 items that can be sold per year. There thus is a clear economic opportunity for such stoves if they are popularized in DRC.

As far as environmental impacts are concerned, government requires that all energy projects comply with national and international standards in relation to environmental preservation. In that regard, Congolese authorities have often subscribed to international commitments that recommend the use of renewable energy in order to protect human health and the environment. Climate change is another matter of concern for the government. Congolese authorities have always participated in international negotiations related to minimising climate change. There is recognition of the need to for managing natural resources sustainably. The promotion of improved stoves can contribute to such aims. To this end, the report recommends that the use of improved stoves in DRC needs to be prioritised politically.

For a copy of the report, contact: erika.schutze@gtz.de

PCIA Webinar – June 8, 2010

June 1, 2010 · 0 comments

Does your stove program focus on reducing fuel wood use?

Are you interested in learning more about how to design and implement a field study to quantify the fuel savings of your stoves?

Would you like to hear about the work of other leading organizations who have conducted Kitchen Performance Tests (KPT) to quantify the fuel use of their stoves?

If so, register today for the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air’s Monitoring Fuel Use Using the Kitchen Performance Test webinar on June 8, 2010. Register online at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/536813800.

During this webinar, project researchers will present an overview of the KPT and case studies from China and Ghana of baseline studies to characterize fuel use patterns across the customer base and measurements of fuel use to compare traditional and improved cooking technologies.

More info: http://www.pciaonline.org/events/webinar-monitoring-fuel-use-kitchen-performance-test

Carbon market players say open to self-policing

June 1, 2010 · 0 comments

LONDON, June 1 (Reuters) – Carbon market players said on Tuesday they will consider developing self-policing rules after a call to action by the UN’s new climate chief, but warned that more political will is needed by governments to spur investment.

Christiana Figueres, who officially starts her new role in July, on Friday said market participants had “seriously impaired the trust of governments, civil society and non-profits,” through several scandals that rocked the largely unregulated $144 billion market last year.

“I believe that if the private sector itself does not develop self-policing mechanisms, somebody else will step in and do it for you,” she told a carbon conference in Germany.

The Carbon Market & Investors Association, one of three trade groups identified by Figueres, said it would consider Figueres’ proposition, CMIA director Miles Austin told Reuters.

Last year, the market’s reputation was rattled by allegations of carbon credit theft, tax fraud and trade in recycled credits.

“We cannot aspire to more advanced financial mechanisms … if current transactions are not squeaky clean,” Figueres said.

“Market participants need to hold themselves to a higher standard. This market needs public trust … without it, it does not function.”

Figueres, speaking in her first public appearance since being appointed on May 17, said the market also faced criticism for not contributing to sustainable development or improving the quality of life for families in developing countries.

Through one market scheme under the Kyoto Protocol, companies can invest in clean energy projects in poor nations and in return get carbon credits which can be sold for profit.

Read More – Reuters

Pat McArdle's novel with solar cooking as a theme

May 27, 2010 · 0 comments

Patricia McArdle’s novel Farishta features solar cooking as a sub-plot.  It’s based on the year she spent as senior State Department representative in northern Afghanistan, where she built and demonstrated solar cookers as she went out on long patrols with the British Military Observation Teams.

Patricia McArdle

Amazon announced that Farishta is one of three finalists (out of 5,000 entries) in the General Fiction category of this year’s Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. The 5000 original manuscripts went through four months of evaluation by a panel of judges from Penguin Books, Publishers Weekly and Amazon.com.

The three finalists must now compete for votes on Amazon.com to determine who will win a full publishing contract with Penguin Books.

If you are an Amazon customer, Patricia would be grateful if you would go to this page, log on and vote for Farishta.  Just under the big banner you will see:  Cast your vote in General Fiction and Young Adult Fiction.

Read an excerpt from the novel.

USAID Jordan biogas project

May 27, 2010 · 0 comments

In a partnership between the National Energy Research Center (NERC) and USAID Jordan an event was held to mark the conclusion of a project to develop alternative and innovative energy solutions to face the challenges of Jordan’s energy sector. The Project – Biogas Research and Development-, focuses on the design of a biogas unit, and installing it in one of the animal farms in Khalediya – Mafraq. for electricity generation. The celebration took place in Mafraq at Al Khalediya Municipality, and was attended by the Mayor of Khalediya, Acting President of the NERC, President of Al- Mafraq Cattle Breeders Society (CBS), USAIDUSAID Jordan officials and guests.

The project consisted of designing a biogas unit and installing it in one of the animal farms for electricity generation. This waste-to-energy project utilizes unused sources of waste for energy production. The project uses anaerobic digestion of organic waste to recycle waste produced in arid, rural settlements. The project adapted available technology for use in arid areas, and provided training for local farmers on how to use the system to generate energy for their use.

Energy imports, pose a burden on the economy which should encourage the development of alternative energy solutions to face the challenges of Jordan’s energy sector. Guests attending the ceremony visited the biogas unit/digester that has been installed in a small animal farm in Khalidiya, and listened to a brief on how the produced biogas by the digesters was used to generate electricity.

Dr Ruba Jaradat, from the USAIDUSAID Economic Growth Office said that USAIDUSAID has focused in its operations on supporting a number of energy efficiency related issues, such as regulatory reform, public-private partnerships, and access to credit. “USAIDUSAID supports efforts to find renewable sources of energy that would enhance sustainable economic growth,” she added.

The USAIDUSAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) is a five year broad economic development initiative implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP and a sizeable team of international and Jordanian partner firms. The Program’s mission is to support sectors and activities in alignment with His Majesty King Abdullah’s vision for a Knowledge-based Economy, by inserting Jordanian enterprises into global value chains, promoting investment, and improving the enabling environment to generate value added jobs, exports, foreign direct investment, and sector revenues as a powerful engine of economic growth.

Source – http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100526102648

Waterland supplies Jatropha to fuel stoves in Indonesia

May 25, 2010 · 0 comments

Waterland International Together with Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group (BSH) Continue to Help Local Communities in Indonesia

Indonesia based PT Waterland International has recently delivered the Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group’s Protos Stove to local communities living near its Jatropha plantations in the region of Purwodadi – Central Java. Waterland will supply the Jatropha Oil to fuel the stoves.

(PRWEB) May 25, 2010 — Indonesia based PT Waterland International has recently delivered the Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group’s Protos Stove to local communities living near its Jatropha plantations in the region of Purwodadi – Central Java. Waterland will supply the Jatropha Oil to fuel the stoves.

Bosch and Siemens Protos is a stove powered by crude plant oil, which will be run on Jatropha Oil produced on Waterland’s plantations. Dr. William Nolten, CEO of Waterland stated “I am extremely satisfied that the people who live and work around our plantations can enjoy cooking their meals on a safe and clean burning stove, powered by the Jatropha oil that our company produces. I am happy that we can give back to the local community and to assist our neighbors in becoming self sufficient in fuel energy.”

Cleaner cooking = better health

More than 2.5 billion people around the world prepare their food on open fireplaces fuelled by firewood, plant residues and charcoal. This means emissions of hazardous concentrations of carcinogenic substances leading to various diseases, especially lung disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 1.6 million people die annually as a result of indoor air pollution caused by those fires. The Protos’ clean burning technology has approximately 10 times lower emissions than high quality kerosene stoves, and greatly reduces fuel consumption, indoor air pollution, and carbon emissions.

Dr. Nolten, CEO of Waterland added “our company’s success has as much to do with our technical knowledge and management expertise as it does with our business model which embodies elements of Economic, Environmental, and Social benefits. We pride ourselves on giving back to the community, by creating multiple jobs and helping to alleviate poverty. The jobs we are creating are helping to alleviate deforestation in the regions in which our company operates.”

About Waterland International

Waterland is an agricultural technology enterprise with headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Company that has developed high yielding Jatropha plants which give a superior yield and oil content which is a result of years of research and development. Waterland is leader in Jatropha research and development in Asia and together with its partners have successfully established first class research and technology bases in Indonesia, Germany, The Netherlands, India, Vietnam and Malaysia that are accelerating the commercialization of next generation biofuels and renewable power generation. Combining agricultural and technological innovations, intellectual property rights and extensive hands on operational plantation experience, Waterland controls all aspects of Jatropha research, development, and cultivation, including bio-engineering, high tech conversion technologies, commercialization of valuable by-products and the processing of high grade biodiesel. The Waterland Group Asia was established to support a joint investment initiative by several European based companies who own and operate power-plants in Europe, which required sustainable bio-mass energy sources to operate. Waterland currently produces Jatropha oil from over 12,000 hectares that have reached production status and the Group currently has over 60,000 hectares of planted Jatropha that will come into production next year. The Group cornerstone is its social farming model where it endeavors to empower the local farmers with the aim of bringing prosperity, independence and self-sustainability to the communities surrounding the forest on a commercially sustainable basis.

Source – http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/05/prweb4039184.htm

Indian National Initiative for Advanced Biomass Cookstoves

May 24, 2010 · 2 comments

Energy for Sustainable Development, 2010

The Indian National Initiative for Advanced Biomass Cookstoves:  The benefits of clean combustion.

Full-text: http://ehs.sph.berkeley.edu/krsmith/publications/2010%20pubs/ESD_60final_1.pdf (pdf, 368KB)

C. Venkataraman , A.D. Sagar , G. Habib, N. Lam, K.R. Smith

India has recently launched the National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative (NCI) to develop next-generation cleaner biomass cookstoves and deploy them to all Indian households that currently use traditional cookstoves.  The initiative has set itself the lofty aimof providing energy service comparable to clean sources such as LPG but using the same solid biomass fuels commonly used today.

Such a clean energy option for the estimated 160 million Indian households nowcooking with inefficient and polluting biomass and coal cookstoves could yield enormous gains in health and welfare for the weakest and most vulnerable sections of society.  At the same time, cleaner household cooking energy through substitution by advanced-combustion biomass stoves (or other options such as clean fuels) can nearly eliminate the several important products of incomplete combustion that come from today’s practices and are important outdoor and greenhouse pollutants.

Using national surveys, published literature and assessments, and measurements of cookstove performance solely from India, we find that about 570,000 premature deaths in poor women and children and over 4% of India’s estimated greenhouse emissions could be avoided if such an initiative were in place today. These avoided emissions currently would be worth more than US$1 billion on the international carbon market. In addition, about one-third of India’s black carbon emissions can be reduced alongwith a range of other health- and climate-active pollutants that affect regional air quality and climate.

Although current advanced biomass stoves show substantial emissions reductions over traditional stoves, there is still additional improvement needed to reach LPG-like emission levels. We recognize that the technology development and deployment challenges to meet NCI goals of this scale are formidable and a forthcoming companion paper focuses on what program design elements might best be able to overcome these challenges.

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