Energy efficiency by use of locally made fuel efficient cooking stoves and

groundnut shell briquettes

by Anthony Tabbal

GreenTech’s Objectives & Targets

• Provide affordable environmental solutions • Pro poor response to up-winding energy crises • Mitigate climate change and other environmental

challenges through alternative renewable energy sources and energy saving devices

• Increase environmental knowledge and understanding through trainings and sensitization

• Strengthen the environmental sector through networking and cooperation

• Improve livelihoods, especially for women • Contribute to poverty reduction • Allow a bright future for the next generations

Background

• 1st idea at Green Mamba Garden Restaurant, where management realized that too much charcoal was used

• Management consists of economist and environmentalist

• Economist: “The use of charcoal is getting too expensive!”

• Environmentalist: “It’s an environmental disaster!”

• Both: “Can we solve the problem with fuel efficient stoves and groundnut shell briquettes for us and for others? Let’s try!”

• April 2010: Company Registration • June 2010: Business Plan Compilation after one year of research in Gambia and

abroad • January 2011: Private funding secured • February 2011: First designs of fuel efficient stoves • March-June 2011: Construction of basic structures • March-May 2011: Order of Briquette Pressing Machine, training abroad • and shipping preparations in Denmark • July 2011: Machine arrives and is connected and adjusted • August 2011: Expected quality of briquettes achieved, 2nd generation of fuel

efficient stoves successfully tested, samples distributed, GreenTech opens its doors for presentation and demonstration of production and products

• November 2011: Launching of the innovative cooking unit • December 2011: Winning of SEED Award with partners and introduction of

stove/briquette donation scheme for needy families • January 2012: 1st video documentary compiled (available on request!) • February 2012: involvement in MRC testing series of stoves and fuels

Landmarks

The Production Process of groundnut shell briquettes

Resources •The briquettes are purely made of groundnut shells, as they are picked up from the dumping sites around Denton Bridge. •GreenTech is collaborating with the women at the site, who make their living from separating the remaining groundnuts from the shells and packing shells in bags. •GreenTech’s press has especially been adjusted to press groundnutshells, but generally also other biomass can be pressed in briquettes. •Groundnutshells appear to be a perfect material for briquetting, as their calorific value is comparable to high quality firewood and the pressing results are excellent in quality and quantity. •As electricity is one of the major inputs for the production, GreenTech would prefer to receive electricity from renewable energy sources, as wind craft, when available, as indicated in the initial businessplan.

Necessary Infrastructures

The ground-nutshells are transported in bags per truck to the pressing plant in Kololi. The manager underwent training in Denmark to adjust, operate and maintain the high quality pressing machine. All staff was trained on site on operations and safety measures.

Structures Vehicle

Stand by Generator Pressing Machine

Pressing Process •Groundnutshells are checked for correct humidity level and sprinkled with water, if necessary • the shells are filled in the silo, no binders or chemicals added •An endless screw feeds the groundnutshells in a pipe •The crumbled shells are heated up to 130 degrees, which releases the lignin, a natural binder in all biomass •A flywheel hammers the groundnutshells in layers in the pipe with a force of 4 tons, 5 times per second •Groundnutshell briquettes exit the machine through the cooling line

Cooling and Packing The briquettes harden in the cooling line. So far, they are packed at the end of the cooling line by hand in used bags to be ready for pick-up and transport. More packaging options and a delivery system are currently explored.

Testing Phase

14 tons of briquettes were pressed within two weeks to adjust the machine and to explore the correct balance of humidity and pressure to achieve high quality briquettes.

In the meantime the fuel efficient stoves, made by local welders from recycled metal were developed and tested with the first material.

Stove Development From Gasifier to “Forno Anchu”

•In cooperation with welders, GreenTech continuously designs and improves fuel efficient stoves, that are compatible with the briquettes. •Individual wishes and comments from users are welcome and integrated in the process. •Strong isolation and smart airflow are key for the efficiency of stoves and satisfying use of briquettes. •User training is available at GreenTech free of charge and highly recommended for best results.

Current Stove Models

3 commonly used sizes: Forno Mam Iffi: catering and parties Forno Anchu: household Forno Susso: attaya brewing

Advantage of using the innovative cooking unit • Saving forest, as groundnut shell briquettes form an

affordable alternative to firewood and charcoal; • Reducing CO2 Emission, as the fuel efficient stove reduces

the overall fuel consumption; • Managing and recycling waste, as the briquettes are

pressed from groundnut shells dumped near the de-coating site;

• Protecting family health, as the combined setting causes less smoke during the cooking process than firewood;

• Saving finances, as the combined cooking setting can save easily 60% of fuel costs compared to traditional charcoal cooking and the stove pays off within less than a months for the average cooking unit;

• Saving efforts and time, especially for women, as the briquettes are fast to light and easy to handle, store and transport.

Testing Results for Comparison

Three cooking settings were compared: Briquettes in Forno Anchu Firewood in Firewood Forno Charcoal on Charcoal Forno

Comparison of Cooking Units, cooking Domoda for 12 adults, based on 2.5 kg rice

Parameter Briquette in Forno

Anchu

Firewood in Firewood

Forno

Charcoal in Charcoal Forno

Fuel weight in kg 2.7 4 2.6

Prize in GMD 16.2 15.4 39

Cooking time in minutes* 150 145 210

Time for fire preparation** 3 17 8

Total time of above 153 162 218

Where to use groundnutshell briquettes

• Households • Restaurants • Industries/Boilers • (Fish) Smokery • Bakeries/Ovens • Kilns (Pottery, Bricks) • Canteens (Schools, Prison, ...) • anywhere, where heat is needed, or usually

charcoal or firewood are used, just a matter of trying and adapting

– Private Households

– Restaurants

How can the general public access groundnut-shell briquettes

– Sales points

– Delivery service

Who is using groundnut-shell

briquettes currently

Challenges

– change of habits

– fuel efficient stove as precondition

– transport/de-centralisation

–Poverty

– industries access firewood under value

• Cooperation with women groups to develop user friendly distribution systems

• Search for funds to accelerate the establishment of young retail businesses for decentralization

• Access funding to development delivery service for door to door sales

• Open options for Subsidies and Micro-financing • Acceleration of Donations Scheme/CSR Projects • Step by step implementation of

Promotion/Marketing plan

GreenTech is working on solutions:

More information

• webpage: www.greentechgambia.com

• e-mail: consultant@greentechgambia.com

• Lemongrass Cafe, every Wednesday 11 am at the GreenTech plant. Demonstration of production and use of groundnut shell briquettes and fuel efficient stoves

Call for support

• Please support our donation scheme for

needy families and communities!

Thanks for your kind attention!