Green Charcoal
Information
Seeking innovative technologies to transform crops such as candlenut seed kernel, palm seed kernel and cotton stokes into green charcoal.
Members: 13
Latest Activity: Mar 12
Brief Summary
The Ugandans and the Rwenzori Mountains are affected by the current climate change challenges. Population increase and utilisation of biomass further threatens the situation. About 80% of the population live in rural villages where no alternatives to biomass are used, cooking takes a lot of trees, and the need to cook with cheap energy source in urban areas increase the situation of the rural people to engage in charcoal production for sale to urban centre. Biomass usage further prevents people from working as they have to spend large amounts of time to search for and collect wood. It also causes respiratory problems as people are exposed to carbon monoxide from burning wood for cooking. This project seeks to find innovative technologies and machinery to transform crops, such as candlenut seed kernel, palm seed kernel and cotton stokes, into green charcoal.
Geographical Area
A solution to this problem will in particular help the people of the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda. The project will be implemented around the Rwenzoris having its centre in Kasese town.
Nature of the Problem
Three crops, including candlenut seed kernel, palm seed kernel and cotton stokes, are selected for creating green charcoal. These crops are carbonized on a continuous basis to save energy during the production process and then the end product is pounded and moulded to form charcoal briquettes. Finding appropriate and affordable technology and machinery for the intended process is the current challenge.
Nature of the Opportunity
A solution to this problem can provide cleaner energy source for cooking, reduce the dependency on the minimal existing forest biomass, create employment, reduce the time and energy people spend searching for and carrying wood biomass, avert climate change effects on the Rwenzoris and Ugandans, and contribute to achieving the MDGs.
Relevant Scientific Participation
Science for Humanity currently requires volunteers with expertise in energy, climate change, ecology, engineering, environmental sustainability, food and agriculture, social sciences and other relevant areas to join this challenge. Join the Green Charcoal project if you would like to get involved.
Relevant Documents
Green Charcoal Project Definition Form
The Ugandans and the Rwenzori Mountains are affected by the current climate change challenges. Population increase and utilisation of biomass further threatens the situation. About 80% of the population live in rural villages where no alternatives to biomass are used, cooking takes a lot of trees, and the need to cook with cheap energy source in urban areas increase the situation of the rural people to engage in charcoal production for sale to urban centre. Biomass usage further prevents people from working as they have to spend large amounts of time to search for and collect wood. It also causes respiratory problems as people are exposed to carbon monoxide from burning wood for cooking. This project seeks to find innovative technologies and machinery to transform crops, such as candlenut seed kernel, palm seed kernel and cotton stokes, into green charcoal.
Geographical Area
A solution to this problem will in particular help the people of the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda. The project will be implemented around the Rwenzoris having its centre in Kasese town.
Nature of the Problem
Three crops, including candlenut seed kernel, palm seed kernel and cotton stokes, are selected for creating green charcoal. These crops are carbonized on a continuous basis to save energy during the production process and then the end product is pounded and moulded to form charcoal briquettes. Finding appropriate and affordable technology and machinery for the intended process is the current challenge.
Nature of the Opportunity
A solution to this problem can provide cleaner energy source for cooking, reduce the dependency on the minimal existing forest biomass, create employment, reduce the time and energy people spend searching for and carrying wood biomass, avert climate change effects on the Rwenzoris and Ugandans, and contribute to achieving the MDGs.
Relevant Scientific Participation
Science for Humanity currently requires volunteers with expertise in energy, climate change, ecology, engineering, environmental sustainability, food and agriculture, social sciences and other relevant areas to join this challenge. Join the Green Charcoal project if you would like to get involved.
Relevant Documents
Green Charcoal Project Definition Form
Discussion Forum
Looking for scientific opinion on making green charcoal 1 Reply
Dear members, Science for Humanity and our Green Charcoal Project Leader would like to hear your views on the making green charcoal and biofuel. In particular, we would like to gain your expert opin…
Started by Anu Devi, Projects. Last reply by Anu Devi, Projects Jan 18.
What is the difference between Green Charcoal and Biochar?
Please see below a message from Graham F Knight to all members of Green Charcoal. What is the difference between Green Charcoal and Biochar? - not much since in both cases charcoal is made. The main…
Started by Anu Devi, Projects Nov. 13, 2009.
Very good innovation, but need local collaboration! 5 Replies
Hello every one, Many greetings from Vienna, Austria. Green energy is the way to go but technological constraints (especially in Uganda and East Africa) to provide alternatives to local communities…
Started by Najib B. Lukooya. Last reply by Anu Devi, Projects Oct. 6, 2009.
Comment Wall
Add a Comment
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Comment by Anu Devi, Projects on October 6, 2009 at 9:42am -
Mr. Kisembo's (project seeker) reply to Mr. Simmons
Mr. Simmons was interested in understanding why these products are not directly burned in TopLit UpDraft (TLUD) stoves.
According to Mr. Kisembo (project seeker) top lit stoves require fabrication
using heavy duty pipes and from their research the stove reduces the life span of cooking pots.
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Comment by Anu Devi, Projects on October 6, 2009 at 9:34am
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Please see below Mr. Kisembo's (project seekers) reply to Mr. Oker.
Mr Tobias is concerned with the reliability of electricity but we
are currently producing biodiesel from candlenut and castor which
we are using to run our tractor and generator. It's this source that
we are going to enhance. In order to contribute to the conservation
of the biodiversity of the Rwenzori Mountains we have established
a mother nursery of candlenut and coffee for growing in the bufferzone
of the protected area and widely an awareness programme is on or
massive planting of candlenut as an alternative source of Bioenergy.
I take this opportunity to welcome welwishers that we make this project a
reality. Looking forward towards our continued cooperation.
Regards,
KISEMBO John Baptist
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Comment by Anu Devi, Projects on October 6, 2009 at 9:28am
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Comments by Tobias Oker September 24, 2009
The little I know about briquetting is that you need to good densification of the biomass material. What you described sounds more like gasification which I think is somewhat different. Anyways, I will bring forth any useful information I stumble across to this regard. Thank
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Comment by Anu Devi, Projects on September 24, 2009 at 3:16pm
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The seeker is hoping to find innovative technologies and machinery to transform crops, such as candlenut seed kernel, palm seed kernel and cotton stokes, into green charcoal.
To date, they have tried burning the biomass using a locally made kiln lined with ceramic and fired by firewood whose results indicated use of a lot of bioenergy than saving the situation. Secondly, the kiln was being loaded and unloaded manually which indicated dangers to attendants hence the need of an appropriate system with a continuous carbonization of the feed stock.
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Comment by Tobias Oker on September 24, 2009 at 2:40pm - Yes briquetting certainly will work. But here is gap (or opportunity): economically making the briquettes such that they can afforded by the very poor (who have to collect firewood). There is serious shortage of electricity in Uganda and it is very unreliable (on-off). So best case scenario would be to use a gas/petrol/diesel engine to run the machine. Now that brings in a balancing act. How green (and most importantly economical) is it? Second issue: sustainability of supplies biomass. Agricultural activity is rather erratic in this age and banking on continuous supply is shaky ground. A feasibility study to understand the quantity and quality of the green resource is needed. Third issue: operation. I believe it is more sustainable in the long run if someone can do it as a business and make a respectable amount profit. We have look at this too with full focus on the socio-economics of the region. That's it friends. I will be around. Personally am very interested in briquetting technology.
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