Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SteamBioAfrica (Innovative Large-Scale Production of Affordable Clean Burning Solid Biofuel and Water in Southern Africa: transforming bush encroachment from a problem into a secure and sustainable energy source)
Período documentado: 2023-03-01 hasta 2024-08-31
SteamBioAfrica is consistent with the ambitions of the AU-EU Partnership on energy and the European Green New Deal. Achieving impacts beyond its original scope, it has fostered trans-continental collaboration and knowledge exchange between science, innovation, and commerce. It has progressed its overall project objective: “To validate the long-term viability of superheated steam processing of harvested bush and other invasive woody biomass species in Southern Africa as a clean, affordable, and secure energy source”. Knowledge developed in this project has provided the necessary groundwork for us to implement a viable technology that will be replicated at large scale across Southern Africa.
Over 120 million ha of land in Southern Africa, is degraded by bush encroachment and invasive alien species, aggravated by climate change. Productive land is being lost, adversely impacting two important economic sectors, farming and eco-tourism. It currently costs more to harvest this unwanted woody overgrowth than can be recouped in revenue, and the problem is getting worse. There is a clear and pressing need to create added value from it, to stimulate its harvesting and promote land restoration. This needs to take place on a large scale and be sustainable
This biomass has large untapped potential if it can be made to meet industry and household needs. Coal is the primary industrial fuel of choice; with significant coal reserves Southern Africa consumes over 200 million tonnes/year. However, the capital infrastructure for grid power generation and transmission is ageing and unreliable. Therefore, whilst industry uses coal, it is primarily for thermal energy generation. Converting coal boilers to biofuel reduces plant efficiency and involves substantial cost. There is a large demand for a sustainable drop-in coal replacement that is economically competitive. The use of traditional biomass for heating or cooking with open fires has been linked to over 600,000 premature deaths across sub–Saharan Africa, mainly of women and children. Across Africa unsustainable firewood harvesting has led to deforestation. An alternative and sustainable biofuel needs to burn cleaner, with fewer harmful emissions.
SteamBioAfrica uses an innovative, continuous, superheated steam processing of woody biomass, advancing on the SteamBio project (Grant No: 636865). Our novel and stable torrefaction process can add value to woody biomass, giving it coal-like and clean burning properties. Taking it into widespread market replication will stimulate large scale bush harvesting and land restoration and be a sustainable replacement of coal, as a clean secure, and affordable asset to the region.
Our multifaceted approach included: optimisation of supply chains, integrating logistics expertise from European forests to encroached African savannahs; integration of social empowerment across rural value chains with gender equality; assessment by households and industry; Government engagement and exchange of regulatory best-practice between countries; soil science and ecosystem services accounting, life cycle studies; and investor engagement.
Over 120 million ha of land in Southern Africa, is degraded by bush encroachment and invasive alien species, aggravated by climate change. Productive land is being lost, adversely impacting two important economic sectors, farming and eco-tourism. It currently costs more to harvest this unwanted woody overgrowth than can be recouped in revenue, and the problem is getting worse. There is a clear and pressing need to create added value from it, to stimulate its harvesting and promote land restoration. This needs to take place on a large scale and be sustainable
This biomass has large untapped potential if it can be made to meet industry and household needs. Coal is the primary industrial fuel of choice; with significant coal reserves Southern Africa consumes over 200 million tonnes/year. However, the capital infrastructure for grid power generation and transmission is ageing and unreliable. Therefore, whilst industry uses coal, it is primarily for thermal energy generation. Converting coal boilers to biofuel reduces plant efficiency and involves substantial cost. There is a large demand for a sustainable drop-in coal replacement that is economically competitive. The use of traditional biomass for heating or cooking with open fires has been linked to over 600,000 premature deaths across sub–Saharan Africa, mainly of women and children. Across Africa unsustainable firewood harvesting has led to deforestation. An alternative and sustainable biofuel needs to burn cleaner, with fewer harmful emissions.
SteamBioAfrica uses an innovative, continuous, superheated steam processing of woody biomass, advancing on the SteamBio project (Grant No: 636865). Our novel and stable torrefaction process can add value to woody biomass, giving it coal-like and clean burning properties. Taking it into widespread market replication will stimulate large scale bush harvesting and land restoration and be a sustainable replacement of coal, as a clean secure, and affordable asset to the region.
Our multifaceted approach included: optimisation of supply chains, integrating logistics expertise from European forests to encroached African savannahs; integration of social empowerment across rural value chains with gender equality; assessment by households and industry; Government engagement and exchange of regulatory best-practice between countries; soil science and ecosystem services accounting, life cycle studies; and investor engagement.
The novel enabling continuous superheated steam (SHS) processing technology has been advanced in this project in remote off-grid rural Namibia. It has been operated by a team of Namibians supported by European developers. Experience gained will enable the designs to be progressed to significantly improve economic and operational efficiencies. This will enable us to overcome the final barriers preventing the commercial partners realise their project vision. A vision driven by commercial ambition and awareness of social and environmental responsibility.
Tonnage quantities of encroacher bush and alien invasives were supplied to Cheetah Conservation Fund’s (CCF) Biomass Technology Demonstration Centre, from South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. They were processed at up to 290oC with oxygen as low as 1.0% (vol.) within a Biomass Processing Unit (BPU). A significant quantity of different biomass types was processed, from Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The processed (torrefied) biomass was then evaluated by household consumers in the three countries with encouraging feedback for large market potential. It has also been trialled by industry again with encouraging feedback.
Global supply chain impacts from Covid and the Ukraine war had a material impact on supply chain lead times and costs in the BPU build. Optimisation of the novel plant design involved an iterative process of trial and development which was also impacted on by the supply chain issues. Whilst this limited the total tonnage produced during the project, significant technical and economic knowledge was gained. A plan is now in place to secure a final stage of development funding prior to commercial investment in large scale industrial process units.
The project’s holistic approach has many achievements with potential for significant cumulative impact across the region. The project has progressed a wide range of initiatives including Bringing together MSME support to enable sustainable bioenergy business development. Knowledge and best practice in rangeland management exchanged between the three Southern African countries in this project. Logistics expertise has been adapted from European forests to African savannahs. Scientific excellence in soil carbon science and ecosystem services has developed to be applicable across the region.
The project has involved a high level of engagement with communities and various stakeholders in all three Southern African target countries. This has ranged from rural tribal communities to heads of Government departments and business owners. It has provided us with a high level of confidence in the veracity and viability of the project’s long-term ambitions.
Tonnage quantities of encroacher bush and alien invasives were supplied to Cheetah Conservation Fund’s (CCF) Biomass Technology Demonstration Centre, from South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. They were processed at up to 290oC with oxygen as low as 1.0% (vol.) within a Biomass Processing Unit (BPU). A significant quantity of different biomass types was processed, from Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The processed (torrefied) biomass was then evaluated by household consumers in the three countries with encouraging feedback for large market potential. It has also been trialled by industry again with encouraging feedback.
Global supply chain impacts from Covid and the Ukraine war had a material impact on supply chain lead times and costs in the BPU build. Optimisation of the novel plant design involved an iterative process of trial and development which was also impacted on by the supply chain issues. Whilst this limited the total tonnage produced during the project, significant technical and economic knowledge was gained. A plan is now in place to secure a final stage of development funding prior to commercial investment in large scale industrial process units.
The project’s holistic approach has many achievements with potential for significant cumulative impact across the region. The project has progressed a wide range of initiatives including Bringing together MSME support to enable sustainable bioenergy business development. Knowledge and best practice in rangeland management exchanged between the three Southern African countries in this project. Logistics expertise has been adapted from European forests to African savannahs. Scientific excellence in soil carbon science and ecosystem services has developed to be applicable across the region.
The project has involved a high level of engagement with communities and various stakeholders in all three Southern African target countries. This has ranged from rural tribal communities to heads of Government departments and business owners. It has provided us with a high level of confidence in the veracity and viability of the project’s long-term ambitions.
During the next 18 months, we will progress the project to enable the results to be implemented in large-scale industrial deployment across Southern Africa. This will be achieved by the following.
• Optimise and validate system performance.
• Characterise products, both the solid biofuel, condensate containing biochemicals and water.
• Protect resulting IP.
• Validate the market potential of the products through user trials and optimise the products to meet specific market requirements.
• Assess the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the value chain.
• Ensure a robust and scientifically verifiable monitoring and evaluation criteria.
• Confirm market engagement and buy-in across the entire value chain. Develop a robust business plan to enable post-project commercialisation.
• Optimise and validate system performance.
• Characterise products, both the solid biofuel, condensate containing biochemicals and water.
• Protect resulting IP.
• Validate the market potential of the products through user trials and optimise the products to meet specific market requirements.
• Assess the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the value chain.
• Ensure a robust and scientifically verifiable monitoring and evaluation criteria.
• Confirm market engagement and buy-in across the entire value chain. Develop a robust business plan to enable post-project commercialisation.