Georgetown: The first test run of a gasifier producing alternative energy using rice husk was conducted in a rice mill on the Essequibo Coast. This is part of the future transformation within the rice industry.
As part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy, Guyana has embarked on a program for alternative energy sources and for the reduction of the country’s dependency on fossil fuel. This approach is not only from a cost perspective and the instability of fossil fuel prices, but also a program to reduce carbon emission. The agriculture sector is designed to ensure we play a significant part in Guyana’s carbon footprint successes.
In this regards, the Government of the Republic of Guyana (GoG) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 25th 2011, to provide support as Guyana implements its climate initiatives and Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Under phase II activities it is proposed to carry out technical studies in various sectors including the rice sector to achieve energy efficiency, cost reduction and reduced carbon emission.
During initial studies, TERI identified that the energy cost component in direct expenses is over 35% in rice mills. The cost of energy accounts close to US $ 15.50 per metric tonne of paddy processed. It is mainly due to the use of diesel for power generation. Some rice mills are using wood as fuel to meet thermal energy demand, but minimal use is made of rice husk. Because the rice husk is not used, it becomes an environmental problem of enormous proportion.
Energy management and conservation is an important tool to help rice industry to meet their critical objectives for short term and long term goals. Enhanced energy efficient technologies for design and retrofits of rice mills have been identified to improve energy efficiency, lower the industry’s dependence on fossil fuel, reduced the environmental impact, reduce carbon emission and lower cost of production.
Energy efficient studies were conducted at six rice mills to-date and a best practice was developed for each rice mill. In this second phase, energy audits are being offered cost-free to all rice mills. During that process a pilot case study to use gasifier (or) conventional boiler/turbine combination to produce power as co-generation to meet its heat & power requirements was installed. From the pilot project we derived a bankable model, which can allow major rice mills to go in for co-generation plant investment.
Ramlakhan & Sons Rice Mill at Ex-mouth, Essequibo Coast, was the first to take the initiative and purchase a Gasification Plant. The Plant arrived late last year and the installation and successful testing have recently been completed. The rice husk will fuel the gasifier and the gases emitted are cleaned of solid particles, tar/carbon and water/moisture, and directed into the combustion chambers of a 250 kW powergen set, replacing 70 % of the diesel required to run the genset.
Mr. Ramlakhan says will greatly reduce his energy cost and improve his viability in a time when rice prices on the international market are on the decline. This will also allow him to keep paying a competitive price to the farmers for their paddy, thus also enabling them to remain profitable.
This is a true Public Private Partnership, as we continue to look for innovative ways in keeping the momentum of the positive growth in the rice sector.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Agriculture is working with other rice millers for an across the board conversion to gasification.
In addition, the first rice cereal factory and rice flour factory will be established in Guyana. Guyana is already finalizing market for rice flour.
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