Engineering researchers are developing a process to turn rice straw into a cheap energy source.
About 100 million tons of rice straw are produced in Indonesia each year, and about 60% of this waste is burned in open air, causing air pollution linked to high rates of lung cancer.
Ten times the amount of fuel burned leaves enough energy for Indonesian homes.
A research consortium that includes Astana University aims to develop a process to extract energy from rice straw more cheaply than ever before and demonstrate that it can be done on a commercial scale.
Part of the process involves a biomass conversion technology called pyrolysis. It decomposes organic waste by heating it to a high temperature of about 500 °C to produce steam and solid products.
Some vapors may condense into a liquid product called pyrolysis oil or pyrolysis bio-oil. Pyrolysis steam and liquid bio-oil can be converted into electricity.
Current processes convert only 35% of the thermal energy from rice straw into usable electricity. However, recently patented internal combustion engines can double that number to 70%.
Energy produced in this way can help low- and middle-income countries produce their own energy locally, contribute to clean energy cuts by 2050, create new jobs and improve the health of local populations.
Dr Jude Onaudili, who led the research team, said: “This project has great potential The commercialization of these combined technologies will bring significant economic benefits to the people of Indonesia through the creation of direct and indirect employment along the supply chain of raw materials, electricity. Distribution and Sales.
“Nearly one million Indonesian households lack access to energy, and Indonesia's 6,000 uninhabited islands make it difficult to build sustainable infrastructure in areas like Lombok Island [the focus of the project].
“The new methods investigated can reduce pollution, contribute to the goal of net zero and, more importantly, provide access to affordable energy from sustainable local agricultural waste.
"Aston University is a world leader in bioenergy and energy systems, and I am delighted that we have received funding for research in this area."
During the operation of the plant, the project team estimated that biomass produced electricity cheaper than solar, geothermal, coal, wind and subsidized gas.
The project will start in April 2023 with funding totaling £1.5m from Innovate UK.
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