BELIZE BIOMASS, BIOGAS,

AND SOLAR

Ty Swavely GPH904

Spring 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the

potential for solar, biogas, and biomass energy

within Belize.

To evaluate the results within current energy

consumption in Belize.

Belize

Area: 22,965 km2

roughly the size of Delaware

Split into six districts

Population in 2010: 322,453

(Belize Census)

diverse mix of cultures: Creole,

Garifuna, Mestizo, Maya,

Mennonites

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html

http://www.belizespecialists.com/Assets/Image/MAP%20POLITICAL%20District.jpg

Energy sector

Two main energy sources: fossil fuels and biomass

Fossil fuels (imported)

Biomass: wood and sugarcane bagasse (domestic)

75% of total energy demand is supplied through a foreign

source (Mexico)

Average Belizean customer consumes just under 3,000

kWh/year

Energy Issues

Security

-Belize will have to increase electricity generation by 80% in

order to satisfy 20 year projection in demand

Development

-Current rural electrification rate of 45%

-burning of biomass for household use harmful to

health/environment

Renewables in Belize

Hydro

most utilized source for renewable electricity generation

Sugarcane

BELCOGEN already generates electricity by burning bagasse

(sugarcane waste) w/ capacity of 13.5 MW (TNEP 7)

Solar

solar PV is used to small extent mostly by eco-tourism sector in remote

off-grid areas (ERP 18)

Data Belizean Census 2010

BERDS- Biodiversity and Environmental Research Data System

of Belize

Shapefile with ecosystems classification (agricultural, settlements)

Roads, rivers, protected areas, water bodies

Solar Methods

• Calculation of roof area

– HH data from Census

-Undivided private homes

-Acceptable roofs

-Average house size

Solar Methods (contin.)

Solar Area Radiation tool

-30m DEM from ASTER

-Calculated for annual radiation

-Reduced roof area

-0.16 efficiency for PV systems

-reduced for kWh

-reduced by 70% for cloud cover

Biogas Methods

Data pulled from 2001 livestock

census

Biogas production based on figures

from German Agency for Technical

Cooperation

http://practicalaction.org/biogas-7

Biomass Methods

Solar Results

District % of use for District

% of use for Country

Corozal 18.1 2.6

Orange Walk 16.5 1.8

Belize 7.6 1.8

Cayo 19.7 5.8

Stann Creek 19.2 2.5

Toledo 10.8 1.0

Total 15.5%

- by looking at population by district and

average electricity consumption per capita,

evaluated potential generation from

renewables against current consumption

Biogas Results

Results: For household gas consumption,

gas burner w/ 55% efficiency

assumed for person consuming 600

liters/day

For electricity consumption,

biogas/diesel generator consuming

140 liters/hour assumed

Biomass Results

Biomass Results Cont.

District % of use for District

% of use for Country

Corozal 6.3 0.8

Orange Walk 11.3 1.6

Belize 0.7 0.2

Cayo 6.2 1.4

Stann Creek 4.8 0.5

Toledo 15.2 1.5

Total 6.0%

Total Results

District % of use for District

% of use for Country

Corozal 25.5 3.3

Orange Walk 29.4 4.2

Belize 20.4 6.0

Cayo 13.8 3.2

Stann Creek 21.3 2.3

Toledo 26.0 4.0

Total 23.0%

Discussion

-Renewable energies have strong potential to be a

large part of the future of Belizean energy

-Better understanding of demographics and land use

will help to develop a more efficient model for

determining the best possible energy source for each

area

Next Steps

Evaluate on town by town basis

Disaggregate other statistics

Biomass

Citrus industry

Possible locations of other cogeneration plants

Different plants (Jatropha curcas) for biodiesel

Biogas

Locate chicken/milk cow farms determine feasibility

Cost evaluation of construction

Solar

Include houses with thatch, include commercial buildings, include large arrays in agricultural fields

Sources The Statistical Institute of Belize, "Belize Population and Housing Census: Country Report 2010." Last modified

2013. Accessed May 3, 2014. www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/.

Department of Sustainable Development of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development of the

Organization of American States, "Toward a National Energy Policy Assesment of the Energy Sector in

Belize." Last modified March 2011. Accessed May 3, 2014.

http://www.reeep.org/sites/default/files/Toward a national energy policy- Assesment of Belize.pdf.

Federico Antonio, Canu. Roskilde University, "Belize CDM Guidebook: A Guidebook for the implementation of

feasible CDM project activities in Belize." Last modified 2011. Accessed May 3, 2014.

http://rudar.ruc.dk/bitstream/1800/6683/3/Belize CDM Guidebook.pdf.

UNEP Riso Centre, "Emissions Reduction Profile: Belize." Last modified 2013. Accessed May 3, 2014.

http://www.acp-cd4cdm.org/media/363008/emissions-reduction-profile-belize.pdf.

A., Henderson. Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment General Secretariat- Organization of

American States, "USAID/OAS Posts Georges Disaster Mitigation Project: Building Procedures in Belize." Last

modified January 26, 2001. Accessed May 3, 2014. www.oas.org/pgdm/.../BITC/.../belize.doc.

Uta, Ponitz, and Kossmann Werner et al. German Agency for Technical Cooperation: Information and

Advisory Service on Appropriate Technology, "Biogas Digest Volume II: Biogas- Application and Product

Development." Last modified 1997. Accessed May 3, 2014.

http://www.biores.eu/docs/BIOGASFUNDAMENTALS/biogasdigestvol2.pdf.

Meerman, Jan. Biodiversity and Environmental Research Data System of Belize, "Belize Ecosystems Shapefile

2011, Belize Basemap, Rivers, Roads, Water Bodies, and Settlements 2011." Last modified 2012. Accessed

May 3, 2014. http://www.biodiversity.bz/find/resource/dataset/.