Innovative Funding of Biochar Production by TLUD Gasifier Stoves

in Developing SocietiesPlus a YouTube Site on Biochar Production in Barrels And an Introduction to the Troika Bingwa TLUD-ND

Paul S. Anderson, PhD “Dr TLUD”psanders@ilstu.edu

Chip Energy, Goodfield, ILIllinois Biochar Group

10 March 2014http://www.biochar.illinois.edu/ibg.shtml

Barrel-size Retort for Biochar Production

• YouTube video by Doug Clayton:Making Biochar with Jolly Roger Ovens REVISITED

• Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDMWf4_Dyqo

• Also the earlier document is available.

Innovative Funding of Biochar Production: Quick Summary

• TLUD cookstoves are provided to groups of households who agree to use the stoves with their own fuel, and to pay a rental of $ .33 per month plus a half-kilogram of charcoal per day that is made in the TLUD gasifier stove.

• Users who do not accept to use the stove must return it, and it will be issued to another cook.

• The company (Awamu in Uganda) will maintain the stoves in working order at not cost to users.

• The value of the charcoal is the key to success.

Obstacles to Stove Acceptance

• Introduction of new cookstove technology faces numerous obstacles, including:– Opportunities to use the stoves before payment

for unknown technology.– Cost of the cookstoves. Even $20 is quite high.– Longevity of the stoves is questioned.

• Those 3 obstacles can be addressed by the char-making capabilities of TLUD stoves.

TLUD Stoves Can Produce Char• Char (or charcoal) is fuel that was not burned.• Char is carbon that has been removed from

the atmosphere by living plants.• The char is approximately 50% of the carbon

atoms in the biomass and 20% of the total dry weight of the biomass.

• 1 kg of carbon equals 3.66 kg of CO2 from atmosphere. 44/12 = 3.66

• Assuming some impurities, estimate 1 : 3.3, or 300 kg of char equals 1 ton of CO2e. This can be produced in 1 year by 3 to 5 households.

Uses of Char Either one use:• Char can be burned in stoves specific for

charcoal fuel, so it has value for its energy. Or BOTH of the following:• Char can be beneficially added to soil as

biochar. AND• Char represents permanent CO2 removal from

the atmosphere (the ultimate carbon sequestration). The value of char for sequestration is

INDEPENDENT of its value as biochar.

The $ Value of Char• In Uganda, approx. US$ .50 (urban retail) to

$ .20 (rural village) per kg of char for cooking. • Typical households using a TLUD stove can

produce .5 to 1 kg of char per day, or 15 to 30 kg of biochar /month, and 180 to 360 kg /year.

• Using both of the low values: .5 kg of char X 20 cents/kg = 10 cents per day. X 30 days = $3 per month. X 12 months = $36 per year.

But this is a “gross” value, not counting costs of collection, briquetting, transport and sales.

Costs and Payments -- 1• An appropriate TLUD stove costs about $20

and should last over 2 years (requiring some maintenance done locally, estimate at $10).

• The collection of rental fees and char is by each group of users (as in micro-finance groups).

• A company representative receives the rent and char. Monthly a group of 10 households would give $3.30 and 35 kg of char (dry basis).

• The char is then rendered permanently unburnable (by mixing it with soil or compost at the local area) (video-recorded on phones).

Costs and Payments -- 2• The company has a documented PERMANENT

carbon sequestration that can be sold (or pre-sold).

• The company has a quantity of biochar that can be sold, probably within the community.

• The combined values of the sequestration and the biochar sustain the company.

• Remember: There ALSO are global efforts with funding to accomplish adoption of improved cookstoves for reasons of family health and environmental protection.

Project Report – Early March 2014

• 24 TLUD-ND stoves (Quad design) were placed into two semi-rural communities north of Kampala in late January 2014.

• Acceptance by users is above 50%.• Procedures for char collection, weighing,

correcting for moisture content, and documentation of rendering uncombustible are being defined and refined.

TLUD stove distribution and use in Gita, Uganda

TLUD stove distribution and use in Gita, Uganda

Further TLUD Stove Development• Projects and R&D continue in

numerous countries.• Could be part of “40 Chances.”• Latest TLUD design (Troika) is

provided at website:• www.drtlud.com/troika-tlud-stove

Thank you! Paul Anderson “Dr TLUD” psanders@ilstu.edu Troika Bingwa TLUD-ND

Made in Uganda. Bingwa means Champion