Biofuels, such as biodiesel and bioethanol, are widely derived from biomass (plants and other organic waste) and provide an attractive alternative to fossil fuels.
These fuels have many different applications. In rural areas they can power mechanised milling or small scale electrification systems. In the cities, biofuels are especially used in the transport sector adding to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
GVEP is supporting many forms of biofuel initiatives in Africa and Latin America.
In isolated communities in Colombia and in the Brazilian rainforest we are funding projects which will produce fuel from jatropha to power a town generator and motor boats.
In St.Lucia, a small enterprise is receiving funding to set up a power plant, which will use banana waste to produce methane via biodigesters. The methane will power the plant itself and also be used to produce ethanol. In addition, the ethanol will be sold to the transport industry and blended with the petrol imported to the island thereby increasing the island’s energy security.
Multiple benefits of coffee waste
A coffee-waste treatment plant in the Cauca Valley in Colombia is going to produce bioethanol, bringing not only social benefits, but also environmental and economic benefits to communities.
The plant, designed by the Colombian company Fundación Entorno will be able to produce between 800 and 1000 litres of bioethanol a day from the coffee mucilage.
This viscous substance obtained from the washing of the coffee bean has traditionally contaminated water sources in the coffee-producing areas of the Cauca Valley, in southwest Colombia.
Besides its obvious environmental benefits, recycling the production waste will offer new opportunities for coffee producers to generate income, as they will be able to sell it to the plant.
The company has chosen Municipality of Caicedonia as the location for the plant with its 18,000 hectares of coffee-sown land and 1,900 possible beneficiaries.
The bioethanol produced by the plant will be used to power 20-25 5kW generators to produce energy for farms and homes in rural areas; or as a fuel for stoves specially designed for use with bioethanol.
The residue obtained by the fermentation and distillation will be used as fertilizer as well as a food supplement for the farmers’ livestock.
One of the plant’s beneficiaries is Oscar Jaramillo, a five hectare plantation owner, who is planning to buy a few solar coffee driers with the money earned from the sale of its mucilage. In return for his waste, he will also receive the organic by-product of the distillation process, which will significantly reduce the use he makes of the chemical fertilisers at his farm.
The development of this project was made possible by a grant awarded by GVEP (thanks to funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and GIZ, as part of the IDEAS Energy Innovation Contest launched in 2009.
Biofuel from banana waste in the Caribbean
A new power plant in the Caribbean island of St Lucia, will use banana waste to produce methane via biodigesters. The methane will power the plant itself and also be used to produce ethanol.
Banana exportation is one of St Lucia’s largest industries and the island is home to three international banana companies. This project will use their waste to create power. This will not only be sold as ethanol to the transport industry, it will also be able to power the plant itself – making running costs very low.
Ken Aldonza, the Mechanical Engineer who leads the company, will use a new four-stage fermentation process that is much more productive and cost effective than traditional batch processes. His business will enable local banana farmers to generate new income by selling their waste and by using biodigester waste as organic fertiliser. Besides, the resulting crops will also have a higher market value than non-organic produce.
The factory will make money by selling ethanol to the transport industry and the wider environment will benefit from the resulting use of cleaner fuel.
Many Caribbean islands produce bananas and other sugar-rich crops. The processes and equipment needed to open further plants there will be the same – meaning the project could have far reaching benefits.
This project thanks to a grant awarded by the
2009 IDEAS Energy Innovation Contest. The contest, jointly sponsored by GVEP, GIZ, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Korean Government aimed at improving energy efficiency and expanding access to renewable energy in the region.
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