Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC)

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http://hdl.handle.net/11071/3963
The Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC)aims to carry out high quality research and technical training as well as consultancy services in the energy sector in Kenya.The institution offers services to the government,private sector and the general public.

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Browsing Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) by Subject "developing countries"

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    Designing decentralized small-scale bioenergy systems based on short rotation coppice for rural poverty alleviation
    Da Silva, Izael; Buchholz, T; Volk, T; Tennigkeitb, T; Da Silva, I. P
    Access to electricity is crucial for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals of poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. In East Africa, increasing environmental degradation and modern energy supply are a major obstacle to sustainable rural development. Small-scale bioenergy systems can supply clean, renewable and affordable energy to rural communities while at the same time creating new job opportunities and having beneficial impacts on natural resources especially when fed from Short Rotation Coppice (SRC). However, bioenergy systems are complex because their three components feedstock supply, conversion technology and energy allocation are influenced by environmental factors simultaneously with economic and social factors. Assessing these factors and their interdependence is essential to determine the project’s contribution to sustainable development as failure of one component can lead to failure of the entire system. Decision Support Tools (DST) structure the collection and evaluation of quantitative and qualitative information about social, economic and environmental impacts at scales ranging from local to national level. DSTs enable transparent and informed decisions even when limited information is available and many participants with different expertise and interests are involved to consider all relevant criteria. This paper introduces an approach to develop a DST assessing sustainability of bioenergy systems.
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    Power from wood gasifiers in Uganda: a 250 kW and 10 kW case study
    (Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE - Energy), ) Da Silva, Izael; Buchholz, T.; Da Silva, I. P.; Furtado, J.
    Wood gasification systems have the potential to contribute to the rural electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper presents an operational and economic analysis of two wood-based gasification systems (250 and 10 kW) installed in Uganda in 2007. Both systems proved their potential to compete economically with diesel generated electricity when operating close to the rated capacity. At an output of 150 kW running for ~12 h/day and 8 kW running for ~8h/day, the systems produced electricity at US$ 0.18 and 0.34/kWh, respectively. A stable electricity demand close to the rated capacity proved to be a challenge for both systems. Fuelwood costs accounted for ~US$0.03/kWh for both systems. Recovery of even a small fraction of the excess heat (22%) already resulted in substantial profitability gains for the 250 kW system. Results indicate that replicating successful wood gasification systems stipulates integration of sustainable fuelwood supply and viable business models.