As the United Nations chases a climate deal in Paris and after the White House released Bill Gates’ climate research plan, we are proud to announce our contribution to the solution for climate change: Entrade Energiesysteme AG and Pamoja Cleantech AB have launched a joint endeavour to increase access to clean energy technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The project will establish 100 agribusiness hubs powered by Entrade E3 micro-power plants by 2020 in east Africa. These hundred systems will power 30,000 homes. In addition, 15,000 small scale farmers will be integrated into the value chain through the sale of agricultural residue which will also enable them to generate additional income.
Entrade Energiesysteme has developed a revolutionary new micro scale biomass CHP system, the E3, which converts waste wood and agricultural residue into renewable heat, cooling and electricity for direct onsite use. The technology will help businesses to generate decentralised energy from their waste residues, optimising efficiency in the supply chain and improving their bottom line.
Julien Uhlig, CEO of Entrade says: “The E3 is a great example of leapfrogging technologies that enable systems change in entire communities This innovation will completely change the way we think of waste to energy.”
Peik Stenlund, co-founder of Pamoja Cleantech says: “We are delighted to be working with Entrade to develop this business concept that can mitigate climate change. Advancements in technology means that micro biomass CHP solutions are now not only sustainable, but make sound economic sense. Since they provide base line power, they can directly replace diesel generators.”
By 2020, the climate impact of the project will reduce CO2 eq emissions 150,000 tons per annum by replacing diesel generators with a clean-energy alternative and by avoiding methane emissions due to the decay of raw biomass. Additionally, by introducing clean cooking fuel, the project addresses one of the largest contributors to deforestation by replacing the use of charcoal for cooking.
The business model is an integrated system concept for using waste to create socially and economically thriving communities and sustainable development. A range of community services can be provided to benefit low-income consumers, such as fuel for clean cooking, refrigeration and processing services for the agriculture sector, which in turn have direct and follow-on effects. Powering mechanised processes adds significant value to existing crops. For example, the husking of coffee beans increases the income a farmer can derive from a crop of coffee, and provides a waste product - the coffee husks - that can be effectively utilised by the Entrade plant to produce electricity.
The excess crop residue is converted into high energy density fuel pellets for domestic and industrial consumption. For domestic use, the pellets are designed to work with pyrolytic cooking stoves that are highly-efficient, smokeless, simple and cheap. The biochar produced by the CHP plant and pyrolytic stoves is a key ingredient in a highly efficient carbon negative soil enhancement. The project will also assess the technical, social and economic feasibility of converting organic waste and biochar into a soil building bio-fertilizer to be used in the Agro-forestry system. Local farmer cooperatives provide the community with hands-on tools for sustainable agriculture using agroforestry, as well as education on the importance of value addition.
About ENTRADE Energiesysteme AG
The Entrade group designs, manufactures, and operates innovative biomass energy power plants generating electricity, heating, and cooling. The products range from small turnkey solutions to complex industrial facilities. Founded in 2006 the company has been named one of the fastest growing renewable energy companies in Germany. Entrade is dedicated to improving its products and services through significant R&D and works in close cooperation with leading research institutions in Germany including the Fraunhofer Institue UMSICHT, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), and the University of Erlangen-Nuernberg (FAU).
About E3
E3 is a Micro-Biomass Power Generator, which provides decentralized energy supply in developed and emerging markets. A high-temperature reformer transforms solid biomass to a high-quality syngas, which is fed into an internal combustion engine to produce 25 kW of electricity and 60 kW of thermal energy. With a length of 186 cm, width of 156 cm and height of 200 cm the biomass generator is compact and can be easily transported anywhere in the world. Its modular concept enables individual units to be combined to form one flexible virtual power plant. The power generated can be consumed locally or sold to the electricity grid. The system also provides heating and cooling.
For further information please visit www.entrade.co
Contact: Julien Uhlig at j.uhlig@entrade.de
About Pamoja Cleantech
Pamoja Cleantech is a for-profit social business enabling tech transfer for clean energy technologies in east Africa to excite sustainable entrepreneurship and climate change mitigation through introduction of new innovative business models. Pamoja was founded in 2010 and has worked with a range of international actors in the industry among them World Bank, UNIDO and SIDA. Currently, Pamoja builds and operates micro-grids for electricity distribution powered by solar and biomass energy in collaboration with Ugandan Rural Electrification Agency. The company is expanding to India exploring smart grid and biomass opportunities together with Swedish Energy Agency.
www.pamojacleantech.com
Contact: Peik Stenlund at peik@pamojacleantech.com
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