Plant-based biofuels for rural community development

Paliza Shrestha, Mount Holyoke CollegeES-390

Background

Current ways of energy use is unsustainable

Demand for renewable energy sources is expected to rise in future

Biofuel gaining worldwide popularity since first manufactured in Europe

U.S. promoting industrial biofuel to solve climate crisis

Small scale biofuel projects sprouting in rural communities

What is biofuel?Liquid fuel produced from plant products

Category: Biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, pure vegetable oil

An alternative to petroleum based fuel

Biodiesel feed stocks:•Palm•Coconut•Jatropha curcas • Rapeseed/ Mustard seed•Sunflower•Corn•Soybean•Peanuts•Algae•Used restaurant oil•Animal fats

Palm seeds Coconut seeds

RapeseedsJatropha seeds

Sunflower seeds Corn Soybean seeds

Pond Algae

Alcohol (Ethanol, Methanol)

Glycerine molecule which is separated out

Esters of 3 fatty acid chains

Catalyst (NaOH/KOH)

& HEAT!

Biodiesel

VegetableOil Molecule

How is biodiesel made?

Industrial biofuel and environmental degradation

• Massive deforestation in tropical rainforest in Indonesia to convert to oil palm plantations

– 8% of global CO2 emissions

• 21% of Brazil’s agricultural land converted to soy bean plantation – Displaced over 300,000 people

• Since Jan 2003, 70,000 km2 of Amazon rainforest cleared for biofuel production

• Forests and soil store 3x the amount of CO2 than does the atmosphere

More….• High production costs (energy)

• Competition between food crop and fuel crop

• Price increases in world grains, cereals and vegetable oils

Can biofuels work sustainably?

I think so…

At the local level in isolated rural communities with• intermingled with development projects• effective government policies to protect farmers from competition• decentralized

• Small scale biodiesel plants in developing countries had led to • rural electrification• improving irrigation & agriculture• job creation • women empowerment• power to local community• self sufficiency

Biodiesel plant to power shea butter processing equipment, Ghana, initiated

by women’s group and UNIFEM

An hour of pedaling activity converts vegetable oil to biodiesel in an Indian village.

The fuel is used to run irrigation pumps, tillers,rice hulling mills and generate electricity.

Engine driven oil expeller

Steps to initiating pilot projects in rural communities

• Mobilize community groups , e.g. 10 to 15 households• Awareness workshops including gender sensitivity• Engage local men and women in interactive dialogue and discussions• Install irrigation pump and oil expeller for each community group • Provide skill training and instruction manuals• Form Village energy committee• Encourage household to plant jatropha plants in their private wastelands or

in poorer sections of their field, e.g. on the borders of the fields• Conduct technical and business skill training to women from preparing

organic fertilizer from oil cake to producing vegetable cash crops to sell in the market

• Establish a small micro-finance bank so villagers can take loans

Biodiesel processorhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_U7Lk89dXw

Ethanolhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59R-NqykoXs&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqfW0VmONXc&feature=related

Algaehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dBLVtAMn5A&NR=1&feature=fvwphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9_-ZguuhBw&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRYcEPVsKhg&feature=related

BibliographyGreg Pahl. Biodiesel: Growing a new energy economy. 2007. Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White Rive Junction, VT.

Biofuels for transport: Global potential and implications for sustainable energy and agriculture. Worldwatch Institute. 2007. Camden High Street, London, UK.

Biofuels for sustainable rural development and empowerment of women. 2009. ENERGIA. The Netherlands.

Vandana Shiva. Soil Not Oil. 2008. South End Press, Cambridge, MA.