Given by Prof Zainal Alimuddin The second in our series of workshops designed to gather input from stakeholders involved in existing off-grid projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This event is workshop scheduled to be held in Malaysia for the ASEAN countries will be organised by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

1. Rural electrification
via biomass gasification
Prof Zainal Alimuddin
Universiti Sains Malaysia

2. Problem Statement
• Many parts of Malaysia is still not connected to
the grid and thus deprive the rural folks from a
good standard of living
• The rural folks depends on diesel generator sets
for their limited electrical use
• (Diesel consumption for 50kW engine per hour is about 15liters per
hour. For one day of 8 hours, diesel consumption is about 120 liters
per day @ RM240 per day)
• Other types of renewable energy options are
available such as solar photovoltaic panels.

3. Solution
• The rural areas have abundant supply of
biomass resources
• The rural folks are farmers and produce
agricultural residues.
• Biomass is a viable source of energy for power
generation and rural electrification
• Technology is available to convert the biomass
into electrical power- BIOMASS GASIFICATION

4. Biomass gasification
• Thermochemical conversion of biomass into
combustible gas (producer gas or wood gas)
through an endothermic reaction in the
presence of limited supply of gasifying agent
(air, O2, Steam, CO2,H2)
• Biomass gasification occurs in reactors called
gasifiers

5. BIOENERGY LAB

6. Types of biomass

7. Gasifier
Producer
gas exit
Air
supply
Grate
Biomass
feed
Ash
Reduction
zone
Combustion
Pyrolysis
Drying zone
600-800oC
1g/m3 tar

8. 5kW BIOMASS GASIFICATION SYSTEM

9. 20 KW BIOMASS GASIFICATION

10. 200kW BIOMASS GASIFICATION SYSTEM

11. Gasifier
efficiency
70%
Gas cooling and
Cleaning sytem
Diesel generator
efficiency 25%
20
kWe
69kW (17 kg/h)
48kWt
32kWt diesel
Biomass consumption 1 kg/kWh
Overall efficiency 20%
Diesel saving 60%
20KWe BIOMASS GASIFICATION SYTEM
WITH DIESEL ENGINE GEN SET

12. Gasifier
70%
Gas cooling
and cleaning system
100%
Petrol engine
Gen set
25%
20
kWe
115kW (28 kg/h)
80kWt
Biomass consumption 1.4 kg/kWh
Overall efficiency 17.4%
Petrol saving 100%
20KWe BIOMASS GASIFICATION WITH
PETROL ENGINE GEN SET

14. Proposal A
• For village that is already using a diesel generator
set.
• Using the existing diesel generator set and
incorporate a biomass gasifier system comprising
of a gasifier and a gas and cooling system.
• Diesel saving 60% ( diesel consumption
0.15L/kWh)
• Investment on gasifier system with gas cooling
and cleaning is about RM1500/kW
• The power plant can still operate with diesel in
case there is shortage of biomass supply.

15. Proposal B
• For village that is not using any electrical
generating device
• Based on a the village population a Biomass
gasifier system with diesel engine generator is
proposed.
• Investment will be RM3000/kW
• Diesel consumption 0.15 L/kWh
• The power plant can still operate with diesel
in case there is shortage of biomass supply.

16. Proposal C
• For village that is not using any electrical
generating device
• Based on a the village population a Biomass
gasifier system with petrol engine generator is
proposed
• Investment RM3000/kW
• Diesel consumption for start up only.
• The power plant will be operate if there is
shortage of biomass supply

17. FINANCIAL COST FOR PROPOSAL C
• A typical rural village has about 50 houses
• Each house uses about 1000 W per day.
• Total power requirement is 50kW for a typical
village
• Nominal cost RM 3000/kW
• Total cost for development of a Biomass
energy system is RM150,000.00 (including a
small shed for the system)

18. FINANCIAL COST (breakdown)
• Petrol gen set RM50,000 (with modification)
• Gasifier RM50,000 (manual loading of biomass)
• Gas cleaning and cooling system RM 20,000
(cyclone separator, condenser and filter)
• Electrical connection to houses RM20,000
(cables)
• Transportation RM10,000 (depends on location)
• 5kWe diesel gen set RM 5,000

19. PAY BACK PERIOD
• For 50kW power generation the operating cost is
RM240/day.
• Proposal A cost is RM75,000. Saving in diesel fuel
is RM120/day. The pay back period is 1.8years.
Diesel fuel cost RM120/day
• Proposal B cost is RM150,000. Saving in diesel
fuel is RM120/day. The pay back period is 3.5
years. Diesel fuel cost RM120/day
• Proposal C cost is RM150,000. Saving in diesel
fuel is RM240/day. The pay back period is 1.8
years. No fuel cost .

20. Requirement
• Use a 5kW diesel gen set for start up process.
• Use a 50kW petrol engine with 100% producer
gas (no petrol consumption)
• Unskilled operators (villagers) for biomass
pretreatment
• One skilled operator for operating the system.
• One skilled operator for maintenance of the
system

21. THANK YOU