This document summarizes a feasibility study on using cassava wastes in Ghana to produce bioenergy. Laboratory analyses found that a blend of dried cassava peels/barks and wood shavings/sawdust is suitable for gasification. A gasifier with 120kW capacity could produce electricity and heat from 1452 metric tons of this biomass blend per year. A biogas plant could produce 301,513 kilocalories of energy per day from processing wastewater from a cassava plant. Financial analyses found that a gasifier and biogas plant could be economically viable and provide environmental benefits compared to burning firewood.

2. The IFAD Regional Cassava Processing and Marketing Initiative  THE USE OF CASSAVA WASTES TO PRODUCE BIO-ENERGY: OUTCOMES OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY IMPLEMENTED IN GHANA 18-19 October 2010 IFAD - RTIMP, Ghana What has been done and what can be done

6. CASSAVA PEELS AND WASTEWATERS POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT

10. GASIFICATION: BLEND OF DRIED CASSAVA AND WOOD WASTES/OTHER BIOMASSES (2) Blend of wood shaving (70%) +saw dust (30%) (1) Dried cassava peels/barks Gasifier uses a blend of + (2) mixed in a 1:1 proportion

11. SCHEME OF A GASIFIER/REACTOR Gasifier: a reactor where physical and chemical processes take place

13. BIO-METHANATION/BIOGAS PLANT: FLOW DIAGRAM

17. BIO-METHANATION/BIOGAS PLANT: FLOW DIAGRAM

22. GASIFIER: PRODUCTION AND USE OF ENERGY

23. GASIFICATION AND BIOGAS MARKETABLE PRODUCTION: HEAT BALANCE AND EQUIVALENCE PER DAY OF 22 WORKING HOURS

25. THE CASH FLOW ANALYSIS: THE GASIFIER

26. THE CASH FLOW ANALYSIS The biogas plant The gasifier plant in the Asueyi municipality

27. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS Water resulting from bio-gas plant Air resulting from gasifier Wood is saved and forests are less at risk Used in re-circulation mode with zero discharge. Occasional ph adjustment and simple treatment may be needed. Gasifier releases negligible amounts of gases into the atmosphere. Combustion is much cleaner as compared to the one for liquid fuels. Heat produced by the gasifier replace heat generated by firewood

28. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS