African Energy News - volume 5: African Energy News, #5

By Dr Paul Sagala

African Energy News is written by Dr Paul Sagala PhD, and focuses on energy inovations and developments with a focus on Africa.

http://www.energynewz.net

• Language: English
• Publisher: African Publisher
• Release date: Apr 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9780992229269

Book preview

Introduction

African Energy News is written by Dr Paul Sagala PhD, and focuses on energy inovations and developments with a focus on Africa.

http://www.energynewz.net

Publisher Information

Published by African Publisher

All rights reserved

Copyright 2014

www.africanpublisher.com

contact: [e-mail]

E-Book ISBN: 978-0-9922292-6-9

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

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ABOUT AFRICAN PUBLISHER

African Publisher was established in 2007 by Pieter van Vuuren. It was created to give authors an economical option to display their work. African Publisher converts authors’ manuscripts into e-books and traditional books, and makes them available to readers.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Publisher Information

Energy - An Increasingly Important Environmental Parameter

Uganda Has Great Biogas Potential

Solar and Wind Power Fast in Chase of Hydro-Power

Uganda Sets Off Construction of 600 MW Karuma Power Station

Uganda Achieves Grid Power Generation Surplus in 2012 While Set For Greater Achievements

South Africa to Install 50 MW Concentrated Solar Parabolic Trough

Uganda School and Clinic Will Receive Solar Power from Solar Thin Films

Perspectives on Energy Related Issues in Africa

Electric Vehicle Set For Big Footprint Reduction

Solar On-Site-Availability Advantage

Hydrogen for Water Transport Launched

Energy Efficiency in Housing Attracts $108 Million in UK

Biogas and Fertilizers from Waste Set to Uplift Uganda

Energy Assessments - The Right Way to Go

Ordinary Citizens Vying for Grid Reflects Top German Capacity in Renewable Energy

Setting Renewable Energy Development on an Ideal Path

Kampala's Low Class Urbanites Go Green with Green Bio Energy Ltd

Ugandas Eye-Opener Energy Audit Achievements

Energy Efficiency - Origins of Prominence

Scaling Up Use of Renewable Energy Technologies - Cost Effective Solar Model for Uganda

Feed-in Tariff Scheme to Boost Small Uganda's Hydro Development

Stage Set For Renewable Energies Rightful Place in Uganda

Wind Power Prices At Their Best Ever At US$0.04-04/kWh in US

World Energy Production and Consumption Trends

Electricity Cost Approaches for Comparison LCOE

Compelling Reasons for Adoption of Solarin Africa

East Africa Energy Patterns and Trends

Africa's Solar PV Growth Should Match the Mobile Phone Revolution

Getting Lighting Off-the-Grid - A Viable Prospect With Solar PV for Urban Uganda

Uganda's Recent Major Electricity Generation Sources

Interest in Renewable Energies Propels Patent Growth

The Path to Hydropower Sufficiency in Uganda

Biomass Technologies at Uganda's Energy Week 2013

New Battery Storage on the Way

New Thoughts on Solar PV in Direct Current Networks

Japan's Solar Resolve - In Part Supported by Financial Muscle

Renewables Path of South Africa Needs Emulation Across Continent

Nuclear Power - Legacy and Prospects

Electricity generation across Africa

Revival of Rail Service in Eastern Uganda To Benefit Energy and Economy At Large

1000 MW Geothermal Plant in Offing in Ethiopia

Concept of Co-operative Renewable Energy Independence Achievable in Africa

Group Energy Utilization in Rural Africa Is Essential for Efficiency

South Africa Plans Major Shift From Coal Over-Dominance to Solar,  Wind and Nuclear by 2030

Electricity in Uganda - Huge Impact of Hydro

Rail Transport Development Promises Multiple Benefits - Lower Tariffs, Energy Efficiency

Energy Situation of Sub-Saharan Africa Worrying

Solar Growth in UK Obstacle Lies in Parliamentary Appeal

Population Control Is Paramount in Addressing Future Environmental Issues

Energy - An Increasingly Important Environmental Parameter

http://energynewz.net/energy-an-increasingly-important-environmental-parameter/

Background:

Energy assumes a number of primary forms, some exploited over a longer historical period, others upcoming. These forms happen to fall in two major categories, renewable and non-renewable. While non-renewable dominated the scene and played a great role in the past, they still remain poised for a sizeable role in times to come. While all have an impact on the environment, renewables are so much more preferred, despite the many limitations that remain in their path to greater exploitation.

Ozone layer and control of radiation

The ozone (O3) layer lies above the earth and in short, serves to absorb much of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can be harmful to humans, see schematic below.

Some of the biggest culprits in destroying the ozone layer are products of combustion for coal and oil. Carbon dioxide and methane are amongst other energy related products and substances that are also harmful to it.

Layers above earth including ozone schematic

Source

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In a nutshell: Compounds known as CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) deplete the ozone layer. Summary of process is:

Industrial processes release CFCs;

CFCs rise to ozone layer;

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation releases CI from CFCs;

CI destroys ozone;

Reduced ozone layer lets through more UV;

More UV increases skin cancer.

Energy processes produce NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – industrial and automotive engine exhausts. The large primary energy sources are oil / petroleum and coal. Firewood and charcoal also contribute to this, used by many poor communities for cooking and heating. Although at a small homestead level, the huge numbers of users give a big multiplier effect.

Global warming

This is in part due to the depleted ozone layer, allowing more heat to go through to the earth’s surface, hence the warming. It has been established that melting of snowcaps is exacerbated at the poles by this void of the ozone layer. This has had grave consequences on the future of life as we know it on earth.

Historical primary sources

Man started with the getting warmth from the sun, and where possible, keeping warm through covering the body with animal skins. The sun was also used for drying.

With the discovery of fire, man picked on firewood for heating and cooking. Thereafter other sources in forms of coal and oil came into the picture, transforming man’s propensity for greater productivity. Biomass however continues to be used extensively, especially in the poorer parts of the world, to the detriment of vegetation cover, health and the environment.

We will however look at coal and oil initially but separately.

Coal

This ‘black gold’ was used to transform manufacturing through heating that is extensively utilized in manufacturing, energy production and transport.

Coal has been used in heating processes, some for providing warmth in homes for those cold climate countries, but of particular interest, as a source of primary energy for conversion to other more convenient forms of energy as electricity, facilitating a multitude of applications.

While heating processes have been associated with low efficiencies, or put another way – conversion processes resulting in high losses, with ultimate useful energy well below 50-percent, coal plants for its conversion to other energy forms have greatly improved in efficiency.

Coal has a number of concerns, some in terms of pollution to the environment, others in respect of global warming, yet more in terms of effects to health to persons living in the vicinity of plants using it.

These improvements do reduce its negative impacts, but do not eliminate them entirely.

Coal as a matter of fact, still holds a high place in terms of guaranteeing energy security for many developed countries.

Coal plant pollution

Source

Oil

The discovery of oil and its uses brought about a ‘cousin’ of coal, primarily an identical product from many angles, but, in liquid form, unlike coal in solid form.

Oil came to serve as an important input both in industry in general and transport.

Like its cousin coal, oil and its derivatives are extensively used to fire boilers, generate electricity, and, run internal combustion engines.

The transport industry came to be dominated by oil and its various byproducts. The car has been loved by millions across the world, diesel buses and trucks have littered the entire world, and, sea going vessels have all greatly espoused the use of oil and its products.

Being a cousin of coal, they share both advantages and tribulations.

Pollution from burning oil

Source

Uranium

This resource has been exploited in nuclear plants, providing security for many countries of a relatively clean energy source, the perceived biggest headache of which in the past was the waste, a looming danger often associated with storage and disposal problems.

The Chernobyl accident and later the Fukushima disaster in Japan have now cast a totally different picture of nuclear energy. As we write now, problems at Fukushima continue to come up, further increasing the resolve of many previous users to contemplate abandoning it altogether.

Radioactive waste needs careful handling

Source

Other sources of primary energy

The other sources are largely falling in the renewable category. These sources are gaining prominence in use by society, some more than others.

Amongst these are solar, a source that has a huge bearing on existence of man. Without it, there would not be life, and is an important asset in several respects. Used from the times of our great grandparents, solar has diversified applications today, including large scale electricity generation for grid transmission.

Another one is wind, also used from ancient times. Wind was used for travel with boats moving large distances for delivery of goods or fishing. Wind mills were also used to run water pumps and drive mills for grinding cereals. Today, wind towers for electricity generation are both inland and out at sea in large scale wind farms, bringing down the cost of generation somewhat.

Water flowing or dropping through heights has also been used for a long time in electricity generation. Hydropower has also been extensively developed, sometimes building several dams in series along a river to generate clean electricity. Such electricity has not only been clean but cheap for a very long period of time in relative terms. The picture seems to be set to change with dramatic price falls in the renewable energy industry in relative terms.

Geothermal is also becoming increasingly exploited, unlike in the old times when some places only used such steam for petty heating and cooking, now turning to big time electricity generation in terms of megawatts.

Biomass is a renewable, with wide-ranging energy uses, some very old other pretty recent. This resource is primarily termed renewable as it is mostly from vegetation, with high regeneration potential.

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Environmental impacts of energies

As some scholars have observed, every energy form has some effect on the environment, however small. Some primary sources have greater effects on its degradation, and in the ways they do.

Some aspects only become negative when produced in quantities that disturb the balance. In other words, nature has mechanisms in dealing with some aspects positively, and keep the equilibrium intact.

Several years ago, man’s thirst for energy was low or put another way, insignificant to affect nature. This however took a turn with our desire to increase productivity, comfort and mobility, to mention but a few.

Thereafter, we started disturbing the balance, resulting in impacts that are against our own nature!

We will look at some of these aspects in blogs that will follow.

Uganda Has Great Biogas Potential

http://energynewz.net/uganda-has-great-biogas-potential-3/

Uganda’s Biogas.

Many countries have taken advantage of the great benefits it offers, both rich and poor. While biogas has changed many lifestyles with very good environmental implications, Uganda is yet to be counted amongst those that can be said to have exploited it to reasonable potential.

What is biogas?

This is a gas produced from the breakdown of organic matter, resulting in the gas alongside other solid material that serves as a good fertilizer.

The gas mainly comprises of methane and carbon dioxide. It is the methane that is desired and used as a source of energy and / or heat. While the methane content is higher, carbon dioxide can reach a proportion of 30-percent.

Fixed Dome Biogas Schematic

Source: http://www.ashden.org/biogas

Commercial exploitation of biogas.

Many countries have programs that use biogas for generation of electricity and production of heat for home heating in winter, beside other purposes.

As mentioned above, organic waste can be used or animal excreta, or, commercially grown corn or other for feeding into a commercial production facility.

I love to cite the case of Germany often, a state leading in several technological areas in Europe, yet also commercially growing corn for generation of electricity for sale to the grid with great success.

An example of an integrated plant is shown schematically below:

Schematic of a biogas plant

Source: http://www.biopowersa.com/en/diagram-of-biogas-plant.html

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Smaller scale biogas applications

At homestead level, a digester can be constructed using any of the following inputs:

Domestic biodegradable waste: peelings of food, such as potatoes, bananas or cassava;

Cow excreta: zero grazed cow(s) in an enclosure;

Human waste: channeled from a latrine or equivalent; or,

Other plant, vegetation or agricultural waste: multiple biodegradable materials around a home.

Examples of biogas usage.

It is illustrative to mention that many countries have used biogas very successfully. A few examples come to mind, viz:

India: biogas has been able to help reduce the burden of search for firewood or other cooking materials, yet at the same time provide fertilizers;

Nepal: a very worthwhile venture in a poor setting; and,

China: still providing an excellent energy source in rural areas, to mention but a few.

An innovative scheme is shown in the caption below, demonstrating that small scale construction is possible as is traditionally known using cement, sand, bricks, plastics and others, but could go a step further by being largely of ‘portable plastic construction’:

A Small ‘Mobile’ Biogas Plant in India

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/costeffective-green-fuel-for-the-kitchen/article4066573.ece

Cleaner biogas production and use

Biogas can be cleaned, to rid it of the likes of carbon dioxide, or, it can and is indeed used for cooking and lighting in home settings directly from the digester.

Amongst its other uses, is commercial generation of electricity, using it to run generators that in turn feed the power lines – electricity grids, as shown in the previous commercial level schematic above.

The process of cleaning is important to purify it, and in turn increase its heating or calorific value, while at the same time reducing the potential impact corrosion from some contents like hydrogen sulphide.

How Uganda could benefit greatly from biomas.

In some of our earlier discussions, see series on Uganda under the link http://phantomsolutions.blogspot.com/, we have demonstrated that:

Excessive dependence on biomass: Over 90-percent of our energy mix comprises of biomass;

Population exploding: growing human numbers are increasing pressure on limited biomass resources;

Falling vegetation cover: desertification is threatening much of sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda inclusive;

Burden on homes: Women are spending increasingly more time on search of firewood, at expense of other essential domestic demands;

Charcoal: its production continues to grow, further depleting tree cover; and,

Quality of life: not only is scarce income spent on energy needs, many life essentials are not attended to on account of very limited resources, to mention but a few.

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On the contrary, biogas has answers to many issues, including but not limited to:

Available resource: biodegradable waste is in abundance to meet domestic needs in many rural and peri-urban homesteads;

Modest technology: while some training is required in operation and maintenance of biogas schemes, it is within the reach of understanding for many, as demonstrated in similar situations in other poor settings;

Free: waste is at no cost, in fact using for biogas would serve as a saving of its disposal;

Manure: this is another freely available byproduct;

Farm benefit: availability of manure from digesters would be an addition in favour of farm productivity;

Saving vegetation: the biogas substitutes conventional cooking energy, thereby negating on deforestation; and,

Saving lighting cost: would substitute need for paraffin for lighting, a resource eating into meager disposable income.

Next steps

Against the above background, it should be instructive to look at the following:

Past efforts: what has Uganda done in the past decade or so?

Follow-on: are there impacts on growth on basis of past efforts?

Present efforts: who are players in the marketplace today?

We should pursue these leads and hopefully seek to generate thoughts on a realistic way-forward possible.

Solar and Wind Power Fast in Chase of Hydro-Power

http://energynewz.net/solar-and-wind-power-fast-in-chase-of-hydro-power/

Background

It makes impressive reading, looking at the growth path of solar and wind. While hydropower has been exploited for centuries, up-starters in wind and solar have attracted attention and