Enhancing Productivity of Utilisation of Bio Energy in Sri Lanka

 

The objective of this project is to demonstrate a community managed bio-fuel plantation and field tested extraction processes. The project will conduct performance studies of community managed bio-energy systems and demonstrate the potential for fuel plantations in Sri Lanka. Enhanced performance, techno-social improvements to reduce costs and increase income generating options, as well as assessing the future potential of these technologies is the main aim of this project. Approximately 30 families will be involved in the project and will benefit from the income generated from these initiatives.

 

 

 

 

Establishment of energy plantations (mixed plantation) at household level – mixed plantations of bio-fuel crops (such as Jatropha and Gliricidia) grown at household level. These crops will be grown and harvested by the families. Approximately 30 families will be targeted for the demonstration in order to ascertain the systems which work in plantation of such crops.

 

 

Processing of bio-diesel - The processing of bio-fuel will be undertaken by the communities with the assistance of technical officers from Practical Action and other stakeholders. The machinery will be maintained and managed by the community organisation already in existence in the village. Sharing of returns from extracted bio-fuel between planters will be monitored and documented as will the extraction and inputs and output quantities.

 

 

Testing of an intermediate transport with auto-diesel (integrated transport systems) & engines – The testing of the processes bio-fuel will be undertaken mainly by the research staff and technical officers with Practical Action technical support. The testing will involve assessing energy generation for vehicular use , water pumping, and generator mechanisms . Existing small scale engines will be used in the testing process and the conventional fuels will be (Partially or fully) replaced with bio-fuel and technical adaptations made. The performance to which these different engines work with this replacement and the other necessary information on such adaptation, such as the costs incurred will be documented.

 

 

Knowledge generation and sharing – Throughout the project processes documentation of project experiences and testing results will be undertaken by stakeholders as well as Practical Action. Specific knowledge outputs will include a report on assessing the socio-economic development of the community, assessment report on resulting yields and details on yield based on seasons, etc., document available the current bio-fuel extraction processes in the country and the results of our testing.

 

 

Situational audit conducted prior to project commencement and on completion - This study will review the socio-economic situation within the targeted communities prior to project implementation (before April 2007) and subsequent to project completion (at around September 2008).

Namiz Musafer

Programme Coordinator - Practical Action

5, Lionel Edirisinghe Mawatha

Colombo 10005

Sri Lanka

Telephone ++ 94 11 2829412

Fax ++ 94 11 2856188

e-mail : namiz.musafer@practicalaction.org.lk