[Stoves] [biochar] First report from Phnom Penh

Mon Mar 18 19:08:59 CDT 2013

Kevin,

Biochar can have significant value even in poor countries. For example,
here in Dalat rice hull biochar is used extensively as a soil amendment.
If a poor household can produce one kg of biochar per day and sell it at a
fair market price, this will cover the cost of the means to produce it in
less than a year. A lot more money has to be devoted to biochar research in
a variety of agricultural applications. Once farmers understand the value
of biochar with respect to the specific plants or animals they grow, there
will be a rush to produce it. The high-grade heat produced in making
biochar can be used for cooking, and as a by-product of biochar production,
it becomes available to the household free-of-charge. To waste this heat,
as some propose to do, is incredibly short-sighted. The sale of biochar
should be able to cover not only the cost of the biomass from which it was
derived, but in time it should also cover the means to produce it. That is
why I push hard against those who want to use biochar as a fuel.

Let us suppose that a gasifier costs $50 US dollars. Let us suppose that a
household produces one kg of biochar per day at a value of only $0.20 US
per kg. This represents an income of about $6.00 US dollars per month. In
less than a year the cost of the gasifier is covered.

Here in Vietnam LPG sells for about $22 US dollars per bottle. Some
households consume up to two bottles of LPG each month. This works out to a
monthly fuel cost of $44 US dollars. This reliance on fossil fuels is
killing and has to stop.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/Paper/Presentations/Gasification.ppsx

Thanks.
Paul

On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 12:05 AM, Kevin <kchisholm at ca.inter.net> wrote:

> **
> Dear Ron
>
> Thanks for your very interesting report to date on "The Big Event."
>
> I think that one thing that could be very helpful is a Graph showing "
> Stove Price" versus "Potential Customers." Clearly, if a person is earning
> say $1 per day, and the stove cost $70, this would be equivalent to 70 days
> income. Here in Canada, where the minimum wage is $10 per hour, or $80 per
> day, a stove costing 70 days income would cost $5,600.
>
> Or, to look at it from the other direction, "What price would a stove have
> to sell for, so that 90% of the World's Population could afford to buy it"
>
> Thanks!
>
> Kevin
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* rongretlarson at comcast.net
> *To:* Discussion of biomass <stoves at lists.bioenergylists.org> ; biochar<biochar at yahoogroups.com>
> *Cc:* Priyadarshini Karve <pkarve at arti-india.org> ; ,"paul anderson<psanders at ilstu.edu>; Crispin
> Pemberton-Pigott <crispinpigott at gmail.com> ; Ruben at ace.co.ls ;
> adrian at rocketworks.org ; sonta at emerging.se
> *Sent:* Monday, March 18, 2013 11:19 AM
> *Subject:* [biochar] First report from Phnom Penh
>
>
>
> Hi to two lists  (with 6 ccs)
>
>   1.  This written at end of "first" day of conference.  Actually the
> official first GACC day is tomorrow, but today was also the second day of
> pre-conference activities..  List members active on these two lists, here
> (and shown on the "to" list), who I hope will add more are Priya Karve,
> Paul Anderson and Crispin Pemberton-Piggott.  I missed the first day -
> Sunday - returning from Siem Reap  - home of Angkor Wat.   This is
> definitely the most impressive world heritage site I have seen or could
> imagine.  Uniformly impressed by the Cambodian people.
>
>   2.  My overall impression is that very few attendees know much about
> biochar nor char-making stoves.  Of course most everyone knows something
> about stoves -  although I would guess that fewer than half have been
> involved for more than a year or t wo  Heard tonight that there are 650
> registrants.  Great conference facilities;  no conference registration fee
> and fair number of freebie meals, coffee-break treats etc.
>
>
>  3.  My first surprise char-making stove encounter was with Sonta Kauti, a
> Zambian with "Emerging Cooking Solutions"  - whose stove can be seen at
> www.emerging.se.  I have not yet seen the actual stove, nor yet know its
> pricing - but plan more talks with Sonta
>
>   4.  Next was a short encounter with Ruben Walker of "African Clean
> Energy"  (see http://www.ace.co.ls/), now manufacturing in Lesotho the
> "Philips" fan stove developed by Paul van der Sluis (PvdS).  This has been
> identified as having the best performance characteristics so far tested.
> This was my first chance to hold one - and it looks exceptionally well
> made.  A surprise was the set of 10 or 12 (?) flat ceramic liner pieces for
> the interior (maybe 1 cm thick??).&nb sp; Presumably long life time - being
> non-metal.   Ruben said one could hold the outside of the stove after an
> hour of cooking -possible because there are  four concentric metal
> cylinders (three concentric air gaps).   This stove is not char making -
> but I remember hearing that PvdS regularly operates it as a
> charcoal-maker.   Cost in neighborhood of $70.
>
>
>  5. Later, at this evening's reception,  Mr. Adrian Padt of "Rocket Works"
> introduced himself  (see http://www.rocketworks.org/  - including photo
> of Adrian).  This is the stove with the interesting heavy wire mesh
> exterior that we discussed a few months ago - also can be held.   This also
> looked exceptionally well made and rugged.  Cost in the neighborhood of
> $50.   In addition to the version seen at the site, they are now adding a
> door to better control excess air.
>
>   6. I attended a day-long session put on by the World B ank and the Asian
> Development Bank.- the emphasis was on country organizations in this
> region.  Crispin was on what I thought the best panel - on testing, etc.
> This is to hope that Priya,  Paul, and Crispin (and anyone else from these
> lists here in Phnom Penh) will also add their early summary thoughts.
>
>
> Any questions I/we can try to answer?
>
> Ron
>
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-- 
Paul A. Olivier PhD
26/5 Phu Dong Thien Vuong
Dalat
Vietnam

Louisiana telephone: 1-337-447-4124 (rings Vietnam)
Mobile: 090-694-1573 (in Vietnam)
Skype address: Xpolivier
http://www.esrla.com/
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