BEFWAM-BIOENERGY, FERTILISER AND CLEAN WATER FROM INVASIVE AQUATIC MACROPHYTES
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Chemical and Process Engineering
Abstract
The project will focus on utilising invasive aquatic macrophytes such as water hyacinth in combination with nutrient rich waste and immobilised microbial systems to maximise the production of biogas whilst generating clean water and recovering nutrients in low income communities, by developing innovative biotechnology solutions that promote resource efficiency and long-term sustainable services. The project will provide practical solutions for processing water hyacinth with other wastes (e.g. faecal matter, food waste) in novel bioreactors. These ought to be capable of producing affordable clean energy (as per the UN's Sustainable Development Goal # 7- a.k.a. SDG 7) with improved biogas yields and quality, and be suitable for use in cooking, refrigeration and power generation. The proposed processes of biogas production will be designed to be scaled appropriately to either urban areas (cities) and to smaller communities such as villages and schools (SDG 11). In addition, the integrated approaches will allow the potential for the recovery of valuable nutrients from the macrophyte feedstock for growing food and for the production of clean water. The integrated approaches will result in reduced emissions and health impacts associated with combustion of wood (SDG 3) and support more sustainable use of biomass resources (SDG 13). The use of aquatic macrophytes as an alternative biomass resource for energy generation can mitigate the over-reliance on firewood for cooking, thus promoting a more sustainable use of biomass resources (SDG 12). It also provides a solution to the growing problem in many African and Asian regions associated with invasive macrophytes resulting from eutrophication and pollution associated with poor sanitation and regulation of industry (SDG 6, 9 and 13). BEFWAM will support knowledge transfer from high- and mid-income countries (UK and India) to low-income countries in Africa (Uganda) and the delivery of training and supporting partnerships between stakeholders and local business.This will be effected through the application of the innovative technologies developed within the project while all stages of development are to be informed by the analysis of the social implications of energy production from macrophytes and waste. Special emphasis of the social analysis will be devoted to the gender-poverty nexus.
Technical Summary
The project will focus on using invasive aquatic macrophytes (water hyacinth) and nutrient rich waste ( manure, faecal sludge) in combination with immobilised microbial systems to facilitate the production of biogas, clean water and recovery of nutrients in developing countries. The project is structured into 5 technical work Packages (WPs) (i) Anaerobic conversion of invasive macrophytes; (ii) Routes to enhance methane yields and biogas quality; (iii) Development of immobilized bioreactors systems; (iv) Integrated approaches using invasive aquatic macrophytes; (v) Environmental and social considerations. The project will develop low cost pre-treatment (e.g. hydrolysis) and optimise biochemical processes (e.g. using immobilised culture) to maximise methane yields; organic matter removal from the liquid fraction; nutrient recovery via adsorption on solid bio-derived media (e.g. biochar); and develop simple biogas upgrading systems for CO2 removal and reuse (e.g. algal uptake, biomethanation via hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis). The innovation will be transferred from lab to pilot scale by engaging with technology providers and operators of biogas test facilities in India and Africa and by developing cyclic processes for extraction of energy and nutrients from selected feedstocks, capable of operating on a small scale and at relatively low cost. One of the key aims of the project is promoting capacity building and facilitating knowledge transfer, transforming laboratory scale innovation into full scale application providing direct benefits to local communities. The inclusion of academic expertise in biotechnology & social sciences with technology providers ensures the project will be transformative. Social analysis of the implications of energy production with an emphasis on the gender-poverty nexus will be considered, to ensure that project implementation will have positive and equitable benefits for poverty alleviation and social inclusion.
Planned Impact
In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 625 million people have no access to modern energy services. Most African countries are net energy importers and fossil-fuel-fired plants account for 81% of total electricity generation. There is a huge gap between energy supply and demand in Africa and other developing countries that successive efforts have failed to bridge; therefore, the supply of clean affordable and reliable forms of energy is a key priority (supporting SDG goal 7).
Many communities are still suffering from poverty, malnutrition, poor agricultural activities, and poor sanitation affecting quality of life. Their socio-economic wellbeing is directly or indirectly related to energy consumption. Cooking in Africa and Asia is generally fuelled by burning wood or charcoal and often based on the three stone fire design which is extremely hazardous to health and damaging to the environment. The supply of biomass fuel is not being adequately managed and is rapidly becoming unsustainable. The ability to replace the use of woody biomass for cooking with biogas would create a seismic shift in both energy supply and health (supporting the SDG 3, 7, 11, 12 and 13) while offering advantages over other types of fuel. These include safer handling than flammable liquid fuels due to quick dissipation in case of accidental leakage, hard to steal and impossible to use as intoxicant. Water reserves are also poorly managed and sanitation is a huge problem. The discharge of untreated sewage pollutes rivers and water sources resulting in a critical environmental and health hazard. In Uganda for instance, waste water is only treated in urban cities and rural areas lack basic sanitation. The treatment of waste water and conservation of water is therefore a priority (supporting SDG 6).
The development of new pathways for the production of clean and affordable energy from water hyacinth not only solve a major environmental problem but represents an alternative supply chain to replace unsustainable use of firewood for cooking. This is particularly a problem in Sub Sarahan Africa where in Uganda for instance 80% of cooking is done using either firewood or charcoal on simple poorly designed stoves. Water Hyacinth grows in lakes, rivers and stagnant water, it is normally associated with poor sanitation and discharge of sewage into the water body. Water hyacinth is a global problem which is causing considerable pressures on infrastructure, local economies and health. It is a major issue in India and Africa resulting in large amounts of biomass covering rivers and lakes, particularly in summer. Water hyacinth can reduce biodiversity, block waterways, rivers, irrigation canals and lakes. Fishing and transportation can be severely influenced by hyacinth mats, restricting the movement of fish and the movement of fishing boats which affects the local economy. It can also block irrigation canals effecting agriculture leading to poor crop growth and localised flooding. It also acts as a perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos and other vectors of diseases such as malaria, bilharzia, dengue and river blindness. The benefits of utilisation are clear with the development of viable conversion routes promoting jobs in harvesting and collection, improvements in infrastructure and fishing, the cleaning of water and reducing of disease. Added benefits may result from use of nutrients from digestate, potential use of water hyacinth as an animal feed and the future development of biorefinery approaches for processing of water hycynth into chemicals and bioproducts. Ultimately, the reduction of fuelwood use will have major benefits to health by using clean burning biogas stoves. The development of new supply chains will generate new revenue streams and provide economic incentive. This in turn will result in a cleaner environment, improved health, employment opportunities and development of new sustainable routes for the production of bioenergy and biomaterials.
Many communities are still suffering from poverty, malnutrition, poor agricultural activities, and poor sanitation affecting quality of life. Their socio-economic wellbeing is directly or indirectly related to energy consumption. Cooking in Africa and Asia is generally fuelled by burning wood or charcoal and often based on the three stone fire design which is extremely hazardous to health and damaging to the environment. The supply of biomass fuel is not being adequately managed and is rapidly becoming unsustainable. The ability to replace the use of woody biomass for cooking with biogas would create a seismic shift in both energy supply and health (supporting the SDG 3, 7, 11, 12 and 13) while offering advantages over other types of fuel. These include safer handling than flammable liquid fuels due to quick dissipation in case of accidental leakage, hard to steal and impossible to use as intoxicant. Water reserves are also poorly managed and sanitation is a huge problem. The discharge of untreated sewage pollutes rivers and water sources resulting in a critical environmental and health hazard. In Uganda for instance, waste water is only treated in urban cities and rural areas lack basic sanitation. The treatment of waste water and conservation of water is therefore a priority (supporting SDG 6).
The development of new pathways for the production of clean and affordable energy from water hyacinth not only solve a major environmental problem but represents an alternative supply chain to replace unsustainable use of firewood for cooking. This is particularly a problem in Sub Sarahan Africa where in Uganda for instance 80% of cooking is done using either firewood or charcoal on simple poorly designed stoves. Water Hyacinth grows in lakes, rivers and stagnant water, it is normally associated with poor sanitation and discharge of sewage into the water body. Water hyacinth is a global problem which is causing considerable pressures on infrastructure, local economies and health. It is a major issue in India and Africa resulting in large amounts of biomass covering rivers and lakes, particularly in summer. Water hyacinth can reduce biodiversity, block waterways, rivers, irrigation canals and lakes. Fishing and transportation can be severely influenced by hyacinth mats, restricting the movement of fish and the movement of fishing boats which affects the local economy. It can also block irrigation canals effecting agriculture leading to poor crop growth and localised flooding. It also acts as a perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos and other vectors of diseases such as malaria, bilharzia, dengue and river blindness. The benefits of utilisation are clear with the development of viable conversion routes promoting jobs in harvesting and collection, improvements in infrastructure and fishing, the cleaning of water and reducing of disease. Added benefits may result from use of nutrients from digestate, potential use of water hyacinth as an animal feed and the future development of biorefinery approaches for processing of water hycynth into chemicals and bioproducts. Ultimately, the reduction of fuelwood use will have major benefits to health by using clean burning biogas stoves. The development of new supply chains will generate new revenue streams and provide economic incentive. This in turn will result in a cleaner environment, improved health, employment opportunities and development of new sustainable routes for the production of bioenergy and biomaterials.
Publications
A. Koley
(2022)
Bioremediation of Toxic Metal(loid)s
Bagdi T
(2023)
Evaluation of research progress and trends on gender and renewable energy: A bibliometric analysis
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Banerjee A
(2022)
Cost Effective Technologies for Solid Waste and Wastewater Treatment
Basu A
(2021)
State of the Art Research on Sustainable Use of Water Hyacinth: A Bibliometric and Text Mining Analysis
in Informatics
Borbolla-Gaxiola J
(2022)
Multi-Variate and Multi-Response Analysis of Hydrothermal Carbonization of Food Waste: Hydrochar Composition and Solid Fuel Characteristics
in Energies
Danso-Boateng E
(2023)
Response Surface Modelling of Methylene Blue Adsorption onto Seaweed, Coconut Shell and Oak Wood Hydrochars
in Water
Danso-Boateng E
(2022)
Hydrochars produced by hydrothermal carbonisation of seaweed, coconut shell and oak: effect of processing temperature on physicochemical adsorbent characteristics
in SN Applied Sciences
| Title | Green Fire Ugandan Energy stories |
| Description | Green Fire is a story of transformation from poor health and environmental damage to clean, sustainable energy.This one-hour documentary shows what can be done when there's the capacity and will to change. For one devastated community, that involves using the floating weed that has decimated their fish stocks to make Green Fire |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Our documentary highlights the disproportionate effect of indoor air pollution and energy poverty on Ugandan women. It shows that women spend around four hours a day gathering firewood and that theirs and their children's health is affected by cooking on wood fires. It also offers an alternative future for those women able to embrace energy change. Success stories of these energy entrepreneurs will act as role models, leading to greater independence and showing that moving to renewable energy can also create profitable businesses for women. The demonstration AD facility was used for training purposes using water hyacinth as an alternative feedstock. Engagement included gender considerations e.g. establishment of women's self-help groups for providing self- independence in income, education and health |
| Title | Mini-documentary: Using water hyacinth to improve the performance of biogas digestors |
| Description | Mini-documentary produced by one of our partner organisations, CREEC. They explore the negative impacts of Water Hyacinth in Africa and how BEFWAM is investigating it's utilisation to improve the performance of biogas digesters. It featured members of CREEC as well as Vianney Tumwesige from Green Heat, one of our industrial partners. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Raising awareness of the problems, and equally the potential of Water Hyacinth. The video has been viewed over 400 times. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=wIyDiao3YaY&ab_channel=CREEC |
| Description | The project was completed in March 2022 although additional funding has allowed some activities to continue. The aim of the project was to develop approaches for the utilisation of invasive aquatic plants as an alternative biomass supply chain, producing clean-burning cooking fuel via anaerobic digestion (AD). Additional aims include demonstrating this at scale, undertaking socio-economic surveys and understanding the environmental impacts of aquatic biomass. Approaches have required sampling and analysis of aquatic biomass, understanding its behaviour during anaerobic digestion, developing possible approaches to upgrade biogas and improve digestion, and understanding the potential for using aquatic plants to clean water and also recover nutrients from digester slurry for growing crops. In addition to the demonstration activities, the project also aims to model reactor designs and resource availability and the prediction of the amounts of fossil fuel anaerobic digestion that can displace using these approaches. Methods developed for biomass sampling and analysis have been combined with modelling and biomass resource assessment to produce a preliminary data set on the composition and distribution of water hyacinth in India and Uganda. The composition of water hyacinth varies significantly from the sampling site and throughout the season. The levels of contaminants in the biomass vary depending upon the water quality. The different parts of the plant have significantly different compositions. The levels of protein are highest in the leaves and levels of heavy metals and inorganics are generally highest in the roots Laboratory anaerobic digestion tests indicate that digestion of water hyacinth can be problematic without prior pre-treatment and that biomass composition varies considerably between sampling sites. The different parts of the plant digest differently and more biomass can be produced from the leaves and stems than from the roots. The levels of biogas vary greatly between 100-220 ml methane /g VS which is relatively low for biomass. The high the cellulose and protein content, the higher the biogas. Aquatic plants such as Pistia produce higher levels than water hyacinth, largely due to higher protein content and lower lignin content. A journal paper is under submission on the variation of water hyacinth and the relationship between its composition. Pre-treatment has been shown to increase biogas potential and the upgrading strategies proposed have been shown to be viable. A number of pre-treatment options have been demonstrated such as thermal, chemical and enzymic pre-treatment. Steam explosion pretreatment has particular benefits as pretreatment and can increase both biogas yields and the rate of biogas production. Hydrothermal conversion (enhanced thermal hydrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization) is also beneficial. A journal paper has been published on the hydrothermal treatment of water hyacinth and another is under preparation following pre-treatment by steam explosion. Additional pre-treatment approaches such as physical pre-treatment (grinding and maceration) are beneficial, in combination with alkali treatment. Biological treatment has also been investigated and found to be beneficial. The incorporation of hydrodynamic cavitation into anaerobic digestion is known to improve digestion and is currently being trialled at scale. Initial tests have shown that the composition of biomass affects its biogas potential, and samples from different sites have shown a large variation in biogas production. Roots have the lowest biogas potential and samples containing large amounts of roots generally have lower biogas production. It is proposed that removal of the roots is beneficial before adding to the digester. The addition of water hyacinth directly to digesters can be problematic and the biomass can float on top of the digestion broth. This can be overcome using different pre-treatment approaches. Water hyacinth has a large potential to remove pollutants and nutrients from water bodies and this is being investigated using artificial cultivation trials. Integration of water hyacinth into wastewater treatment works has also been trialled in Uganda. Large amounts of heavy metal uptake is found when biomass is grown in contaminated water however this does pose a problem for downstream processing and use of the slurry as a fertiliser. Methods have been developed for artificial cultivation of water hyacinth by our industrial collaborator in India. Growth rates and composition of biomass are dependent upon the Nitrogen content in the waterbody. It has also been demonstrated to be possible to cultivate very clean water hyacinth (free of contaminants) using artificial cultivation in tanks for potential production of protein. Nutrients can be supplied for cultivation using manure or digestate. A data sets are being developed on the levels of pollutants in aquatic biomass collected at the different sites to understand and model the potential for phytoremediation of contaminated water. This allows us to model the levels of contaminants in the slurry after digestion. Understanding the composition of different plant parts (leaves, petioles and roots) also allows us to understand translocation of heavy metals and the effect this has on the application of the plant. The addition of biochar to anaerobic digestion has been shown to influence the yields of biogas although the exact mechanisms are still unclear. A number of papers have been published on the effect of biochar on digestion of model substrates and a detailed study has been performed on the effect of biochar addition to anaerobic digestion of water hyacinth. The biochar appears to have the greatest benefit when the digester is operating under sub-optimal conditions. Under optimal conditions, the biochar has no improvement of biogas yields although there is some evidence it affects the rate of biogas product. Under sub-optimal conditions, the biochar has been shown to have positive impacts of biogas yields and biogas production rate. The effect of substrate appears to be important and biochar appears to have a greater effect when the feedstock contains high levels of lipids, fats and protein. The addition of biochar to artificial cultivation tanks for growing water hyacinth has been found to have significant benefits and is likely to store nutrients for plant growth. The addition of biochar to the slurry before its use as a fertilizer product has also demonstrated some positive benefits reducing odour and increasing yields of crops being studied. These include peppers and chili and rice crops. This work is ongoing and requires additional data. A resource assessment tool has been developed using Google Earth Engine to assess the seasonal variation of aquatic plant resources in India and Uganda. This allows an understanding of when and where biomass is available and combined with compositional data, allows us to predict the levels of nutrients and contamination removed from the water. Links have been developed with a number of village communities (in India and Uganda); initial surveys have been undertaken, raising awareness of AD as a method for producing clean-burning cooking fuel. In Uganda, an anaerobic digester demonstration unit was built in Ntroko, an area near Lake Albert which has problems with water hyacinth infestation. In India, two sites have been identified, Sehalai village, in West Bengal and Boreghar village, Bhima Shankar, Pune, India. A series of demonstration units have been constructed in Uganda and India. Demonstration activities have allowed villages to engage with the technology and receive training in the management of small digesters. The project is working closely with our industrial partners to develop these demonstrators. Facilities have been commissioned at two sites in India and one site in Uganda with each site demonstrating a different integration strategy. The first site operated in Sehalai, is situated in Bolpur Sriniketan in West Bengal, India. This site operates a fixed dome digester operating on cow dung and water hyacinth, three digesters have been renovated and a third reactor built from new. These units have been co-funded by BEFWAM in collaboration with the village funds. This site will operate with and without the addition of biochar and one digester will allow different upgrading strategies to be assessed and monitored. The second site, also in India is currently being developed by Defiant renewables and is a floating dome digester operating on cow dung and water hyacinth (WH) for use at a girls' hostel in the tribal area of Bhima Shankar, Pune. This site is supported by an NGO (Shashvat) which works in the Pune district of Maharashtra on various social projects. This is a n integrated cultivation and digestion system and is designed to replace the use of LPG for cooking at the hostel. The digestate is being used as a fertiliser to grow vegetables in a vertical garden. The demonstrator will be used as a training facility for local community leaders A test facility developed at Defiant renewables, Pune also includes cultivation facilities for water hyacinth, a 2m3 digester for testing co-digestion of water hyacinth and cow manure, a series of smaller 200L digesters for testing different interventions such as use of biochar. A leachate reactor has been developed at Defiant Renewables which allows water hyacinth to be pre-treated before injection into the main reactor. In Uganda, two demonstration units have been installed, the first uses cow dung together with water hyacinth as an alternative feedstock and is located at a village in Ntroko, near Lake Albert. The second is installed on the campus of Makerere University and is being operated to test different interventions and upgrading strategies (e.g. biochar augmentation). These sites have been installed by our industrial partner in Uganda, Green Heat, and supplies the school with biogas for cooking. The demonstration unit located in Ntoroko district near Lake Albert will be used to demonstrate biogas as an alternative source of fuel for cooking and refrigeration. The socioeconomic and environmental impacts have also been assessed. Development of the environmental impact assessment, a policy document of biogas use in India and a desk based study understanding the environmental impact of augmenting biochar into small scale digestion has been undertaken. Combined with these activities, a number of community engagement workshops have introduced stakeholders to anaerobic digestion (AD) and to the use of WH as an alternative feedstock. 16 papers have been published to date, and a policy brief for anaerobic digestion in India and a further 20 papers are in preparation associated with the project. A short (1h) documentary film "Green Fire-Ugandan energy stories" has been completed and will be available shortly. A number of additional short videos are available on YouTube. Outreach activities have been developed with Kew, Royal Botanical Gardens, to disseminate the activities of the project directly to the public. Significant progress modelling cultivation and digestion of aquatic biomass has been made. A case study has produced a system material balance for Sehalai village, West Bengal, India - population size 1,400. The model has predicted the area required to cultivate sufficient water hyacinth to supply the town's cooking requirements. The development of a predictive model for the cultivation of water hyacinth has enabled the assessment of growth characteristics under varying nutrient loadings, solar irradiance and matt density which can predict water body requirements and water treatment capacity. Capacity building within the project has included: development of experimental facilities across the project (particularly in Uganda), development of analytical facilities and provision of training programmes and knowledge transfer. The development and supply of BMP test facilities by our Indian industrial partner that don't require sophisticated equipment/analysis has been delivered. The latter developments provide standardisation of methods and represents a step change in the facilities available in Uganda. Other successes include alignment of three Leeds PhD students with the project, the development of good working relationships between partners and identification and agreement of demonstration sites and timelines for implementation. |
| Exploitation Route | The project is delivering demonstration units in rural areas of India which are being used by local communities for cooking gas, the research and development being performed using these facilities as part of the project and the training that is being provided will allow communities directly benefiting to improve the operation of these facilities. The training provided will allow communities to utilize the water hyacinth locally available to provide energy and other bio-products (e.g fertilizer) improving crop growth and reducing fertilizer use. The use of these facilities will have a significant effect on the poorer communities for which the acquisition of LPG is a significant cost. The development of alternatives to using firewood for cooking will reduce their reliance on burning wood for cooking. The innovations developed as part of the project will be used by the AD suppliers building AD units in the rural areas in both India and Uganda by working closely with AD suppliers. Advanced facilities being funded by this project for the individual research institutes involved in the project, coupled with the expertise developed, will allow them to support research and development in this field, provide additional support to local communities benefiting from this research and develop new projects and collaborations. The outcomes of this research will allow other stakeholders in different regions of India and Uganda (beyond the test sites) to develop similar schemes. Dissemination of the activities more widely will allow these developed systems to be rolled out in other DAC countries where water hyacinth is invasive. The short films being produced as part of this project will provide training and awareness of opportunities in other DAC countries may encourage NGO and policymakers in other regions to support similar projects. The demonstration units will provide a blueprint for integrated systems to be developed across Uganda and India. Innovation and data presented in papers will be useful for other researchers working in areas of biochar augmentation, biogas upgrading, modelling of anaerobic digestion, pre-treatment of biomass, aquatic biomass resources, BMP of aquatic biomass, characterisation of aquatic biomass, application of aquatic biomass for energy and biomaterials. The analysis of biomass has identified opportunities for new research projects (e.g. extraction of protein, production of fibre) which are being developed further by members of the consortia in new funding bids. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | https://cera.leeds.ac.uk/ |
| Description | The development of data sets on the composition of water hyacinth, potential for phytoremediation, and AD of invasive aquatic plants are allowing us to develop models for predicting and understanding the potential impact of water hyacinth under different conditions. The laboratory scale experiments are guiding best practice on how to utilise invasive aquatic plants and incorporate approaches for upgrading biogas in demonstrator units and how to cultivate, harvest and manage this resource. The socioeconomic studies have enabled us to identify benefits to the beneficiaries of the research for utilising aquatic plants and understanding their environmental and economic value. The data from the technical aspects are being incorporated into a number of scientific papers which are currently in preparation. The outcomes from the research are also being dissemination in conferences and national workshops and events. The potential economic advantages to local business and local communities from utilising invasive aquatic macrophytes are being evaluated in India and Uganda. Finding have been used to design and build reactors and integrated systems for the utilisation of water hyacinth in the demonstrator units Findings have allowed us to model cultivation and conversion and estimate the scale of systems needed for both replacement of LPG for cooking and generation of electricity using anaerobic digestion Training and awareness of the use of aquatic biomass has allowed the communities we are working with the increase biogas yields in their local digesters. Utilisation of digestate as an organic fertiliser has been taken up by farmers in India and Uganda and is being trailed for use in growing onions in red soils and in vertical gardens for vegetables and herbs The project has developed new collaborative links with UK Universities (e.g. Aberystwyth University) and developed new links in India (IIT, Mumbai) and Civil Engineering at Makerere University, Kampala. This has led to new proposals and joint publications The socio-economic studies have enabled us to identify benefits to the beneficiaries of the research for utilizing aquatic plants and understanding their environmental and economic value. The outcomes from the research are also being disseminated in conferences and national workshops and events. Some of our associated PGR have become employed in the project. Setting up pilot facilities has allowed training of researchers within the project by visiting the Industrial partners. The demonstration facilities have enabled the training and education of villages in Uganda and India about the benefits of using anaerobic digestion technology for replacing firewood for cooking. The demonstration units in Uganda are being used to measure the reductions in indoor air pollution associated with using firewood for cooking. The demonstration units in India have been used to demonstrate the potential for adding biochar and water hyacinth to small scale anaerobic digesters The project is promoting new collaboration between our industrial partners and local government organizations - The project is helping to establish our industrial partners with new projects and funding proposals. Large scale testing of water hyacinth co-digestion is producing large amounts of digestate for utilisation as an organic fertiliser. Digestate obtained from the biogas digester is being tested grow rice and other crops. Fertiliser is also being supplied to new collaborators outside the project to test new opportunities. Pilots (most advanced of which are in India) - are allowing us to develop direct impact to the community and engage with local organisations, NGOs etc. Trials for growing vegetables have already begun at our industrial partner in India (Defiant renewables) and at a local nursery to determine the best vegetables and crops that can be grown on digestate. Industrial partner in India (Defiant renewables) has employed 2 new members of staff and have trained researchers from ICT and VBU on research methods. Findings are being utilized to assess the utilization of water hyacinth in other DAC countries (e.g. Tanzania) through Master projects. We have a number of projects underway looking at resource assessment in different regions The potential for utilization of water hyacinth and other aquatic biomass for use in small scale AD facilities linked to microgrids are being explored through collaboration with other GCRF projects (e.g. CRESUM HYRES) New facilities for investigating anaerobic digestion have been developed and distributed to partners to develop capacity for experimental research in this area. The impacts of indoor air pollution highlighted by the use of wood fuel for cooking have been incorporated into a 1 hr documentary film "Green Fire- Ugandan energy stories" |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
| Description | Biogas Policies in Rural India; A clean energy approach to sustainable development |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://cera.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2020/05/Policy-brief-Biogas-policies-in-rural-I... |
| Description | Integrated biological approaches for high-grade biomethane vehicle fuel production from food waste |
| Amount | £406,389 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W010712/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2022 |
| End | 06/2025 |
| Description | The conversion of wet waste by hydrothermal carbonisation for the production of higher value products |
| Amount | £128,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Title | Development of approaches for aquatic biomass resource assessment |
| Description | Developing code from reports in the literature, a method has been developed for assessing the levels of aquatic biomass available in water bodies using Google Earth Engine. This has allowed us to generate data for predicting the potential for water hyacinth as an energy source and its action to clean and transfer pollutants from water bodies. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The approach being developed will allow us to predict the seasonal and regional variation of water hyacinth and other aquatic biomass. This will allow us to predict the potential biomass resource availability, the levels of nutrient flows and the potential for cleaning water |
| Title | New BMP reactor methodology |
| Description | A new Biochemical methane potential (BMP) reactor system has been developed by our industrial partner (Defiant Renewables) and equipment has been sent to each partner. The equipment allow BMP experiments to be performed without the need for complicated analysis and is one of two methods developed so far in the project to allow BMP experiments to be performed in Uganda and India. The experiment allows different substrates to be tested for their ability to generate biogas under different conditions. The method is alowing us to standardise our methods for measuring biogas production from water hyacinth and other invasive biomass. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This reactor system will allow all partners to have a standardised method for performing BMP without the use of sofisticated analytical equipment. With access to sofisticated equipment however, it can also be used to provide extensive analysis of biomethanation. |
| Title | Protocols for sampling and Analysis of water hyacinth |
| Description | Sampling of water hyacinth from India and Uganda have been standardised to allow representative samples to be sampled for compositional analysis including genetic analysis. Samples are collected at specific points in the year and stored using standardised methods. Samples for genetic analysis are sampled separately. The plants are separated into different parts for compositional analysis. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Representative samples are now being collected from the India and Ugandan sample sites. The development of protocols will introduce rigour into sampling procedure needed to produce high quality publishable data. |
| Title | Anaerobic digestion model |
| Description | The BEFWAM project is generating large quantities of data on the biomethanation potential of water hyacinth and other aquatic macrophages as a function of inocula, inoculum to biomass ratios, pH etc. In order to make sense of this data, it is important to use it to train a suitable first principles mathematical model. Such a model is also invaluable for designing appropriate biodigestors. We have developed a mathematical framework by using which we have calibrated a model for pistia digestion using cow dung as the inoculum. As data comes it, this framework can be adapted for more or less sophisticated models depending on the quality and type of data. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The model will allow us to design new digestors and understand how currents AD reactor designs can operate more succesfully |
| Title | Data associated with 'Technoeconomic Analysis of Biogas Production using Simple and Effective Mechanistic Model calibrated with Biomethanation Potential Experiments of Water Lettuce (Pistia Stratiotes) inoculated by Buffalo Dung' |
| Description | Raw data for figures in the associated paper |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://archive.researchdata.leeds.ac.uk/912/ |
| Title | Dataset associated with "Multi-variate and multi-response analysis of hydrothermal carbonization of food waste: hydrochar composition and solid fuel characteristics" |
| Description | |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://archive.researchdata.leeds.ac.uk/1000/ |
| Description | Collaboration with Atonga Media |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | BEFWAM has worked with an independent filmmaker (Diane Myers) to produce a documentary and audiovisual material relating to the impact the project is having on the local communities in Uganda. One of the key collaborators in the documentary is Atonga Media, a Kampala-based independent production company, whose owner, Steven Ayeny, had previously worked on documentary series for U.K. broadcasters and directed a feature film about civil war in Uganda. The UK film maker worked closely with Atonga media and provided training in making documentaries. The relationship led to significant opportunities for Atonga media and has resulted in a range of new activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Atonga Media contributed to the documentary on the impact of using biogas for cooking on indoor air pollution in Uganda. They also supported the UK based film maker in filming in Uganda |
| Impact | As a direct result of his role as camera-director on the documentary, Steven has gone on to collaborate independently with CREEC, the project's partner in Uganda, on a presentation featuring CREEC's work for COP 26, a drama series, "Kampala" for UBC and a feature film, "Beautiful Ashes," based on the life of one of the documentary's contributors, the briquette-maker Gorret Odama. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with Civil Engineering Department at College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda |
| Organisation | Makerere University |
| Department | College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology |
| Country | Uganda |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Knowledge transfer and capacity building in areas of Anaerobic digestion and biochar research |
| Collaborator Contribution | Increased access to facilities and knowledge of Faecal sludge management technologies and practices |
| Impact | A short report from cultivation tests of water hyacinth in wastewater from a local wastewater treatment plant, experimental testing of anaerobic co-digestion of water hyacinth in cow dung and faecal matter. Supporting CREEC in performing analysis and experimental aspects of the project. Partner in new GNCA funded project. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with Kew, Royal Botanical Gardens (Olwen Grace) Member of external advisory board for BEFWAM project |
| Organisation | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Funding for attending advisory board meetings Biomass samples and advice of characterisation Dissemination of the project via outreach activities Researchers in BEFWAM have contributed to a joint paper |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration between Kew and the documentary team began when early footage shot for the documentary was shown at its 2019 conference Plant Power: Bioenergy as a Renewable Resource. This resulted in a proposal to Kew from Andrew Ross, Diane Myers and PhD student Douglas Bray to work with Kew on other initiatives to promote greater public engagement with BEFWAM. The aim was to build on the already strong relationship between Kew and the University of Leeds by involving Kew in BEFWAM's wider public outreach campaign. The outputs from this collaboration are documented separately under the heading Engagement Activities. Kew has also hosted a dissemination event including 4 ODA-related projects funded at Leeds and has also supplied biomass for cultivation trails of water hyacinth at Aberystwyth University. Dr Olwen Grace (Kew lead scientist) is also a member of the BEFWAM advisory board. In addition to documentary footage being shown at Kew in 2019, the BEFWAM project was also featured in Kew's "State of the World's Plants and Fungi" Meeting in October 2020. The meeting focussed on the untapped potential of plants and fungi to provide solutions to sustainable development and BEFWAM's work fell into one of the meeting's major themes - unlocking the properties of plants and fungi to meet global challenges. As one of the outputs from this meeting Andrew Ross, Diane Myers and Douglas Bray worked with Kew to create content for a physical display in Kew's Princess of Wales Conservatory dedicated to the BEFWAM project. The display has both attracted public interest and showcased Kew's advisory role and involvement in international research. Footage from the documentary has also been used in MOOCs produced by the University of Leeds, for example "Renewable Energy: Achieving Sustainability through Bioenergy." (FutureLearn). |
| Impact | Contribution from Leeds to Kew annual review. Kew supplying biomass for PGR project. --- As part of Kew's reciprocal relationship with the project, two Kew members of staff, Dr Olwen Grace (who is also a member of the BEFWAM Advisory Board) and Dr Titziana Ullian are liaising with community leaders in Ntoroko in Uganda to offer advice and information on planting native species to combat deforestation, desertification and coastal erosion. --- Since its inception, BEFWAM has produced a significant amount of research, including digital media from India and Uganda; Kew has expressed interest in using this research material to promote the project via its online presence (website and social media). |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with UNAK, Iceland |
| Organisation | University of Akureyri |
| Country | Iceland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Funding has been requested to send researchers associated to the project to UNAK for training. budget was requested for UNAK investigator Dr Sean Scully to visit Leeds and attend advisory board meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UNAK are part of our industrial advisory board and is hosting PGR for training in IB. UNAK are assisting in the development of ex situ biomethanation and have agreed to continue hosting PGR beyond the project Hosted a number of PGR students (Jessica Quintana Najera, Aaron Brown) associated with the project |
| Impact | 1 research paper published and 2 additional papers in submission |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Trento, Italy |
| Organisation | University of Trento |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hosted a PhD student exchange (Donato Scrinzi) working on the phytotoxicity of hydrochars from biomass. Part of this exchange involved assessing the toxicity of water hyacinth derived hydrochars, developing new methods for the analysis of hydrochars as soil ammendment products. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Donato Scrinzi, a visiting PhD project student from University of Trento, under the supervision of Prof Luca Fiori has expertise in stabilisation of hydrochar for soil amendment application |
| Impact | paper under preparation and poster presentation planned at International Conference on Bioresource Technology for Bioenergy Bioproducts and Environmental Sustainability, Italy, 2023 |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaborative link with Dr Jessica Adams, IBERS, University of Aberystwyth |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Department | Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A joint publication has been published 4 x PGR placements from Leeds have worked at IBERS 2 x submitted funding proposals. Development of links to other Indian based projects analysis performed for Masters students at IBERS |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to steam explosion facility for pretreatment of water hyacinth Cultivation of water hyacinth from Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Hosted four PGR placements |
| Impact | 1 published paper 2 submitted funding applications 3 publications planned Further funding applications planned |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Awareness camp: This was a two-day workshop to disseminate knowledge about water hyacinth and biogas among local residents in Sehalai Village. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This two-day workshop provided local residents knowledge about utilisation of water hyacinth and the health benefits of using biogas to replace traditional fuels. It also demonstrated the operation of two newly built biogas digesters (as output of the BEFWAM project) in the village. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Awareness campaign on health hazards of traditional fuels, detrimental effects of water hyacinth in-situ and benefits of biogas: Awreness campaign at Sehelai village (project site) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Awareness campaign aims to mobilize the community and raise awareness to community regarding the health hazards of traditional fuels, detrimental effects of water hyacinth in-situ, and benefits of biogas |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Awareness raising campaign: People of local communities in Kanara Town Council, Uganda, were invited to attend workshops to disseminate knowledge of potential use of water hyacinth and biogas production. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The workshops aimed to raise local rural residents' awareness of how to use water hyacinth to produce biogas and slurry fertiliser. Most participants had no knowledge about this at all. They were better informed after attending the workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Biogas policies in Rural India - Policy brief |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Policy brief states the gaps in between the policymakers and the beneficiaries. It also recommends points to bridge the gaps. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | COP 26 - Can bioenergy make a difference? panel discussion and Youtube live session |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The panel discusses the education and outreach activities they are promoting so that access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all becomes a reality |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/KGoIFOtPW_I |
| Description | Community engagement and Socioeconomic studies in Uganda |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Community engagement workshops of villages in Uganda and India in August 2019. Choice experiments were performed with the base level data of the village. A pilot survey was conducted in Goalpara, Santiniketan (India) and Ntoroko, Kanara near Lake Albert (Uganda) to collect 30 and 45 questionnaires, respectively. A Choice Experiment was tested to estimate household WTP for the potential benefits of removing water hyacinth from water bodies. The main survey of 300 - 400 households in each country is under planning. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Demonstartion event: People of local communities in Ntoroko District, Uganda, were invited to attend a demonstration event about the newly built biogas facility in the village. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The event demonstrated the operation of a new biogas facility built by the BEFWAM project, including how to maintain the biogas digester and how to use biogas for cooking. Multiple participants made inquiries after the event about the possibility of building a similar facility for their households. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Gender and Energy - Policy brief |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Policy brief states the gaps in between the policymakers and the beneficiaries. It also recommends points to bridge the gaps. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Hands on training on vermicomposting from biogas slurry: training at Sehelai village |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The training is intended to increase the awareness regarding the benefit of biogas slurry and increase the usage of organic fertiliser in the regional area |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Hands on training on water hyacinth craft products |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The training is intended to increase the awareness regarding the water hyacinth benefits and kick-start women entrepreneurship in the regional area making craft products and use of water hyacinth as a source of fibre for making baskets etc |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Hands on training program: Local residents, mostly women, in Sehalai Village, India were involved in a training session about utilisation of water hyacinth |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This event provided hands-on training for residents in Sehalai Village about using the dry stems of water hyacinth to make handicrafts, such fruit baskets, which is promising to generate additional income for local households. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Invited lecture on BEFWAM to BBSRC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Strategic Partner discussion and University of Leeds Research Showcase for BBSRC: 26th October 2021 for University visit by: Professor Melanie Welham, Executive Chair Dr Lorna Colquhoun, Executive Director of Strategic Planning, Evidence and Engagement Dr Emma Hudson, Science Liaison Manager Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Project overview presented by the PI Dr Andrew Ross |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | MOOC on renewable energy: Achieving Sustainability through Bioenergy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A MOOC, Renewable Energy: Achieving Sustainability through Bioenergy was developed and released on the FuturLearn platform to provide education to worldwide students. The course is designed for anyone interested in renewable energy, bioenergy and achieving sustainable energy solutions. It will be of particular interest to students studying relevant disciplines, academic researchers, professionals in the energy industry, and NGOs. It aims to develop practical skills that will help participants to develop real-life energy solutions. International partners at CREEC and VBU contributed to development of MOOC providing resources for the course program, syllabus, management, organising the partners |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/renewable-energy-achieving-sustainability-through-bioenergy |
| Description | Research skills training: Two training sessions were hold among international partners of BEFWAM project on transferrable skills of academic writing and survey implementation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | These training sessions aimed to build and strengthen research capacity of international partners of the BEFWAM project in terms of writing research articles that meet the requirement of international journals and using the KoBoToolBox to efficiently collect survey data through mobile devices. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Stakeholder engagement workshop on Anaerobic digestion of invasive aquatic macropytes. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The aim of the workshop was to disseminate some of the findings from the BEFWAM project and promote awareness of the opportunities for using aquatic macrophytes for the production of bioenergy. In particular, the workshop explored the utilization of water hyacinth by anaerobic digestion and presented some of the successes of the BEFWAM project and some of the impact that the project is starting to make. The workshop also stimulated discussion with different stakeholders researchers and policymakers. The agenda was divided into 2 sections, It first included a brief overview of the BEFWAM project and some short presentations on some of the fundamentals of the project moving into the scale-up and assessment of opportunities for using aquatic macrophytes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/anaerobic-digestion-of-invasive-aquatic-macrophytes-tickets-165241574... |
| Description | Workshop at VBU on Sustainable Rural development |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A workshop on sustainable rural development was held at VBU in Sept 2019. Guest lectures from BEFWAM partners (Dr Ross, Dr Fletcher, Dr Dalvi and Dr Singh, presented together with members of VBU. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Workshop on Plant power at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On Thursday 27th June, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, in collaboration with the University of Leeds hosted an interdisciplinary workshop with presentations from energy projects in Uganda, Tanzania, Congo-Brazzaville, Indonesia and India. Key topics will include biogas from invasive water hyacinth and bioenergy in mini-grids. The workshop brings together international expertise to develop ideas and collaboration to a theme that is fundamental for sustainable development, poverty alleviation, biodiversity conservation and mitigating climate change. Projects showcased include the BEFWAM project, CRESM Hyres, ACERA, Conversion of wet waste and a Newton Bbhaba project on MSW. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |