Rice straw to biogas (R2B) project
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Eng
Abstract
Unlike rice husks (that cover the grain), rice straw (stems and leaves) is left in the field after harvest and few major uses have been identified, so more than 300 million tonnes of it are simply burned each year as waste. To date, attempts to profitably collect and use this vast resource for clean energy have almost all failed. In this concept note, a consortium of leading experts outline their bold plan to be leaders in this emerging field and provide a route to clean, affordable, reliable energy for the world's 200 million small-scale rice farmers.
Innovation: The novel approaches outlined here are designed systematically to overcome the four key barriers identified in the 3 year, UK-funded 'Rice Straw Energy project', which is now ending (September 2016). The barriers are: logistics of straw collection; rice straw fuel characteristics; lack of proven business models and policy support. The respective innovations to overcome them are: a simplified, village-scale supply chain that minimises collection costs and storage; a low-cost 'dry' anaerobic digestion technology appropriate for developing countries; packaged in an innovative business model with support from public funding to reduce the risks.
Innovation: The novel approaches outlined here are designed systematically to overcome the four key barriers identified in the 3 year, UK-funded 'Rice Straw Energy project', which is now ending (September 2016). The barriers are: logistics of straw collection; rice straw fuel characteristics; lack of proven business models and policy support. The respective innovations to overcome them are: a simplified, village-scale supply chain that minimises collection costs and storage; a low-cost 'dry' anaerobic digestion technology appropriate for developing countries; packaged in an innovative business model with support from public funding to reduce the risks.
Planned Impact
This proposal seeks to address the energy trilemma by developing a route to making affordable, clean fuel from rice straw in developing countries. The technology to be used is anaerobic digestion, which is an established technology but using rice straw as the main feedstock is still an underdeveloped application for it. The focus is on industrial research to develop and test innovative new systems, sub-systems and components for producing biogas from rice straw in a more cost-effective way. This proposal for "Renewable Energy - biomass and energy from waste" seeks to addresses the energy trilemma as follows:
ENERGY ACCESS / SECURITY OF SUPPLY. Rice straw is one of the most abundant biomass resources in developing countries and small-scale rice farmers are among the poorest of the poor. Hence, being able to turn rice straw into clean fuel would significantly increase their access to clean energy. Rice is the world's number one food crop, and for every kilo of grain eaten, a kilo or more of straw is produced, so there is secure of supply of potential fuel, most of which is currently being burned as waste. As a storable fuel, biogas can provide reliable backup power for other renewables, including on calm days without wind power or at night when there is no sunshine for solar PV. However, the main target use in this proposal is as cooking fuel, because almost 50% of the population of SE Asia still relies on solid fuel for cooking, often involving collection risks for women.
AFFORDABILITY. This proposed work aims to greatly reduce the cost of rice straw biogas production through:
a) A streamlined, one-step collection and transport supply chain; b) Localised 'village-scale' production to minimise transport costs but still allow economies and specialisation; c) A novel, low-cost 'dry' anaerobic digestion technology; and c) 'Cascading' use of biomass to maximise value from the straw and the digestate as fertiliser. It will also trial a business model that could benefit small-scale rice farmers in remote areas where fuel costs are especially high but rice straw is abundant.
CLEAN. As a cooking fuel, biogas offers attractive GHG emissions savings compared to LPG, and local emissions savings compared to wood or charcoal. Indeed, cooking with solid fuels is one of the five biggest killers in developing countries, causing 4.3 million premature deaths per year. In addition, producing biogas from rice straw can help reduce pollution from inefficiently burning straw as waste, giving a double saving in environmental emissions and health benefits.
Key members of the IRRI-SUPERGEN 'Rice Straw Energy Project' team have created this commercial proposal to immediately combine that knowledge with leading innovations to help unlock the potential of this vast resource.
ENERGY ACCESS / SECURITY OF SUPPLY. Rice straw is one of the most abundant biomass resources in developing countries and small-scale rice farmers are among the poorest of the poor. Hence, being able to turn rice straw into clean fuel would significantly increase their access to clean energy. Rice is the world's number one food crop, and for every kilo of grain eaten, a kilo or more of straw is produced, so there is secure of supply of potential fuel, most of which is currently being burned as waste. As a storable fuel, biogas can provide reliable backup power for other renewables, including on calm days without wind power or at night when there is no sunshine for solar PV. However, the main target use in this proposal is as cooking fuel, because almost 50% of the population of SE Asia still relies on solid fuel for cooking, often involving collection risks for women.
AFFORDABILITY. This proposed work aims to greatly reduce the cost of rice straw biogas production through:
a) A streamlined, one-step collection and transport supply chain; b) Localised 'village-scale' production to minimise transport costs but still allow economies and specialisation; c) A novel, low-cost 'dry' anaerobic digestion technology; and c) 'Cascading' use of biomass to maximise value from the straw and the digestate as fertiliser. It will also trial a business model that could benefit small-scale rice farmers in remote areas where fuel costs are especially high but rice straw is abundant.
CLEAN. As a cooking fuel, biogas offers attractive GHG emissions savings compared to LPG, and local emissions savings compared to wood or charcoal. Indeed, cooking with solid fuels is one of the five biggest killers in developing countries, causing 4.3 million premature deaths per year. In addition, producing biogas from rice straw can help reduce pollution from inefficiently burning straw as waste, giving a double saving in environmental emissions and health benefits.
Key members of the IRRI-SUPERGEN 'Rice Straw Energy Project' team have created this commercial proposal to immediately combine that knowledge with leading innovations to help unlock the potential of this vast resource.
Organisations
Description | Rice straw can be successfully digested in conjunction with cow manure in the dry digestion system. Biogas is obtained over a long period of time (>80 days), but levels are not always as expected and the reasons for this (composition, temperature, other conditions) are being investigated using data collected. Rice straw is not significantly decomposed by the process and emerges from digestion still so fibrous that it coudl not be readily used as a fertilizer. Other options (including use as a mushroom growth substrate in horticulture) are therefore being considered. Work continues on business models that deliver community beneifts. |
Exploitation Route | The findings are now being taken forward with an Innovate UK energy catalyst award |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Energy Environment |
Description | The findings are being used to engage with local farmers, universities and other key stakeholders to build a clearer understanding of the potential for rice straw to biogas in south east Asia. A workshop and open day engaged over 200 local community members. New partnerships with local universities have been formed. An application for a mid stage energy catalyst has been successful. |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy |
Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
Description | Asia and renewable energy - the only viable option for a sustainable future |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Article in Bioenergy Insight highlighting the relevance of the project activities adn leading to further discussion with commercial sector on bioenergy development opportunities in the global south |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Biogas from rice straw |
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 | workshop with academics, NGOs and third sector organisations discussing bioenergy production in the Philippines adn S.E. Asia leading to new resaerch collaborations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Exhibition stand EUBCE (European Biomass Conference and Exhibition) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Exhibition stand EUBCE (European Biomass Conference and Exhibition) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | GBEP webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk at GEBP webinar on bioenergy deployment and community engagement in Asia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Hub Annual Assembly |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Updating the community on research developments within the Hub. This year our Annual Assembly took place online, due to the ongoing situation around Covid-19, showcasing the Hub's latest work in areas ranging from sustainability frameworks, thermal conversion technologies, hydrogen and biomass feedstocks. Over 180 colleagues, partners and stakeholders from industry, policy and academia came together to discuss the UK biomass strategy, opportunities for collaboration and development, and how bioenergy can play a key role in the path to net zero. In addition to hearing from Hub researchers on the latest work in their Topic Groups, we welcomed an array of external speakers to provide valuable industry and policy perspectives on our research areas, which can be found below in the summary of the assembly programme and accompanying links to recordings of each session. A copy of the full assembly programme can be found online at the URL below. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/supergen-bioenergy-hub-annual-assembly-2020-focuses-on-the-u... |
Description | Launch R2B biogas facility |
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 | Publich launch of biogas pilot in Philippines with 250 guest and participants including local and national government, funders, general public, local schools. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Launch of biogas pilot plant, Philippines |
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 | Launch event at biogas pilot facility in Philippines was attended by the general public, policy makers, goverment officials, farmers, local industry, schools adn national media increasing the interest in rice straw utilisation for biogas production and renewable energy |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Manchester breakthrough web and social media campaign |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Online media campaign on impact of Manchester energy research focusing on this project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/beacons/breakthroughs/renewable-biomass/ |
Description | Mirjam Roeder - Contributing event at International Rice Congress 2023 |
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 | Mirjam Roeder - organisation of contributing event on utilisation of rice straw for energy at the International Rice Congress 2023 with international presenters |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Mirjam Roeder - GHG/LCA presentation at International Rice Congress 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Scientific presentation on LCA of bioenergy |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Mirjam Roeder - SUPEERA Project, Invited talk at EUBCE 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | SUPEERA Project, Invited talk and panelist at EUBCE 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Mirjam Roeder - invited talk GBEP annual meeting 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Mirjam Roeder - invited talk GBEP annual meeting 2023 presenting BSIM model and advising on approaches to implement bioeconomy to the GBEP Sustainability factors |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Presentation EUBCE, 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | presentation on biomass from contaminated land |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Presentation at European Biomass Conference & Exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | oral presentation " Feasibility of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) under the UK's net-zero emission target" at the European Biomass Conference & Exhibition 2020 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Presentation at European Biomass Conference and Exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | presentation on Bioenergy in international development and global south |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Rice growing produces tonnes of excess straw - can we turn it into 'bioenergy'? - The Conversation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | blog post at the converation leading to discussion with industry as well as resulting in additional media activities |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/rice-growing-produces-tonnes-of-excess-straw-can-we-turn-it-into-bioener... |
Description | Rushlight Summer Showcase |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | presenting R2B project at Rushlight Summer Showcase |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Stakeholder meetings |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Stakeholder meetings with local and national policy makers, authorities and agricultural practitioners in the Philippines to discuss and inform about R2B project, project activities and opportunities for the local rice grower communities |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Supergen Bioenergy Hub presentations at EUBCE 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | EUBCE (the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition) 2020 'Bioeconomy's role in the post-pandemic economic recovery' took place virtually between 6-9 July 2020, and several of our researchers presented progress on our work. Mirjam Röder will be presenting 'Environmental Performance and Trade-Offs of Biogas Production from Rice Straw' as part of the Environmental Assessments of Biomass Systems session on 8 July at 2-3pm CET. In addition to this, Mirjam will also be chairing sessions on Environmental and Climate Impacts of Biomass Systems and Strategy Guidance for Local and Regional Bioenergy Projects, on 6 July & 7 July respectively. Andrew Welfle will be presenting 'The Role of Bioenergy Modelling in Renewable Energy Research & Policy Development' as part of the Integrating Bioenergy in the Energy System session on 7 July 9-10am CET. Samira Garcia Freites will be presenting 'Feasibility of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) Under the UK's Net-Zero Emission Target' as part of the GHG Performance of Bioenergy Including Carbon Capture session on 9 July at 9-10am CET. Patricia Thornley will be presenting at side-event 'Getting published, perspectives of Editors' on 7 July at 5:20-6:30pm CET. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Sustainable Bioenergy Systems in a Net-Zero Emission Framework |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Scottish Government Towards a Bioenergy Action Plan |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Sustainable bioenergy within a net-zero emission target: Synergies between environment, economy and society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Nordic Conference Building a sustainable European biofuel industry Gothenburg |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | UK researchers test 'first-of-its-kind' biodigester on rice straw |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Article published in Approriate Technology magazin Vol 46, No.4 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |