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American Society for Testing and Materials

This chapter discusses leading problems linked to energy that the world is now confronting and to propose some ideas concerning possible solutions. Oil deserves special attention among all energy sources. Since the beginning of 1981, it has merely been continuing and enhancing the downward movement in consumption and prices caused by excessive rises, especially for light crudes such as those from Africa, and the slowing down of worldwide economic growth. Densely-populated oil-producing countries need to produce to live, to pay for their food and their equipment. If the economic growth of the industrialized countries were to be 4%, even if investment in the rational use of energy were pushed to the limit and the development of nonpetroleum energy sources were also pursued actively, it would be extremely difficult to prevent a sharp rise in prices. It is evident that it is absolutely necessary to pursue actively the development of coal, natural gas, and nuclear power if a physical shortage of energy is not to block economic growth.

World energy outlook

The present study aimed to analyze the wind speed data of Firouzkooh region. For this purpose, the wind speed data for a 3-h period measuring over a 10-year period (2001–2010) were analyzed to calculate and estimate the wind power generation potential. Similar trends of the wind speeds were seen in different years where the highest and the lowest mean wind speeds belonged to May 2010 and June 2002, respectively. The diurnal wind speed analysis demonstrated that the fastest winds blew from 6 am to 3 pm. Weibull and Rayleigh distribution functions were applied to find out the best fitting tool to the wind speed data. Results showed that Weibull and Rayleigh distribution functions can fit the actual values of wind speed well with almost the same coefficient of determination value (R2) of 0.97. The average values of wind power based on mean and root mean cube speed approaches were 203 and 248 W m−2 year−1, respectively indicating that Firouzkooh region stands in class 4 (which is a suitable area for wind turbine establishment). Finally, wind rose diagram revealed that the prevailing wind direction falls in the sector between 180° and 270° clockwise from North.

Wind speed and power density analysis based on Weibull and Rayleigh distributions (a case study: Firouzkooh county of Iran)

This paper presents an assessment of renewable energy resource potential and the current status of exploitation in Kenya. As an importer of petroleum fuels, Kenya spends a substantial amount of foreign reserves to import oil. The oil import bill in 2008 consumed 55% of the country's foreign exchange earnings from exports. On the other hand, there is a high dependence on wood biomass energy, leading to an imbalance in its supply and demand. This has exerted considerable pressure on the remaining forest and vegetation stocks, thereby accelerating the processes of land degradation. Moreover, despite the abundance of potential and a strong growth in demand for electricity, the country faces constraints in satisfying electricity demand. At the national level, only 18% of the households have access to grid electricity. The access is much lower in rural areas where only 4% of the households have grid electricity. Kenya has a liberalized energy sector and has made significant progress in the recent past in formulation of renewable energy policies. What is more, Kenya's electricity power mix is among the most sustainable in the world, with 80% of electricity coming from renewable sources. However, a substantial proportion of renewable energy resources are unexploited. Of the potential renewable sources, Kenya has harnessed only about 30% of its hydropower sources, approximately 4% of the potential geothermal resources and much smaller proportions of proven wind and solar power potentials. Furthermore, a large potential exists for the development of biomass based energy such as biogas, biodiesel and power generation form baggasse. The strong growth in energy demand provides excellent opportunities for private investors to invest in renewable energy power generation.

Renewable energy in Kenya: Resource potential and status of exploitation

Prospects of renewable energy – a feasibility study in the Australian context

6 years of wind data for Marsabit, Kenya average over 14 m/s at 100 m hub height; An analysis of the wind energy potential

Water hyacinth, E. crassipes, an invasive water weed thrives in fresh water bodies causing serious environmental problems. In Kenya the weed has invaded Lake Victoria and poses great socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Currently the weed is harvested from the Lake and left in the open to rot and decay leading to loss of aesthetics, land and air pollution. There is therefore need for development of value addition and economic exploitation strategies. The aim of the study is to assess the potential for utilization of the weed as a renewable energy resource for biogas production. Samples were collected from Lake Victoria, pulped and blend with cow dung at a ratio of 3:1 as inoculum. The resultant mixture was mixed with water at a ratio of 1:1 and fed into a 6 m3 tubular digester. The digester was recharged with 20 kg after every three days. The temperature, pH variations, gas compositions, upgrading and gas yields were studied. The temperature ranged between 22.8°C - 36.6°C and pH 7.4 - 8.5. Biogas was found to contain 49% - 53% methane (CH4 ), 30% - 33% carbon dioxide (CO2 ), 5% - 6% nitrogen (N2 ) and traces of hydrogen sulphide (H2S). The biogas was upgraded using solid adsorbents and wet scrubbers increasing the methane content by up to 70% - 76%. The upgraded gas was used to power internal combustion engines coupled with an electricity generator and direct heat applications. The study concludes that E. crassipes is a potential feedstock for biogas production especially in areas where it is abundant.

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Biogas Production Using Water Hyacinth (Eicchornia crassipes) for Electricity Generation in Kenya

Evaluation of thermal interface materials in mediating PV cell temperature mismatch in PV–TEG power generation

Thermal gasification of biomass provides a potential renewable energy resource in rural areas in Kenya. Rice husks are a key byproduct of rice production that are not considered of economic value to millers. Rice husks obtained from Mwea, Embu County, Kenya were converted into syngas using a locally assembled modified updraft gasifier. The syngas production was produced at temperatures between 450°C and 750°C with injection of limited supply of air and purified using series of gas cleaning and cooling devices. Proximate analysis shows that rice husks have a mean content of 21.9% ± 0.3% ash, 9.5% ± 3.3% moisture, 78.8% ± 0.3% volatiles and 91.8% ± 1.3% total solids. Carbonized rice husks have mean contents of 37.8% ± 1.2% ash, 3.1% ± 0.4% moisture, 62.3% ± 1.2% volatiles and 96.5% ± 0.4% total solids. The study shows that feedstock is consumed at a rate of 25 - 32 Kg/Hr with gas generation rate of 7.76 - 7.78 m3/hr; this translates to a gas yield of 0.31 - 0.35 m3/Kg. Process water was re-circulated at a rate of 2.2 m3/hr within the plant. The total electricity consumption per hour was 1.1 - 1.3 kWh. Carbon monoxide (CO) and temperature were monitored in the working area to assess the safety of the workers and were found to be in the range of 35 - 50 ppm and 24°C - 29.5°C respectively. The two were found to be within safe limits; however, the CO concentrations increased when leakages occurred. Syngas was found to be composed of 16.5% - 17.55% CO, 14.5% - 16.1% CO2, 4.1% - 4.5% H2, 6.8% - 7.2% CH4 and 17.9% - 45.7% N2 among others. The gas was used for direct heating applications and to run modified petrol engines. Carbonized husks were used to make energy briquettes and partly applied to the rice growing pads to improve soil properties. The technology provides energy solutions and aids in the abatement of climate change mitigation and abatement since it provides a permanent carbon sink. The technology provides a value addition chain for rice growers.

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Thermal Gasification of Rice Husks from Rice Growing Areas in Mwea, Embu County, Kenya

Sugar industry produces a number of by-products during the process of sugar production such as bagasse, press mud or filter cake, ash, mill effluent, and trash. The press mud from the clarifiers is rich in organic matter thus can be utilized for biogas production. Currently in Kenya, press mud is being dumped as garbage or given to farmers as fertilizer. This disposal method pause some environmental challenges such as air pollution due to odour, surface and ground water pollution and pollutes the soil by increasing the soil wax content. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential for utilization of sugarcane derived press mud and use it as a feedstock for biogas production, upgrade biogas using locally available materials and to generate electricity from biogas generated from press mud in sugar factories. The research was carried out in South Nyanza Sugar Zone. The samples of sugarcane press mud were collected from South Nyanza Sugar Company (SONY), Sukari industry limited and Transmara Sugar Company. Chemical analysis/ characterization on the composition of the sugarcane were done at Kenya Sugar Research Foundation laboratories in Kisumu City. The result on the compositional analysis of the sugarcane press mud from the three sugar factories had slight variations of 2%. Average values were: moisture content 63.1%, ash content 16.1%, and C/N ratio 19.6%. This confirms the potential of the sugarcane press mud to produce biogas and the residue after anaerobic digestion is very rich in nutrients hence best bio-fertilizer.

https://jsre.jkuat.ac.ke/index.php/jsre/article/download/26/26

Robert Kinyua

Papers

6 years of wind data for Marsabit, Kenya average over 14 m/s at 100 m hub height; An analysis of the wind energy potential

Biogas Production Using Water Hyacinth (Eicchornia crassipes) for Electricity Generation in Kenya

Evaluation of thermal interface materials in mediating PV cell temperature mismatch in PV–TEG power generation

Thermal Gasification of Rice Husks from Rice Growing Areas in Mwea, Embu County, Kenya

Assessment of the potential for utilization of sugarcane derived press mud for biogas generation in South Nyanza sugarcane zones, Kenya