Bio-energy

Overview

Bio-energy overview

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Since 2006 LIRE has been investigating the options for biofuels in Lao-PDR, in terms of local production and usage. There has been a lot of large-scale biofuels projects proposed in Laos mostly lead by outside investors with a view to exporting the biofuels produced to other Asian nations. This approach would appear to have limited benefit to the rural communities in Lao-PDR and not help the Lao PDR meet its national targets to substitute a significant portion of its fuel usage with biofuels.

LIRE is therefore focussed on small-scale biofuels schemes, that are applicable and relevant to rural people; with biofuels as being one part of a diversified rural economy in Lao-PDR.

Multiple pathways for multiple solutions

LIRE is not focussed on just one feedstock crop, but a diverse range of feedstock crops. Jatropha is still a major oil crop we look at, as it is familiar to Lao farmers and has been in Lao-PDR for around 300 years as a hedging plant and is goat resistant, which is a huge consideration in rural Laos. LIRE also looks carefully at waste cooking oil, Stone Jatropha, and a very wide range of other feedstocks. The aim is to find an appropriate feedstock mix for the individual needs of the communities

Biodiesel or Bioethanol, or both?

LIRE’s analysis suggests that biodiesel and Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) is currently more easily applicable to the small-scale production in Laos.

A presentation introducing biofuels in English and Lao can be found here.

Extracting more than just oil

LIRE continues to very actively research adding value to the whole processing chain when producing biofuels, including finding practical uses for the press-cake and other by-products from processing biofuels. The goal is to make the processing as economically and socially viable as possible in the Lao-PDR context.

2nd and 3rd Generation Biofuels

LIRE continues to actively investigate the opportunities for 2nd and 3rd Generation biofuels in Laos, as far as they can be relevant in the small-scale rural Lao-PDR context.

Turning Waste into Energy and Opportunity

LIRE is actively and innovatively establishing a Waste-to-Energy program, to develop and pilot waste-to-energy technologies relevant to the distinctive Lao-PDR context. Our approach is to link private businesses, institutions, and the relevant government authorities together, to gather the necessary baseline data and facilitate them working together in an integrated manner. LIRE appreciates and values the importance of having commercial partners solidly on-board, making sure that the data and technologies are relevant to their distinctive needs whilst meeting all appropriate social and environmental sustainability criteria.

Activities

Bio-energy activities

Sept 2010 – Jan 2011

Detailed assessment on the viability and opportunity of district level Biodiesel production and use

Following on from previous Biofuels work, LIRE is conducting a detailed assessment on the viability, practicality, and economic sustainability of growing, producing, and using biodiesel in a single district, with the support from FACT Foundation The Netherlands. The concept is to see if farmers can benefit from both income from growing feedstock crops and access to sensibly priced-high quality fuel, in an explicitly pro-poor way. That fuel processing on a single district scale could provide jobs within the district, that it would be possible to meet Lao government biofuels targets inside a district, and that the positive use of the processing byproducts could assist other economic activities in the district.

July 2010 – Nov 2010

Detailed Viability Study on Biofuel production for rural electrification on village scale

Following up with first study conducted in 2009, LIRE is conducting a more detailed feasibility study on biofuel production for rural electrification in a selected village in Luang Prabang. The study aims to assess the socio-economic, technical and financial viability of a rural electrification model that uses vegetal oils. A detailed field mission was conducted to collect data at village and households levels, and the final report, comprising of technical and financial analysis, will then be used to plan a possible implementation phase.

Jan 2009 – Mar 2009

Feasibility Study on Biofuel production for rural electrification on village scale

A feasibility study for French NGO Fondem was carried out in a Luang Prabang province to determine the viability of locally produced biofuels for rural electrification on a village scale. For this purpose, field trips were made to the target province and natural biomass resources were evaluated. Villagers were also asked about their interest in the project. The economic viability of various operational models was determined, according to the criteria provided by Fondem.

2007-2009

Monitoring at local Jatropha plantation

The major objective of the monitoring activity was to assess the performance of a 3 ha Jatropha plantation. Gaining information about the seed yield facilitates further seed yield expectations.

2006 and 2009

Stakeholder and Baseline Assessment of Biofuel potentials in Lao PDR

In 2006 and 2009, LIRE investigated active biofuel stakeholders in the Lao PDR and interviewed them about their planned activities. The outcome was comprehensive reports which provided an overview on stakeholder expectations as well as possible energy crops suitable for Laos. A baseline assessment study was completed including policy recommendations.

Aug 2006 - May 2009

Jatropha breeding program conducted to improve agronomists’ breeding skills

LIRE gained Jatropha plant material from several provinces such as Xiengkhouang, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay and Houaphanh and cultivated it at three locations in Vientiane Capital. The major objective of this activity was to train and improve plant breeding skills of local agronomists.

Nov 2008 – Jan 2009

Biogas Users’ Survey (BUS)

A socio-economic impact assessment was carried out for customers of the Biogas Pilot Program (BPP) domestic biodigester, to evaluate the degree of success achieved by Dutch NGO SNV in achieving its development targets, and to provide recommendations on management. LIRE conducted interviews on existing and potential users, and carried out a comprehensive analysis, which included a technical appraisal of system performance and economic conditions.

Sep 2008 – Nov 2008

GIS Survey for identifying suitable areas for Biogas

Conducted in Savannakhet, Xiengkhouang, Vientiane and Khammouane provinces, the general objective of this assignment was to identify areas in the Lao PDR with a high potential demand for domestic digesters. A GIS tool was created to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of BPP's promotion and management activities. The regions were mapped for the potential market by incorporating existing data on relevant parameters.

April 2008

Biofuel production from Jatropha seeds

800 kg of Jatropha seeds were pressed and analysed to its chemical components. Moreover the oil was refined and transesterificated. The results showed that it is possible to produce biodiesel which can match the criteria of the DIN standard.

Documents

Bio-energy documents