Talking Biogas with Lazarous Chewe

24/05/2023

QUESTION FROM GOERGE VAN ZEDAM:

A 10 Kg gas cylinder how much upgraded biogas can be compressed in?

ANSWER: TALKING BIOGAS WITH LAZAROUS CHEWE

The amount of upgraded biogas that can be compressed in a 10 kg gas cylinder will depend on the pressure at which the gas is compressed and the specific volume of the compressed biogas.

Assuming a standard pressure of 200 bar for compressed biogas and a specific volume of 1/200 m³/kg, we can calculate the amount of biogas that can be stored in a 10 kg gas cylinder as follows:

Volume of biogas in a cylinder = Cylinder weight x Specific volume of compressed biogas x Pressure
= 10 kg x (1/200 m³/kg) x 200 bar
= 1 m³

Therefore, a 10 kg gas cylinder can hold approximately 1 cubic meter of upgraded biogas when compressed at a pressure of 200 bar. However, the actual amount of biogas that can be compressed may vary depending on the specific conditions and requirements of the system.

21/05/2023

BIOGAS, ALTERANTIVE HOUSEHOLD AND COMMERCIAL FUEL

Biogas is potentially a commercial product which can competitively Co-Exist with Liquefied Petroleum Gas. However For the commercialisation of biogas to be achieved it is important to make it portable and compatible for various commercial implication by increasing its energy content. This process requires compression of the biogas to a higher pressure as possible.

Storage of raw gas is nearly an impossibility for commercial application because cylinder becomes heavy, and bulky for higher pressures. This increases the weight of the cylinder hence, affect its portability, and other means of increasing the calorific value of biogas.

Biogas requires to be purified by removing incombustible gases present in biogas. The absent of biogas upgrading process is what have hindered biogas not to be part of the energy mix in Zambia.

Intervention efforts from International cooperating agencies e in the past manly focus has been to facilitating rural agriculture communities with animals to tap into biogas, but this process hasn’t yield positive results as expect due to high cost of installing a biogas plant.
In urban centres where biogas stand a chance to be a preferred energy for cooking, and heating charcoal is still widely used as a preferred energy source for cooking and heating at household level making other alternative renewable energy such a biogas not to have a market share for many people still regard biomass fuel in form of firewood and charcoal to be God given.

Institutions that are mandated to provide technical, and scientific support to product development are not rendering support that the biogas sector requires. TDAU, UNZA, NISIR, and CBU are key players in the development of the biogas sector in Zambia.

I have been privileged to enter institution of learning in a number of countries, and have noticed how Universities, and research institution are working tirelessly developing solution to make biogas a preferred commercial energy.

In Zambia we need to insure our tertiary institution play a strategic role in the development of local knowledge on biogas development, and this calls for research funding. Zambia needs to develop home-grown biogas technical knowledge just like India and China has done where biogas is part of the energy mix.

Starting a biogas energy enterprise is difficulty in Zambia due to absent of skilled labour and institution support. No lending institution currently is willing to finance a biogas project because the sector is considered a high risk areas for investment in spite the potential biogas offers as an alternative energy source.

In my over two decades experience working in the renewable, and rural energy sector I have been privileged to travel to difference countries, and this exposure has given me an understanding to know what works.

Efforts made by international development agencies in the development of the biogas sector through construction of biogas digester is recommendable. Zambia through cooperating partners at least managed to develop a saviour of local biogas digester masonries with skills in building biogas digesters.

However, the challenge has been most of these projects supported by international agencies lack a proper exit strategy. Once funding dry up the whole concept dies. (No continuity).Kenya is one country l admire when it comes to project, and product development. Our colleagues already have achieved biogas bottling and now working on safety, quality and commercialisation of biogas.

Those who have been privileged to visit Kenya will be quick to notice that Kenya is a biomass deficit country hense there is great effort from the local scientific community in helping find solutions to some of the everomental challenges Kenya faces.

In Zambia government is trying to discourage rural households from cutting trees for charcoal burning, yet there is no alternative which households can fall-back on. In all fairness that is a fallacy to logic.

The LPG market is well developed however, we must understand petroleum products price are subjected to international prices fractuetion so is LPG. No politician worthy a name is ready to put his head on a guillotine machine by why of encouraging average Zambians to switch to a fuel whose price is beyond government control. Zambia must start investing in development of the biogas sector now for the benefit of all Zambians in the nearly future.

10/05/2023

BIOGAS FOR ALL

Experience has taught me to understand what works.

02/05/2023

BIOGAS CONTAINARISATION

Period this the way to go! Provide financing to projects that are people centered not tedious processes which at the end of day never benefit the target groups.

CHINA

19/03/2023

19/03/2023

POWERING A HOME WITH BIOGAS

Last week my inbox was buzzing with texts and pastes of a video purposed to be a BBC report. The Crip in question is professionally scripted and edited to make the viewer see what he or she wants to see as opposed to see and hear what he or she needs to understand.

CAN A HOUSEHOLD TOTALLY GO OFF GRID AND DEPEND ON BIOGAS 356DAYS?

Powering a home with biogas is a viable option, but there are important factors to consider before deciding to install such a facility. The energy needs on the premises and security of feedstock must be carefully considered. Animal feedstock, such as chicken and pigs, can be susceptible to disease, which could cause a blackout on the farm due feedstock running out.

It's important to have an alternative feedstock source, such as agricultural waste, which can be reserved while running and avoid total blackout. Municipal waste is also a reliable source since city dwellers generate waste throughout the year.

Gensets are primarily designed as backup systems, and most common gensets on the markets are not designed to run 24/7/52 weeks/365 days.

If one genet is running 24/7, there must be a mechanism where a number of gensets are installed so that in the event one is malfunctioning or needs repair, stand-in gensets must be ignited to maintain the supply of electricity on the premises.

The thumb rule for biogas digester installation is feedstock must be within the vicinity and near to the utility point. Utilizing biogas for activities such as cooking and heating water doesn't necessarily require biogas to undergo the biogas scrubbing process. If you have an LPG water heater, all one will need is to adjust the jets from 1mm to 3 or 5mm.

In Zambia, there are skilled individuals with the capacity to install such a facility as shown in the clip. People need to identify biogas practitioners with a proven record to undertake such a project on their premises and produce gas.

It's important to be aware of misleading information on social media, especially when it comes to technical information. It's best to rely on trained information disseminators for accurate and reliable information.

17/03/2023

13/03/2023

For more information contact: +260 976994735/ +260 975933285 | Email: [email protected]

09/03/2023

RESPECT

Respect for each other's professions is a crucial aspect of any healthy society. It involves acknowledging the hard work, dedication, and expertise that goes into a particular profession and treating those who work in that profession with the respect they deserve. This is especially important when it comes to service providers, who work hard to provide us with various services that make our lives easier.

It is also important to pay the right fees to those who do their work with diligence. Service providers put in a lot of effort and time into providing quality services. They need to be compensated fairly for their hard work and dedication. Underpaying them is not only disrespectful, but it is also demoralising, and can cause them to lose motivation.

As an example, take the case of biogas digester installation. The process of installing a biogas digester is not easy. It requires a lot of expertise, and hard work to ensure that the gas produced is of good quality.

However, it is disheartening to hear that some people approach biogas digester installers and offer them peanuts in return for their services. This is not only disrespectful, but it also shows a lack of appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into the installation process.

When service providers are not paid fairly, it can lead to a lot of demotivation and even resentment towards their work. It can cause them to lose interest in providing quality services and may even lead them to leave their profession altogether.

This, in turn, can have a negative impact on the overall quality of services available in the market.

In conclusion, it is crucial to respect each other's professions and pay the right fees to service providers. This not only shows appreciation for their hard work and dedication but also ensures that they are motivated to continue providing quality services. Let us all make a conscious effort to value the work of service providers and compensate them fairly for their efforts.

09/03/2023

Hello, dear followers!

I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone about the purpose of my page. As you all know, I am passionate about environmental matters, and I use this space not only to discuss these topics but also to market my services, which include biogas digester installation.

Unfortunately, I have noticed that in recent times, some people have been using this forum to simply patronize me or waste my time. While I love engaging with all of you, please remember that I am here to do business, and my time is valuable.

If you are interested in my services, please don't hesitate to state your interest and reach out to me directly. Let's not waste each other's time because we all know that time is money.

Thank you for your understanding, and I look forward to continuing our discussions on environmental matters and helping you with your biogas digester needs

29/01/2023

‘’DR KASEBA SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH FRENCH BASED WASTE TO ENERGY FIRM
PRESS RELEASE’’

Lazarous Chewe…

Biogas technology is a crucial tool for mitigating the negative impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment and is becoming increasingly important for local municipalities to invest in and promote.

Biogas digesters are systems that process organic waste, such as food waste and sewage, and convert it into biogas, a clean and renewable source of energy.

By harnessing the power of biogas, local municipalities can play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and generating clean energy for markets, and most importantly reduce dependence on biomass inform of charcoal which now being cited as one of the leading causes of forest degradation in Zambia.

One of the most compelling reasons to invest in biogas digesters is their ability to clean up towns and reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal.

Biogas digesters can process a variety of organic waste streams, including food waste, agricultural waste, and sewage, which would otherwise release methane and other harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

By processing these waste streams, biogas digesters help to reduce the emissions of these harmful gases, improving air quality and mitigating the impact of climate change.

In addition to reducing the environmental impact of waste disposal, biogas digesters also offer a clean and renewable source of energy for markets.

Biogas can be used to generate electricity, heat, or fuel for vehicles, providing a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels.

By investing in biogas technology, local municipalities can help to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources, promoting a cleaner and more sustainable future for their communities.

In conclusion, investing in biogas digester technology is an important step for local municipalities in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions and the promotion of clean and renewable energy sources.

By taking a keen interest in biogas technology, local municipalities can help to clean up towns, reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal, and generate clean energy for restaurants in public markets, while mitigating the impact of climate change.

02/01/2023

Climate Emergence activism
Push

01/01/2023

Our theme this year is : Biogas for as a Climate mitigation strategy and resilience.

My focus this year is working with international biogas practitioners focusing on building commercial biogas plants.

01/01/2023

2022: Photo focus

01/01/2023

2022 Photos focus

29/12/2022

Climate walk.
''This is not climate change, but climate emergency''

Push

26/12/2022

CONTAINERISING BIOGAS, WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Bottling biogas is the most desired way to make biogas commercially viable. However one must understand what it takes to bottle biogas into high pressure containers (Cylinders).

Biogas in its raw form is notoriously difficult to containerise, and doing so can be a dangerous undertaking. However if safety measures / purification guidelines are adhere to, biogas compression is achievable.

LOW PRESSURE BIOGAS CONTAINERS
The most common low pressure, and preferred storage containers for storing row biogas are PVC Balloons. They are cheap, ease to move, and don’t require expert knowledge to use them.

They come in different sizes and shapes. These storage containers are a great way of increase biogas storage capacity on farms.

HIGH PRESSURE BIOGAS CONTAINERS
These containers are designed to withstand high compression .They come in different sizes just like LPG containers. Upgraded biogas needs invest in equipment, and skilled man power. On this forum l have encouraged animal farmers to invest in biogas technology.

Those who follow and understand energy politics understand which direction the energy sector is moving to.

Energy is becoming a difficult matter to handle hence it important for those of our friends with energy sources (Feedstock) which can generate energy to invest into owning a biogas plant on properties.

My appeal to Zambians wishing to build a house or lodges, please hear me ‘’don’t sink these 18th century septic tanks and soakaways’’ on your sites.

If you need technical advice from experienced and trained biogas installer to help you install these plants we’re here to help you.

07/12/2022

CONTAINERISING BIOGAS WHAT EVERY FARMER MUST UNDERSTAND

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This is a subject that l often find challenging to explain to folks who are not exposed to the science of biogas product and utilisation.


RAW BBIOGAS
There are number of ways in which biogas can be stored in containers however one must understand raw biogas (none purified) is easy to store in low pressure containers such as PVC Balloons, and in gas holder provided in the celling of the underground fixed biogas plant or in a typical floating dome gas holder.

Raw biogas is good for cooking, heating at both household, and institution level. Raw biogas contains traces of gases with corrosive elements making raw biogas a difficult gas to compress.

PURIFIED BIOGAS
Purifying biogas simply implies increasing calorific value and adding commercial value. Purified biogas is can be made movable through containerisation in high pressure container such as gas cylinders and can be piped through grid distribution network.

BIOGAS BOOSTER PUMP
In the vent biogas is channelled throw the biogas scrubber (purifier) it is important to invest in a biogas buster pump. This gadget is designed to pump biogas to the utility point, and maintain a steady pressure flow rate while biogas is being utilised.

WHAT TO AVOID
Avoid biogas installers who sweet talk you into believing electricity will be generated on your site without proper understanding the energy needs of each give premises.

Biogas for power generation requires detailed site assessment this approach helps the project developer gather vital data regarding Feed stock quantity, energy requirements, cost benefit analysis before a decision build a biogas plant is reached.

05/12/2022

WOOD ENERGY EFFEICIENT STOVES IN WORNG HANDS

Daring the 2021 Presidential election campaign, a parliamentary candidate distributed expensive domestic Rocket stove in sounding villages.

As a biomass energy efficient stove practitioner myself l was left wondering, and asking myself what was the motive behind the distribution of this expensive stoves to poor people? The stove in question a brand new one on Amazon costs in the region of US$ 35 exclusive of shipping to Zambia.
Last week a young man approached me, and offered me to sale the stove on the picture at K30. Little did he understand my motive why I didn’t question or asked for a discount?
Without wasting time l paid him through airtel money, and got my stove. I have cleaned it and parked the stove as part of my wood energy efficient cook stoves collection.

03/12/2022

UNDERSTANDING THE INTRICATE OF CARBON TRADING
Another view: from Biogas Practinoiner Lazarous Chewe

I first came across the phrase ‘’ Credit Carbon Trading’’ in 1999 whilst working with CARE International Zambia – Stoves Project.

The Stoves project was contemplating to venture into Carbon Credit trading using the wood fuel efficient stoves (JIKO).

The 1999 Climate Change conference which took place in The Hague in the Netherlands brought a lot of excitement to organisations that where venturing into green energy technologies for potential new opportunities.

By 2000 CARE Stoves Project identified a carbon trading company in USA- New York. The 9/11 bombing diminished the Stoves Project’s ambitions of venturing into the carbon trading market due to the death of top management stuff that perished in that sad historical event in the twin tour in New York City.

WHAT IS CARBON CREDIT TRADING?
Carbon trading is the process of buying, selling permits and credits that allow the permit holder to emit carbon dioxide. It has been a central pillar in the West to slow climate change. The world's biggest carbon trading system is the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).

HOW CREDIT CARBON TRADE IS ORGANISED?
Participants may receive an initial allocation of carbon credits or enter an auction to buy them.

Businesses who subsequently reduce their emissions can sell their excess carbon credits to other participants or companies looking to offset their own greenhouse gas emissions can buy those credits through a middleman or those directly capturing the emissions, thereby commoditising carbon, and creating a market.

WHICH COUNTRY IS THE LARGEST SELLER OF CARBON CREDITS?
Currently, India and China are the biggest sellers of carbon credit whereas countries in Europe are the biggest buyers. The concept of Carbon Credit Trading is set out in Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol.

WHAT IS THE RATIONALE BEHIND CARBON CREDITS?
Carbon credits were devised as a mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Companies get a set of number of credits, which decline over time, and they can sell any excess to another company. Carbon credits create a monetary incentive for companies to reduce their carbon emissions.

Typical example for Zambia would be; if a commercial abattoir or farm with over 1000 cattle develop means or a system of collecting caw dung which is one of the culprit of methane emission in the atmosphere, use it as feedstock for biogas production and prove the activity reduces methane emission in the atmosphere such a venture can attract credit carbon trading financing.

HOW ARE CARBON CREDITS CREATED?
Carbon credits are generated from projects around the world that pull Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) out of the atmosphere or keep emissions from being released.

Each time a project is verified and certificated they have reduced, avoided, or destroyed one metric tonne of GHG, one carbon credit is created Waste disposal units, plantation companies, commercial agriculture schemes, commercial abattoir, chemical plants, clean tech power plants and municipal corporations can sell the carbon credits and make money.

TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARBON CREDITS: CARBON CREDITS VS. CARBON OFFSETS

• Carbon credits and carbon offsets are instruments meant to control emissions and protect the environment. Carbon credits (certified emissions reductions — CER) follow a regulatory framework that aims at the project’s emissions. They’re issued and regulated by governmental schemes.

• Carbon offsets (voluntary emission reductions — VER) are the proof a company receives when it removes units of carbon from the atmosphere as part of routine business operations. The organization can sell these to other businesses that need to lower their carbon footprint. Transactions occur on the voluntary carbon market, as VERs are independent and not regulated by any government at least in other countries.

THE PROS AND CONS OF CARBON CREDITS AND OFFSETS
Advantages:

• Carbon offsets can impact climate change and protect the environment.
• Carbon offsets help with building awareness around greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global warming.
• Carbon credits and offsets incentivize companies to invest in new technology and provide environment-friendly products and services.
• They both accelerate the transition to green energy and environmentally friendly practices.
• Carbon credits give businesses a simple means of compensating for damaging environmental effects.
• The social costs of greenhouse gas emissions are supported by those responsible for them.

Disadvantages:
• Carbon credits alone can’t stop or erase the carbon footprint that has already been made.
• Some organisations might believe it is okay to emit significant amounts of carbon if they’re willing to pay for it.
• Companies that need carbon credits could raise product prices to counter reduced business profits.
• More companies are likely to fail as they join the quest to become carbon-neutral.
• Various industries have different levels of carbon offsetting efficiency, and carbon offsets are often insufficient.
• Certification fees don’t come cheap

WHAT COMPANIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CARBON CREDITS?

All companies can buy carbon credits and offsets on the compliance and voluntary carbon markets to meet their climate strategy goals. A company’s annual residual emissions should be the criterion used to decide the number of offsets needed, emphasizing reductions first and then offsetting residual emissions.

Lastly, offsets must be a component of a thorough, science-based approach to reaching carbon footprint goals, not an excuse to carry on operations as usual.

Qualified experts (Companies) often calculate an organisation’s emissions for companies with complex business processes, and operations. As a general rule, every action that generates greenhouse gas emissions must have an associated emission factor.

01/12/2022

Don't be surprised when this level of works start mushrooming in your towns and cities.

30/11/2022

TAKE ADVATAGE OF BIOGAS

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When l was studding renewable energy technologies way back 20yrs ago in Asia, my supervisor professor Huro Ndung used to remind us that biogas is a future energy, but to many of us from the south this idea sounded too distant.

Zambia has hydro power potential of 6000MW meaning if ZESCO installed power plants at every river with potential for installation of dam the next electric must come from other energy resources. As things stand today already over 2000MW of electricity is generated from hydro.

Zambia’s population is growing, and so is electricity demand. ZESCO is already in the process of seeking consent from ERB to increase electricity tariffs. I am not a religious prophet or a prophet of doom, but merely here to alert my fellow Zambians how the foreseeable future looks like regarding energy production and consumption.

Why we all need Biogas

The tone is already set, President Hichilema was in Egypt, and those who follow international events have grasped what lays ahead with regard to the climate.

Biomass utilisation in Zambia is one of the chief culprit contributing to forest degradation, and the Zambian government is now responding to this effect with a desire to change the narrative.

If you are building a new house, avoid constructing these outdated septic tanks, and soakaway on your property. Insure you build a biogas plant that you can use both as septic tank and a source of energy for cooking and heating.

Farmers too need start exploring how they can utilise caw dung, pig poo, chicken dropping and create another stream of energy on farms. Let’s not wait for thing to turn sour in order to solve challenges down the road.

27/11/2022

Biogas talk

Lazarous Chewe chatting with biogas digester builder Chanda on site in Chongwe - Zambia

23/11/2022

DYSFUNCTIONAL BIOGAS PLANTS
What’s the way forward?

In recent times I have been receiving calls and messages from different biogas plant owners asking me to help them fix challenges they’re facing running, and operating biogas plants on farms and homes.
The most common Problems range from design mistakes, insufficient feedstock and non-commissioning. In Kafue Chinyanya area about 5 biogas plants that were installed on sites without water, and plant owners are very infuriated about their predicament because the biogas builder never come back to commission the plants and hand over to them in an operating condition.

The above changes has nothing to do with the biogas plant design, but something to do lack of proper handling of the biogas digester installation process.
WHAT FARMERS MUST AVOID
1. Never pay a commissioning fee till the biogas plant is ignited (Producing Gas).
2. Make sure the biogas digester installer review to you the size of the biogas plant in cubic meters. This requirement will assist you in understanding the manure requirement, and gas storage capacity.
3. Make sure the biogas installer include commissioning fee in the contract. This will assist you in avoiding your biogas installer running away (Switch off their phones) when the process take a bit of time igniting the biogas plant.

21/11/2022

Lazarous Chewe chatting with biogas digester builder Chanda on a biogas site

17/10/2022

BIOMASS DEPLETION WHICH WAY FORWARD?

A policy maker or implementer whose 99.9 % of his or her relatives depend on biomass for cooking, and heating cannot implement a law which makes charcoal burning a crime in Zambia.

As long policy formulators don’t come up with alternative solutions, affordable energy for cooking, and heating that decision would be inappropriate country men and women.

Out of the three major causes deforestation charcoal burning is not one of them. How many people in Zambia understand that bush burning causes more environmental damage to the forest including it habitants than Charcoal burning does?

Indeed charcoal burning can cause forest degradation, but to single out charcoal burning as the main culprit or causer of deforestation that is just a popular myth.

If Zambia is serious about restoring her forest cover without causing social disorder it’s important to start addressing this issue with the agency and seriousness it deserves.

WOOD-LOTS
Woodlot simply means a small plantation the purpose of which is to provide wood fuel for local communities including commercial purposes depending on the size.

Wood lots can play a very important role in providing wood fuel as an alternative energy for cooking, and heating especially for rural communities.

In Zambia there is demand for estate property development, and most of the new human settlements are unplanned with no integration of environmental management concepts in township design.

This mode of human development is equally effecting rural communities. A case in point is Chongwe which is facing wood fuel depletion. In Chongwe large track of land is now going into private hands and fenced.

LOCAL LEADERSHIP

Traditional leadership can play a very important role in the development of wood lots in biomass depletion areas of rural communities. Before all the land ends up in the hands of the ’’ l don’t care affluent Lusaka residents’’ measures must be put in place where potions of land need to be identify and protected for woodlots.

If twenty woodlot where to be planted in Chongwe as an example surely in the next 15 year people will have where to harvest wood fuel.

14/10/2022

From the achieves.

This is one of the eeliest Rocket stoves l made. This particularly stove was purchased by Mr. Charles Wamulwange for candle making in Mongu. I remember when he come looking for a stove l told him the price, and never asked for any discount and paid me in full upfront!

This is a time in my journey when l had to labour explaining the importance of using these stoves.

I remember spending four years walking to the Department of Energy trying to promote the use of these stoves in schools.

After 4 years late Acting Director Charles Mulenga finally approved the project. The stove where distributed to Chimpebi Girls and Kaoma Secondary School.

From 2009 till this day we are still in contact and in good terms with Ba Charles. Thanks for trusting me big man.