Details

Title:

Utilising a Biomass-to-Energy Solution as an Instrument to Stimulate Economic Development, Community Upliftment and Wealth Creation in the Nkomazi District of Mpumalanga

Author(s):

Stolz, N.H.P., Murray, J., Bouwer, J.L.

Document(s):

Abstract:

The South African sugar industry production has fallen by 6.8 million tons of sugar cane between the 2000/01 season to the 2012/13 season. South African sugar cane farmers are the custodians of one of the largest reservoirs of short cycle renewable biomass. An opportunity exists to arrest this decline in this critical rural development catalyst by developing markets for biomass and providing additional income to the growers. Furthermore, the existing practice of burning sugar cane in­field to improve harvesting efficiencies continues to waste a valuable resource. This study evaluated thermochemical processes and succeeded by matching the existing reservoir of cane biomass in Nkomazi District with appropriate thermochemical technology and exploring new products and markets. Of the various technology options, slow pyrolysis offers the simplest technology and the most direct route to market. The establishment of one pyrolysis plant in the Nkomazi District of Mpumalanga Province will create employment opportunities. A cash payment for biomass from cane tops makes it possible to offer small scale growers an alternate source of income and create a series of opportunities in a region desperate for investment and sustainable jobs.

Keywords:

charcoal, pyrolysis, rural development, sugar cane, socio-economic impact

Topic:

Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability

Subtopic:

Resource efficient bioeconomy

Event:

21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

5BO.11.3

Pages:

1769 - 1773

ISBN:

978-88-89407-53-0

Paper DOI:

10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-5BO.11.3

Price:

FREE