Peat can generate 800MW of energy
According to the Government, a study on renewable energy development and efficiency has revealed that peat resources could generate about 800MW of electricity.
By Ibrahim Kasita
According to the Government, a study on renewable energy development and efficiency has revealed that peat resources could generate about 800MW of electricity.
More energy would enable rural areas to access power, reduce the pressure on hydro-electricity consumption and pave way for the conservation of Lake Victoria.
Peat is a soft organic material made of partially decayed plant material. It forms in areas where there is very little oxygen.
The shortage of energy has left the country craving for another 120MW to sustain the growing electricity demand. Recently, the level of Lake Victoria lowered, reducing the amount of power generated at Kiira and Nalubaale power stations. The stations generate 120MW from their installed capacity of 380MW. The Government gets 100MW of thermal energy so that there is sufficient power. However, this is costly because thermal power is three times the cost of hydro-power.
From peat you can get electricity and charcoal, which could also protect forest degradation
In sod peat (a form of charcoal) production, machines like tractors can be used to extract peat. Peat is dried using steam or gas. At $14.4 per tonne, the cost of 30,000 tonnes required for sod peat production would be $432,000. Due to the diverse location of peat resources, electricity generation can be accomplished using small units of less than 20MW.
A total of 30,000 tonnes of sod peat is required to generate 20MW of electricity. It would, however, require a power plant, which would generate electricity and heat for the peat drying process. This is estimated to cost about $10m. A peat charcoal production unit can be established in bog areas using a rotating drum oven. The yearly production would be 5,000 tonnes of peat and the investment costs of the factory is estimated at $3.9m.
The research also aims at establishing the viability of substituting furnace oil with peat and biomass at the Hima cement factory.
According to the research, about 6.3MW of electricity can also be generated from Kiruruma valley in Kabale district at a cost of about $16m. It is estimated that at Hima cement factory, the company will have to invest $28m so as to replace furnace oil with peat and coffee husks.
As the search for sustainable energy supply options progresses, peat is viewed as one of the resources, which have a niche in the country. Commercial exploitation of this resource for power generation entails overcoming constraints like the high transport costs involved in taking peat from the source to the power plant.
This is due to the scattered nature of the resources and environmental concerns arising out of the drainage of swamps.
There is a need to sort out the increase in acidity of water resources near production plants.
The Government should conduct feasibility studies to mitigate measures for the constraints. Electricity generation from peat resources is possible but costly.
According to the Government, a study on renewable energy development and efficiency has revealed that peat resources could generate about 800MW of electricity.
More energy would enable rural areas to access power, reduce the pressure on hydro-electricity consumption and pave way for the conservation of Lake Victoria.
Peat is a soft organic material made of partially decayed plant material. It forms in areas where there is very little oxygen.
The shortage of energy has left the country craving for another 120MW to sustain the growing electricity demand. Recently, the level of Lake Victoria lowered, reducing the amount of power generated at Kiira and Nalubaale power stations. The stations generate 120MW from their installed capacity of 380MW. The Government gets 100MW of thermal energy so that there is sufficient power. However, this is costly because thermal power is three times the cost of hydro-power.
From peat you can get electricity and charcoal, which could also protect forest degradation
In sod peat (a form of charcoal) production, machines like tractors can be used to extract peat. Peat is dried using steam or gas. At $14.4 per tonne, the cost of 30,000 tonnes required for sod peat production would be $432,000. Due to the diverse location of peat resources, electricity generation can be accomplished using small units of less than 20MW.
A total of 30,000 tonnes of sod peat is required to generate 20MW of electricity. It would, however, require a power plant, which would generate electricity and heat for the peat drying process. This is estimated to cost about $10m. A peat charcoal production unit can be established in bog areas using a rotating drum oven. The yearly production would be 5,000 tonnes of peat and the investment costs of the factory is estimated at $3.9m.
The research also aims at establishing the viability of substituting furnace oil with peat and biomass at the Hima cement factory.
According to the research, about 6.3MW of electricity can also be generated from Kiruruma valley in Kabale district at a cost of about $16m. It is estimated that at Hima cement factory, the company will have to invest $28m so as to replace furnace oil with peat and coffee husks.
As the search for sustainable energy supply options progresses, peat is viewed as one of the resources, which have a niche in the country. Commercial exploitation of this resource for power generation entails overcoming constraints like the high transport costs involved in taking peat from the source to the power plant.
This is due to the scattered nature of the resources and environmental concerns arising out of the drainage of swamps.
There is a need to sort out the increase in acidity of water resources near production plants.
The Government should conduct feasibility studies to mitigate measures for the constraints. Electricity generation from peat resources is possible but costly.