RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT

Building on the experience gained through the Cambodian Fuel Wood Project (CFSP), in 2002 the Research & Development Unit was formed. The aim is to conduct technical research and development of sustainable fuel and stove technologies and to improve fuel efficiency in the biomass energy field.

The Unit focuses on 2 main objectives:

  1. Developing alternative fuels to replace fuelwood gathered through deforestation
  2. Developing technologies that ensure efficient combustion of alternative biomass fuel, especially through the Pyrolysis-Gasification process

These objectives are met through the design, construction and testing of prototypes. Field validation and pilot dissemination then ensure the end product is not only affordable without subsidies yet is also:

The main activities of the unit are development of the Vattanak Stove gasifier burner, agro-waste char-briquettes and the T-LUD pyrolysis cookstove.

THE VATTANAK STOVE, A GASIFIER BURNER

With an output of 30kW of power, this stove targets small enterprises. It was developed for palm sugar producers who consume large amounts of wood. The stove is currently at its 9th design version and is being tested further in the field. Using pre-fabricated ceramic elements, the Vattanak is robust and easy to build. Appropriate for remote areas, it uses only natural draft. Pilot users save 30-50% of fuelwood compared to their traditional stoves. The Vattanak stove can be adapted easily to other industries.

AGRO-WASTE CHAR-BRIQUETTES

Developed for urban centers, char-briquettes are biomass waste that is first converted into charcoal through pyrolysis, ground and then compacted with binder. Typically this product is used like wood charcoal, but it is sold at a cheaper price and has an equivalent calorific value. In Phnom Penh, char-briquetting processes agro-waste and creates employment opportunities.

EXTENSION UNIT

The extension unit is responsible for developing green charcoal techniques and energy plantations. The unit also assists other teams regarding information, training, communication, baseline studies and promotional campaigns for commercialized dissemination of developed technologies.

The objectives of the unit are:

Activities within the unit include commercial dissemination of the New Lao Bucket Stove, development of the Neang Kongrey stove and green charcoal projects.

NEW LAO STOVE

The New Lao Stove (NLS) has been very successful in the domestic market with more than 200,500 units sold between May 2003 and January 2007. The stove is manufactured at 16 different production centers in 10 provinces of Cambodia. The NLS is particularly suited to burning charcoal, often the preferred fuel in urban areas. This innovative stove provides one example of an appropriate technology developed for the Cambodian market which has met all the broad development aims of the original project. The NLS effectively provides:

NEANG KONGREY STOVE

This stove is an improved version of the Lao Kampong Chhnang stove which can be viewed on the CFSP pages of this site. The improved version is only produced in Kampong Chhnang Province and is made from a specific clay which has only been found in this one area of Cambodia. The design is targeted to poorer rural users and only costs $1 to purchase. The stove is fuelled by wood yet can also work effectively with charcoal.

24 providers of traditional stoves have been trained to produce this new stove of which 11 are actually now constructing the stove. All the producers are women. From January 2007 to February 2007, 925 stoves were produced of which 667 were immediately sold.

GERES Cambodia supports these producers with new designs, stove molds, advertising, marketing and quality control.

GREEN CHARCOAL/KILNS

Charcoal consumption in Phnom Penh is approximately 90,000 tons per year and is mostly supplied from the Kampong Speu area. Total charcoal consumption in the whole country is approximately 7,000,000 cubic meters per year. Wood sources for charcoal production are forest land where diminishing hardwoods are still available. Charcoal production threatens biodiversity reserves, as experienced in the provinces of Koh Kong, Battambang, Kratie, Kampong Speu and Kampong Chhnang. GERES has identified the destructive logging for charcoal production (called "illegal charcoal" by the authorities) as the main environmental problem in biomass energy in Cambodia. To respond to this situation, projects were initiated in sustainable charcoal production or "Green Charcoal": a combination approach of improved kiln technology including the Yoshimura and Drum Kilns and sustainable forest management.

THE YOSHINURA KILN

The Yoshimura Kiln is a circular kiln with four outlet chimneys and one internal chimney. Producing charcoal from wood or bamboo, the kiln accommodates only branches, twigs and other agricultural raw materials to a maximum diameter of 15cm.

Benefits and economic advantages of using this stove compared to traditional charcoal production methods include:

THE HORIZONTAL DRUM KILN

The Horizontal Drum Kiln (HDK) is constructed from a used oil drum and is installed horizontally on the ground. It is equipped with a chimney measuring 1 meter in length and 8-10 centimeter in diameter and made of bamboo or ceramic tube. The drum is insulated with rice husk ash. This Kiln also uses twigs and bamboo but is much smaller, cheaper to construct and easier to use compared with the Yoshimura Kiln.

The HDK shares similar economic advantages as the Yoshimura Kiln in producing charcoal of higher calorific value compared to traditional kilns. The HDK also promotes employment generation. This kiln, however, costs approximately $40 compared to $500 for the Yoshimura Kiln. The Drum Kiln is therefore available for household use.

WOOD VINEGAR

Smoke released from improved kilns during the carbonization process can be condensed and is commonly known as pyroligneous acid. In the international market this liquid is known as Wood Vinegar (WV). This liquid feed can be used as an alternative to chemical pesticides and chemical growth stimulants. It is non-toxic to humans and bio-degradable. GERES Cambodia has trained charcoal producers to collect WV and advised on the best methods of purification.

WV is beneficial to agriculture by:

Presently, the Community Forestry Association of Angtasom, Takeo Province, is producing charcoal sustainably and collecting approximately 1,320 liters of WV per month. Application projects of WV to agricultural land in Kandal Province are also taking place.

ENERGY PLANTATIONS

The link between wood supply and wood demand in projects conducted by GERES Cambodia is ensured by the forestry division of the Extension Unit. The team works on tree planting initiatives adapted to field conditions and socially accepted by local communities.

Activities conducted by the forestry team to support efficient wood supply include:

51,000 trees have been planted to date for energy plantations and 12,000 for the coppice systems.