An assessment of crop residues as potential renewable energy source for cement industry in Malawi

Authors

  • Kenneth J. Gondwe
  • Sosten S. Chiotha
  • Theresa Mkandawire
  • Xianli Zhu
  • Jyoti Painuly
  • John L. Taulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2017/v28i4a2921

Keywords:

Crop residue, cement industry, coal, CO2 emission, Malawi

Abstract

Crop residues have been undervalued as a source of renewable energy to displace coal in the national energy mix for greenhouse emission reduction in Malawi. Switching to crop residues as an alternative energy source for energy-intensive industries such as cement manufacturing is hampered by uncertainties in crop residue availability, cost and quality. In this study, future demand for energy and availability of crop residues was assessed, based on data at the sub-national level. Detailed energy potentials from crop residues were computed for eight agricultural divisions. The results showed that the projected total energy demands in 2020, 2025 and 2030 were approximately 177 810 TJ, 184 210 TJ and 194 096 TJ respectively. The highest supply potentials were found to be in the central and southern regions of Malawi, coinciding with the locations of the two clinker plants. Crop residues could meet 45–57% of the national total energy demand. The demand from the cement industry is only 0.8% of the estimated biomass energy potential. At an annual production of 600 000 t of clinker and 20% biomass co-firing with coal, 18 562 t of coal consumption would be avoided and 46 128 t of carbon dioxide emission reduction achieved per year. For sustainability, holistic planning and implementation would be necessary to ensure the needs of various users of crop residues are met. Furthermore, there would be a need to address social, economic and environmental barriers of the crop residue-based biomass energy supply chain. Future research should focus on local residue-to-product ratios and their calorific values.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Benhelal, E., Zahedi, G., Shamsaei, E. & Bahadori, A. 2013. Global strategies and potentials to curb CO2 emissions in cement industries. Journal of Cleaner Production 51: 142–161.

Bentsen, N. S., Claus, F. & Thorsen, B. J. 2014. Agricultural residues production and potentials for energy and material services. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 40(1): 59–73.

Berazvena, J. 2013. Economic value of crop residues in Africa smallholder agriculture, Selected paper prepared for presentation at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association’s 2013 AAEA and CAES Joint Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, USA, August 4-6, 2013.

Biopact. 2006. Biopact. Available at: http://global. mongabay.com/news/bioenergy/2006/07/crop-residues-how-much-biomass-energy.html

[Accessed 24 November 2016].

CEMBUREAU. 2015. Activity Report 2015. Brussels, Belgium: CEMBUREAU.

CemNet.com. 2017. Cement Plants in Malawi. Extract from online Global Cement Report, 12th Edition. Available at: http://www.cemnet.com/content/ gcr/intros/139.pdf [Accessed 13 June 2017].

Chinamulungu, O. 2015. CPL plant ready by 2016. The Nation Online, Malawi: Nation Publication Limited. Available at: http://mwnation.com/cpl-plant-ready-by-2016/ [Accessed 10 January 2017].

Chinyama, M. P. M. 2011. Alternative fuels in cement manufacturing. In: M. Manzanera, ed. Alternative fuels. Rijeka, Croatia: InTech.

Denning, G. et al. 2009. Input Subsisies to Improve Smallholder Maize productivity in Malawi: towards an African Green Revolution.PLoS Biology 7(1): 2-10. Available at: http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1000023

[Accessed 07 January 2017].

Deolalkar, S. P. 2009. Handbook for Designing Cement Plants. Hyderabad, India: SP Publications.

Duku, M. H., Gu, S. & Hagan, E. B. 2011. A comprehensive review of biomass resources and biofuels potential in Ghana. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 15(1): 404-415.

Eisentraut, A. 2010. Sustainable Production of Second-Generation Biofuels: Potential and Perspectives in Major Economies and Developing Countries. IEA Energy Papers, No. 2010/01, OECD Publishing, Paris.

Famine Early Warning Systems Network. 2016. Regional Maize Market Fundamental. Southern Africa, 3 August 2016. Available at: http://www.fews.net/sites/ default/files/documents/reports/Southern%20Africa%20Maize%20Market%20Fundamentals%2020160803.pdf [Accessed 28 June 2017].

Food and Agriculture Organisation. 2012. Atlas of Malawi Land Cover and Land Cover Change 1990-2010. Rome, Italy: FAO.

Food and Agriculture Organisation. 2013. Malawi BEFS country report. Rome, Italy: FAO.

Food and Agriculture Organisation. 2015. Review of food and agriculture policies in Malawi: Country Report 2014. Rome, Italy: FAO.

Future Agricultures. 2008. Malawi’s agriculture ministry: Fit for purpose? Policy brief, Brighton, United Kingdom: Future Agricultures Consortium.

Gamula, G. E. T., Hui, L. & Peng, W. 2013. An overview of the energy sector in Malawi. Energy and Power Engineering 5: 8-17.

Government of Malawi. 2003. National Energy Policy. Ministry of Energy and Mining, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Government of Malawi. 2006. National Economic Report. Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Government of Malawi. 2011. Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II (2011–2016). Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Government of Malawi. 2014. The State of World’s Forest Genetic Resources: Country Report-Malawi. Lilongwe, Malawi: FAO.

Government of Malawi. 2015a. Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.Lilongwe, Malawi.

Available at: http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/ INDC/Published%20Documents/Malawi/1/MALAWI%20INDC%20SUBMITTED%20TO%20UNFCCC%20REV%20pdf.pdf [Accessed 13 January 2017].

Government of Malawi. 2015b. Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions for Malawi, First edition. Lilongwe, Malawi: Environmental Affairs Department.

Government of Malawi. 2016. Annual Economic Report 2016. Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Hudak, A. T. & Wessman, C. A. 2000. Deforestation in Mwanza district, Malawi, from 1981 to 1992 as determined from Landsat MSS imagery. Applied Geography 20(2): 155–175.

Ionita, R., Würtenberger, L., Mikunda, T. & de Coninck, H. 2013. Climate Technology & Development: Energy efficiency and GHG reduction in the cement industry: Case study of Sub-Saharan Africa. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, Netherlands.

IPCC. 2006. 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. In: H. S. Egglestone et al. eds. Volume 2:Energy. Kanagawa, Japan:IGES.

IPCC. 2011. Summary for Policy Makers. In: O. Edenhofer, et al. eds. IPCC Special Report on RenewableEnergy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation. London/ New York: Cambridge University Press.

Jimu, C. 2015. Shayona to finalise expansion in 2017. The Nation Online, Malawi: Nation Publication Limited. Available at: http://mwnation.com/shayona-to-finalise-expansion-in-2017/ [Accessed 10 January 2017].

Jingura, R. M. & Matengaifa, R. 2008. The potential for energy production from crop residues in Zimbabwe. Biomass and Bioenergy 32: 1287–1292.

Kamanga, P., Vedeld, P. & Sjaastad, E. 2009. Forest incomes and rural livelihoods in Chiradzulu District, Malawi. Ecological Economics 68(3): 613–624.

Labahn, O. & Kohlhaas, B. 1983. Cement Engineers Handbook. Berlin, Germany: Bauverlag GMBH.

Lal, R. 2005. World crop residues production and implications of its use as a biofuel. Environment International 31: 575–584.

Madlool, N. A., Saidur, R., Hossain, M. S. & Rahim, N. A. 2011. A critical review on energy use and savings in the cement industries. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 15: 2042–2060.

Makungwa, S. D., Epulani, F. & Woodhouse, I. H. 2013. Fuelwood supply: A missed essential component in a food security equation. Journal of Food Security 1(2): 49–51.

Minot, N. 2010. Staple food prices in Malawi. Prepared for the Comesa policy seminar on Variation in staple food prices: Causes, consequence, and policy options, Maputo, Mozambique, 25-26 January 2010 under the African Agricultural Marketing Project (AAMP), Washington DC: IFPR.

Montalvo, C. 2007. General wisdom concerning the factors affecting the adoption of cleaner technologies: a survey 1990–2007. Journal of Cleaner Energy 16(1–S1):s7-s13.

National Statistical Office [ Malawi] & ICF. 2017. Malawi 2015-16 Demographic and Health Survey Key Findings, Zomba, Malawi and Rockville-Maryland, USA: NSO & ICF.

National Statistical Office. 2008. Malawi Population Projections 2008-2030, Zomba, Malawi: NSO.

National Statistical Office. 2013. Integrated household survey 2011–2012: Household socio-economic Report, Zomba, Malawi: NSO.

OEDC/ IEA. 2014. Heating Without Global Warming: Markets Developments and Policy Consideration for Renewable Heat, Cedex, France: IEA.

Owen, M. et al. 2009. Malawi Biomass Energy Strategy,EU Energy InitiativePartnership Dialogue, Lilongwe, Malawi:EU. Available at: http://www.euei-pdf.org/sites/default/files/field_publication_file/EUEI_PDF_BEST_Malawi_Final_report_Jan_2009_EN.pdf.

Owen, M., van der Plas, R. & Sepp, S. 2013. Can there be energy policy in sub-Saharan Africa without biomass? Energy for Sustainable Development 17(2): 146–152.

Rahman, A., Rasul, M. G., Khan, M. M. K. & Sharma, S. 2013. Impact of alternative fuels on cement manufacturing plant performance: An overview. Procedia Engineering 56: 393–400.

Rahman, A., Rasul, M., Khan, M. & Sharma, S. 2015. Recent development on the uses of alternative fuels in cement manufacturing process. Fuel 45: 84-99.

Sustainable Energy for All-Africa Hub. 2017. Malawi:At a glance. Available at: https://www.sea4aa-africa.org/sea4all-in-africa/country-data/malawi/

[Accessed 9 October 2017].

Taulo, J. L., Gondwe, K. J. & Sebitosi, A. B. 2015. Energy supply in Malawi: Options and issues. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 26(2): 19-32.

Taylor, H. F. W. 1997. Cement Chemistry, Second edition. New York, USA: Thomas Telford.

UNDP/UNEP/UNEP Risøe Centre. 2008. Biomass energy for cement production: opportunities in Ethiopia. CDM Capacity Development in Eastern and Southern Africa, New York: UNDP.

United Nations Development Programme. 2016. Human Development Report 2016: Human Development for Everyone. New York : UNDP.

United Nations/ Framework Convention on Climate Change. 2015. Adoption of the Paris Agreement. Conference of the Parties Twenty-first session, Paris: United Nations. Available at: https://unfccc.int/ resource/docs/2015/cop21/eng/l09r01.pdf

[Accessed 13 January 2017].

WBCSD, 2014. Guidelines for Co-processing Fuels and Raw Materials in Cement Manufacturing. Cement Sustainability Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland: WBCSD.

World Bank. 2016. Malawi drought 2015-2016: post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA). Washington, DC: World Bank Group. Available at: http://documents. worldbank.org/curated/en/640011479881661626/Malawi-drought-2015-2016-post-disaster-needs-assessment-PDNA

World Bank. 2017a. Access to electricity (% of population). World Bank/ IEA SE4All Global Tracking.

Available at: https://worldbank.org/indicator/ EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS [Accessed 9 October 2017].

World Bank. 2017b. Country Overview/ Malawi. Available at: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/ malawi/overview [Accessed 25 June 2017].

World Energy Congress. 2016. World Energy Resources: Bioenergy 2016. London: WEC.

Zalengera, C. et al. 2014. Overview of the Malawi energy situation and a PESTLE analysis for sustainable development of renewable energy. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 38: 335–347.

Zulu, L. C. 2010. The forbidden fuel: charcoal, urban woodfuel demand and supply dynamics, community forest management and woodfuel policy in Malawi. Energy Policy 38(7): 3717–3720.

Downloads

Published

2017-12-23

How to Cite

Gondwe, K. J., Chiotha, S. S., Mkandawire, T., Zhu, X., Painuly, J., & Taulo, J. L. (2017). An assessment of crop residues as potential renewable energy source for cement industry in Malawi. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 28(4). https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2017/v28i4a2921