Abstract
BackgroundDue to limited coverage, the electricity power supply in Uganda is an obstacle to the country’s economic development. Utility firms in Uganda either lack the financial capacity to expand their grids to isolated rural areas or choose not to do so due to the low return on investment. Therefore, connecting households to mini-grids represents an effective solution to providing power to remote/rural areas. This study evaluates the resource and technology of generating electrical energy from cocoa pod husks (CPHs), an agricultural residue/waste, generated in Uganda. The use of agricultural waste for energy generation is the most suitable option for the rural population in Uganda because of the availability of a raw material (biomass) for its production, which is pollution-free (renewable and clean) and does not have competition for use. The inability to convert these solid wastes into useful products culminates into environmental related challenges, such as landfilling, climate change, pests, and diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study is to quantify the amount of generated CPHs and evaluate its potential for electricity generation in Uganda. Subsequently, we have been looking into the potential of CPHs as a feedstock for a thermochemical conversion process and the feasibility of a direct combustion technology.ResultsThe amount of CPHs generated in Uganda has been estimated. The physiochemical analysis has shown that the proportion of CPHs in the fresh pods is about 74%, which is nearly the same as in other studies. The dry matter content of CPHs has been found to be on an average of 19%, whereas ash content, moisture content, and the gross caloric value have been recorded to be 12.3%, 12.58%, and 17.5%, respectively. It seems therefore likely that 41.7 GJ of energy might be produced each year from CPHs in Uganda.ConclusionThis study has demonstrated that the CPHs are an important energy source. As there is an increasing trend in cocoa and CPH production in Uganda per year, the electricity production based on CPHs is sustainable and can be upgraded. The use of CPHs for energy conversion is therefore feasible, cost-efficient, and a solution to some environmental challenges.
Highlights
Due to limited coverage, the electricity power supply in Uganda is an obstacle to the country’s economic development
The amount of cocoa beans exported The analysis of the data obtained from Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) indicated that cocoa beans export increased from 545,415.5 kg in 2009 to 25,977,745 kg in 2015
From 2012 to 2015, cocoa bean export trend increased linearly. This might have been due to an increase in farm gate price, rural infrastructure improvement, property ownership, land policy, empowerment of women, better agricultural extension services, and networking. This is an indication that cocoa bean production and the capacity to generate significant cocoa pod husks (CPHs) is constantly on the rise in Uganda
Summary
The electricity power supply in Uganda is an obstacle to the country’s economic development. This study evaluates the resource and technology of generating electrical energy from cocoa pod husks (CPHs), an agricultural residue/waste, generated in Uganda. It is important to note that hydroelectricity power generation is facing the challenge of sinking water levels in lakes and a depletion of the Kilama et al Energy, Sustainability and Society (2019) 9:22 available sites due to the continuously rising power demand. In this case, renewable energy technologies might help countries to meet their policy goals for secure, reliable, and affordable energy and expand electricity supply among the population to promote its development. We examine the possibility of generating electricity from CPHs in Uganda
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
