— launches $12M bioenergy project
— Gasifier project to eventually produce electricity for the institution
DPI, Guyana, Monday, July 15, 2019
What is the possibility of having cars and buses, in Guyana, powered by fuel which is manufactured by sustainable sources, that do not add to climate change and are readily available right here?
According to these agencies, this might soon be a reality as the University of Guyana (UG), in collaboration with ExxonMobil, launched its Gasifier project to produce clean and renewable energy for the Campus.
At an estimated $12.4M, the gasifier will provide clean and renewable bioenergy to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, the Faculty of Engineering and Technology as well as the Natural Sciences Faculty.
Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Major General (ret’d), Joseph Singh.
The ‘Gasifier’ in action.
A technician igniting the ‘Gasifier’.
Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Owen Bovell.
Owen Bovell, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, delivering remarks at the launch of the project, said that this venture will improve energy quality and contribute to a sustainable society. “The project was established for the sole purpose of building national capacity in the areas of biochar and bioenergy,” Bovell said.
Pro-Chancellor of UG, Major General (ret’d), Joseph Singh said that the education the university now delivers provides real-world knowledge and experience. “We are moving in the right direction in terms of the application of theoretical knowledge for the real world out there.”
An investment of three years in the making, the gasifier will also enable a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of the university.
“I hope that all those who are exposed to the new technology will understand and appreciate that it’s not just a research project, but [think about] how is this going to transform the lives of people, how is it going to reduce waste, how is it going to react positively on the environment,” Major General Singh added.
The provision of the gasifier is aligned with the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including the reduction of hunger through sustainable agriculture, the attainment of affordable and clean energy.
Editor’s Note: A bioenergy gasifier allows for the thermal process that converts organic fuel-based materials such as wood scrap, shells, pellets rice husk into a combustible gas comprised of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The resulting gas mixture is called syngas ((synthesis gas). After purification, the syngas can be used as fuel.
https://dpi.gov.gy/moving-beyond-research-ug-to-reduce-its-carbon-footprint/
