By Samuel
Smallholder farmers are set to benefit from the gains of renewable energy as the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) has partnered with leading firms to convert agricultural waste such as cassava peels, to electricity.
The consortium formed said it will utilise advanced thermal technology that will convert agricultural waste to electricity, in parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
AATF, PyroGenesys, University of Leicester, Mobinet, Babban Gona Farmer Services, ICMEA-UK, Koolmill Systems, all formed part of the consortium for the project.
With AATF involved, the project will ensure increased income for cassava growers and contribute energy source for smallholders.
Managing Director of Agridrive, George Marechera who revealed this, said the initiative will benefit over 1.5 million cassava farmers through an increase of income from the sale of cassava peel.
He also added that four million households will gain access to “clean and affordable energy.”
According to Marechera, countries like Nigeria who had a greater comparative advantage as the largest producer of cassava were still facing acute electricity shortages – a situation that made the initiative imperative.
“The project, that involves the use of cassava peels, is already being implemented in Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Edo and Delta states of Nigeria with plans for expansion into other states and countries in Africa
“This is a great innovation as it reduces post-harvest losses in cassava and generates additional income for cassava farmers who will now sell cassava waste and get income,” he said
The MD added that a feasibility study on the use of crop wastes (cassava) to generate energy was carried out from June 2019 to June 2020.
On his part, Chief Executive Officer, PyroGenesys, Simon Ighofose, noted that his firm’s Pyropower plant will convert agricultural waste materials into renewable heat and electricity using an advanced thermal technology called ‘pyrolysis.’
Pyrolysis, according to him, would mean the absence of fossil fuels.
“We’ve set an initial target of installing 100 commercial systems to generate clean, low-cost electricity over the next two years.
“We’re also looking at selling electricity using Mobinet’s SIMPAY mobile payment system in Nigeria for cashless transactions,” he said.
“There are currently 634 million people without electricity in Africa. It is estimated that in Nigeria, only one in five people have access to power from the electricity grid.
“This leaves four in five people living in urban and rural communities having to fend for themselves with makeshift and localised power solutions, a situation that the newly formed consortium can leverage on to expand the country’s energy mix profile,” he explained.