Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum): A Potential Source of Biomass for Power Generation in Ghana

Danquah, Jones Abrefa; Roberts, Charity Odumale; Appiah, Mark

doi:10.9734/cjast/2018/45224

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Thermal methods are represented by combustion, pyrolysis and gasification, and hydrothermal methods [35][36][37][38]. Thermal or electrical energy is the primary product of BWW combustion; ash (10-20% by mass) is formed as a waste [39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of Old Bark and Wood Waste Recycling

Kulikova

Сухих

Babich

et al. 2022

Plants

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The pulp and paper industry leads to the formation of significant amounts of bark and wood waste (BWW), which is mostly dumped, causing negative climate and environmental impacts. This article presents an overview of methods for recycling BWW, as well as the results of assessing the resource potential of old bark waste based on physicochemical and thermal analysis. It was found that using BWW as a plant-growing substrate is challenging because it was observed that bark waste is phytotoxic. The C:N waste ratio is far from optimum; moreover, it has a low biodegradation rate (less than 0.15% per year). The calorific value content of BWW ranged from 7.7 to 18.9 MJ/kg on d.m., the ash content was from 4% to 22%, and the initial moisture content was from 60.8% to 74.9%, which allowed us to draw conclusions about the feasibility of using hydrothermal methods for their processing to obtain biofuel and for the unreasonableness of using traditional thermal methods (combustion, pyrolysis, gasification).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of Old Bark and Wood Waste Recycling

Kulikova

Сухих

Babich

et al. 2022

Plants

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“…In livestock farming Mott grass is responsible for the production of good quality forage and also recommended for silage. According to research carried out in 2018, Brazil only generated 30-40 metric tons of its biomass per hectare under home condition while other areas produced 50-60 MT in five months using rectilinear growth rate (Danquah et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Sequestration and Biomass Assessment of Mott Grass (Pennisetum purpureum), in three Growth Stages in Barani Areas of Pothwar, Pakistan

Shehzadi¹,

Farooq²,

Kausar³

et al. 2021

PJAR

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Alternative renewable energy is getting progress in current era keeping in view of energy insecurity in the coming years and the ever increasing threat of environmental and social health due to the use of fossil fuel. Lingo-cellulosic biomass has seen getting fame as bioenergy crops in maintaining food security alongside fulfilling energy demands. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) has turn out the promising nutritious forage to the livestock on the sustainable basis, feedstock for biofuel and also has proven to be environmental friendly. The purpose of this study is to assess the biomass production of mott grass and its capability to sequester Carbon from the environment in the barani areas of Pothwar region in Pakistan. The research study was conducted under rained condition in the field area of Rangeland Research Institute National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad. In this regard an experimental plot of one acre area was established in the field area of RRI, NARC, Islamabad. Grass tuft of sized 15 cm was collected from the grass nursery of range land Research Institute (RRI) and plantation was carried out in one acre in barani condition. The area was laid down and plant to plant distance was 60 cm and row to row distance 90 cm kept in the research study area in RRI, NARC. The parameters of this experiment were included biomass production (BP) kg/ ha, carrying capacity (CC) kg/ha and carbon stock (CS) kg C /ha after interval of 21, 45 and 60 days along with the proximate analysis including protein content, crude fiber, ether extract, and total digestible nutrients. Significant results were obtained by applying ANOVA test on the data retrieved. All three factors (BP, CC and CS) showed maximum results after 60 days of growth. The result indicated that after the 60 days interval the animal unit per month gave the maximum fodder (7.0667 AU/M/Ha) that proposed to be grazed for large ruminants and then 21 small ruminants on the same biomass and also maximum forage production recorded 3882 kg/ha and it sequester carbon to up to 3560 kg C/ha in the given interval. Increase in fiber and ash content also justify the increase in biomass yield of the plant after interval of 60 days. The study indicates that Mott grass or Napier grass based on its high biomass yield is an effective approach in maintaining the fodder quality for animals on the sustainable basis and being bioenergy crop could make it a viable asset in declining the carbon burden off from environment and fulfilling the upcoming energy demands.

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“…In Ghana, several studies have shown that there is a great potential for energy generation from waste produced in the country (Duku et al , 2011a, Ofori-Boateng, 2013; Mohammed et al , 2013; Kemausuor et al , 2014; Ulrike et al , 2014; Gyamfi et al , 2015; Danquah et al , 2018; Akolgo et al , 2018; Acheampong et al , 2019; Amo-Asamoah et al , 2020). Notwithstanding these potentials, there is yet no commercial facility or plant for waste-to-energy generation in the country (Bensah and Brew-Hammond, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An analysis of the economic viability of waste-to-energy generation in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana

Owusu‐Manu

Amo-Asamoah

Ghansah

et al. 2021

JFMPC

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Purpose Kumasi Metropolis, the second-largest city in Ghana is known to be bewildered with challenges relating to waste management. As a means of solving the waste management challenge, several suggestions are often made for the establishment of a waste-to-energy plant to manage the disposal of waste and generation of income. There have been no studies conducted to determine how economically viable such plants will be. This study aims to examine the economic viability of waste-to-energy generation in the Kumasi Metropolis to find out how economically viable such an approach will be. Design/methodology/approach To achieve this, a simple debt-equity ratio business model based on discounted cash flow technique was applied to estimate the internal rate of returns (IRR) as a measure of the economic viability and profitability of a modelled 50 MWH waste-energy generation plant in the Kumasi Metropolis. The analysis was performed using the RetScreen Expert Software. Findings The results show that the IRR and benefits cost ratio of the facility were 36% and 5.8%, respectively, indicating high levels of profitability and economic viability. The study concludes that waste-to-energy generation will be an economically viable venture in the Kumasi Metropolis. Practical implications It is, however, important for users of the findings of this study to take caution of the fact that the various assumptions although based on current knowledge and expert opinion may vary with time; therefore, the sensitive analysis on price and costs should always be considered. Practically, this study will contribute to solving the waste management situation in most cities, as well as generating revenue and helping close the energy deficit most developing countries are grabbling with. Originality/value The unique contribution of the study to knowledge is that it has professed an alternative analytical and methodological approach to measuring the financial viability of waste-to-energy plants in situations where there is none in the geographical jurisdiction of the proposed project.

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Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum): A Potential Source of Biomass for Power Generation in Ghana

Cited by 21 publications

References 35 publications

Feasibility of Old Bark and Wood Waste Recycling

Feasibility of Old Bark and Wood Waste Recycling

Carbon Sequestration and Biomass Assessment of Mott Grass (Pennisetum purpureum), in three Growth Stages in Barani Areas of Pothwar, Pakistan

An analysis of the economic viability of waste-to-energy generation in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana

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