Rice husks to be used for energy #rwanda

Government will soon start generating energy from rice husks as part
of push to absorb greenhouse gases and as a strategy to fight
deforestation.
The 'Rice husks to power project' is being implemented in Nyagatare
District to produce green energy.
Bright Ntare, the programme manager of National Climate Fund
(FONERWA), said the project is among 17 climate change adaptation
projects under implementation in the country.
Speaking on the sidelines of the South-South meeting in Kigali last
Thursday, convened to discuss financing climate compatible
development, Ntare said the projects are being funded by FONERWA at
a tune of Rwf22 billion.
The three-day meeting drew experts from Bangladesh, Colombia,
Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Peru and Rwanda to discuss
different funding alternatives for projects initiated to mitigate effects of
climate change in developing countries.
It was organised by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network
(CDKN) in collaboration with Rwanda Environment Management
Authority (REMA).
Participants said green technologies by private investors need funding
to avail renewable energy in rural areas.
Ntare said the 'Rice husks power project', whose implementation
started last year, could be ready in two months.
Ankush Chhabria, the managing director of Novel Renewable Energy,
(the implementing firm), said the produced energy will be connected to
national grid.
The pilot project will produce 70 kilowatt per hour and could be rolled
out to other areas of the country next year, he explained.
"When the husks are left in the soil by farmers and rice millers, they
emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that contribute to climate
change but once the power machinery is completed in two months...
.the ash from the processing will be distributed to farmers as a
fertiliser," Chhabria said.
The company has signed a contract with rice millers for the distribution
of husks.
Under the technology, husks are burnt in well-constructed facilities and
machinery that finally store the gas into clean energy for use.
A part from funding public institutions, FONERWA also gives
innovation grants and credit line funds that focus on research and
technologies to private sector investors.
Ellie Marsh, who works with global development advisors from
Switzerland, noted that there is need to create opportunities for private
sector, build investors' confidence and foster public participation into
adaptation mechanisms to develop such technologies in developing
countries.
She also stressed that implementation and sustainability level of the
climate plans needs to be strengthened.