1. Energy efficiency by use of locally made
fuel efficient cooking stoves and
groundnut shell briquettes
by Anthony Tabbal
2. GreenTech’s Objectives & Targets
• Provide affordable environmental solutions
• Pro poor response to up-winding energy crises
• Mitigate climate change and other environmental
challenges through alternative renewable energy sources
and energy saving devices
• Increase environmental knowledge and understanding
through trainings and sensitization
• Strengthen the environmental sector through networking
and cooperation
• Improve livelihoods, especially for women
• Contribute to poverty reduction
• Allow a bright future for the next generations
3. Background
• 1st idea at Green Mamba Garden Restaurant,
where management realized that too much
charcoal was used
• Management consists of economist and
environmentalist
• Economist: “The use of charcoal is getting too
expensive!”
• Environmentalist: “It’s an environmental
disaster!”
• Both: “Can we solve the problem with fuel
efficient stoves and groundnut shell briquettes
for us and for others? Let’s try!”
4. Landmarks
• April 2010: Company Registration
• June 2010: Business Plan Compilation after one year of research in Gambia and
abroad
• January 2011: Private funding secured
• February 2011: First designs of fuel efficient stoves
• March-June 2011: Construction of basic structures
• March-May 2011: Order of Briquette Pressing Machine, training abroad
• and shipping preparations in Denmark
• July 2011: Machine arrives and is connected and adjusted
• August 2011: Expected quality of briquettes achieved, 2nd generation of fuel
efficient stoves successfully tested, samples distributed, GreenTech opens its
doors for presentation and demonstration of production and products
• November 2011: Launching of the innovative cooking unit
• December 2011: Winning of SEED Award with partners and introduction of
stove/briquette donation scheme for needy families
• January 2012: 1st video documentary compiled (available on request!)
• February 2012: involvement in MRC testing series of stoves and fuels
6. Resources
•The briquettes are purely made of groundnut shells, as they are picked up
from the dumping sites around Denton Bridge.
•GreenTech is collaborating with the women at the site, who make their living
from separating the remaining groundnuts from the shells and packing shells
in bags.
•GreenTech’s press has especially been adjusted to press groundnutshells, but
generally also other biomass can be pressed in briquettes.
•Groundnutshells appear to be a perfect material for briquetting, as their
calorific value is comparable to high quality firewood and the pressing results
are excellent in quality and quantity.
•As electricity is one of the major inputs for the production, GreenTech would
prefer to receive electricity from renewable energy sources, as wind craft,
when available, as indicated in the initial businessplan.
7. Necessary Infrastructures
Structures The ground-nutshells are Vehicle
transported in bags per
truck to the pressing
plant in Kololi.
The manager underwent
training in Denmark to
adjust, operate and
Stand by Generator maintain the high quality
pressing machine. Pressing Machine
All staff was trained on
site on operations and
safety measures.
8. Pressing Process
•Groundnutshells are checked for correct humidity level
and sprinkled with water, if necessary
• the shells are filled in the silo, no binders or chemicals
added
•An endless screw feeds the groundnutshells in a pipe
•The crumbled shells are heated up to 130 degrees,
which releases the lignin, a natural binder in all biomass
•A flywheel hammers the groundnutshells in layers in
the pipe with a force of 4 tons, 5 times per second
•Groundnutshell briquettes exit the machine through
the cooling line
9. Cooling and Packing
The briquettes
harden in the
cooling line. So
far, they are
packed at the
end of the
cooling line by
hand in used
bags to be ready
for pick-up and
transport.
More packaging
options and a
delivery system
are currently
explored.
10. Testing Phase
14 tons of briquettes were
pressed within two weeks to
adjust the machine and to
explore the correct balance of
humidity and pressure to
achieve high quality
briquettes.
In the meantime the fuel
efficient stoves, made by local
welders from recycled metal
were developed and tested
with the first material.
11. Stove Development
From Gasifier to “Forno Anchu”
•In cooperation with welders, GreenTech continuously designs and improves fuel efficient
stoves, that are compatible with the briquettes.
•Individual wishes and comments from users are welcome and integrated in the process.
•Strong isolation and smart airflow are key for the efficiency of stoves and satisfying use of
briquettes.
•User training is available at GreenTech free of charge and highly recommended for best results.
12. Current Stove Models
3 commonly used sizes:
Forno Mam Iffi:
catering and parties
Forno Anchu:
household
Forno Susso:
attaya brewing
13. Advantage
of using the innovative cooking unit
• Saving forest, as groundnut shell briquettes form an
affordable alternative to firewood and charcoal;
• Reducing CO2 Emission, as the fuel efficient stove reduces
the overall fuel consumption;
• Managing and recycling waste, as the briquettes are
pressed from groundnut shells dumped near the de-coating
site;
• Protecting family health, as the combined setting causes
less smoke during the cooking process than firewood;
• Saving finances, as the combined cooking setting can save
easily 60% of fuel costs compared to traditional charcoal
cooking and the stove pays off within less than a months for
the average cooking unit;
• Saving efforts and time, especially for women, as the
briquettes are fast to light and easy to handle, store and
transport.
14. Testing Results for Comparison
Three cooking settings were compared:
Briquettes in Forno Anchu Firewood in Firewood Forno Charcoal on Charcoal Forno
Comparison of Cooking Units, cooking Domoda for 12 adults, based on 2.5 kg rice
Parameter Briquette in Forno Firewood in Firewood Charcoal in Charcoal Forno
Anchu Forno
Fuel weight in kg 2.7 4 2.6
Prize in GMD 16.2 15.4 39
Cooking time in minutes* 150 145 210
Time for fire preparation** 3 17 8
Total time of above 153 162 218
15. Where to use groundnutshell briquettes
• Households
• Restaurants
• Industries/Boilers
• (Fish) Smokery
• Bakeries/Ovens
• Kilns (Pottery, Bricks)
• Canteens (Schools, Prison, ...)
• anywhere, where heat is needed, or usually
charcoal or firewood are used, just a matter of
trying and adapting
16. Who is using groundnut-shell
briquettes currently
– Private Households
– Restaurants
How can the general public access groundnut-
shell briquettes
– Sales points
– Delivery service
17. Challenges
– change of habits
– fuel efficient stove as precondition
– transport/de-centralisation
– Poverty
– industries access firewood under value
18. GreenTech is working on solutions:
• Cooperation with women groups to develop user
friendly distribution systems
• Search for funds to accelerate the establishment
of young retail businesses for decentralization
• Access funding to development delivery service
for door to door sales
• Open options for Subsidies and Micro-financing
• Acceleration of Donations Scheme/CSR Projects
• Step by step implementation of
Promotion/Marketing plan
19. More information
• webpage: www.greentechgambia.com
• e-mail: consultant@greentechgambia.com
• Lemongrass Cafe, every Wednesday 11 am at
the GreenTech plant. Demonstration of
production and use of groundnut shell
briquettes and fuel efficient stoves
20. Call for support
• Please support our donation scheme for
needy families and communities!
Thanks for your kind
attention!
