Rice Husk Gasifier Stove

Product Catalogue - 2015

Prepared by MicroEnergy International GmbH
with the collaboration of Davide Forcella (CERMi-ULB)

e-MFP Action Group

on Microfinance
and Environment
Description and Working Principle Type of Financing
“From waste to fuel - turning rice husk into cheap, clean energy for cooking” Microfinancing as well as financial and operational microleasing can be provided to households and
This low-cost and clean-burning stove utilizes rice husk as fuel to cater to domestic rural households and small restaurants. Depending on the required size of the stove; home improvement, fixed-asset, or leasing-to-own
cottage industries where abundance of rice husk is accessible. It is estimated that a ton of rice husk has a loans can suit both, MFI and end-user.
direct energy conversion of about 23 tanks of 11 kg LPG fuel thereby significantly reducing expenditure on
conventional fuel sources. The production of combustible gases, primarily carbon monoxide and hydrogen,
takes place by oxidizing the biomass fuel with a limited amount of air. Gasification of rice husks is achieved
Economic and Social Impacts for End-users
by controlling the air supply with a small fan. This stove appeals to end-users as it reduces operation cost by 80 - 90 percent
compared to LPG fuel. Depending on rice husk availability, it also reduces time
intensity contrary to traditional biomass stoves. Its low-emission clean burning
Technical Characteristics minimizes health hazards and is safer compared to traditional wood stoves.
Moreover, the rice husk ash can be reused as soil fertilizer as an added value.
Reactor diameter and height 16 cm ø x 60 cm
Fuel consumption rate 2.6 kg/hr Example: The breakeven period of a one-burner batch type rice husk gasifier
Fan 120 mm x 120 mm, 16 watts 12 V DC substituting an LPG gas stove is between 4 - 5 months for a medium consumption
Boiling time test 14 to 20 min for 1.5 liters of water of 3 hours of cooking daily in the Philippines. This benefit will become more
Temperature beneath the cooking pot 420°C apparent as the cost of LPG continues to rise.
Thermal efficiency 26%
Product lifetime 2 - 3 years
Benefits for the MFI
Savings on cooking fuel expenses ensure reliable loan repayments for MFIs financing
Ease of Distribution, Installation and Maintenance gasifier stoves. As this technology caters to a wide range of users and clients in rice-
growing regions, MFIs can reach out their loan products to new clients.
Fabricated rice husk stoves are available in regions where rice growing is the major
economic activity such as India, Indonesia and Philippines. This simple stove requires
no installation and is ready for use by end-users with basic instruction. Operation
of the stove is best performed outdoors where proper air ventilation exists and fuel Environmental Benefits
loading and char unloading processes are eased. Regular maintenance is carried Source: Engr. Alexis T. Belonio Environment: Rice husk gasifier stoves reduce accumulation of rice husk in rivers
out annually by users based on the usage frequency. banks and along roadsides. Rice husk ash can be used as organic fertilizer, pest/
insect repellent, or for eco-friendly constructions. It can offset deforestation and
Typical maintenance work: pressure on natural resources: Every 1 ton of rice husk (average rice husk fuel
• Removal of char from the reactor (can be used as fertilizer due to its property to needed annually per household) avoids burning 848 kg of wood and 510 kg of
retain high water capacity) wood charcoal. It can offset the use of cow dung for heating, which can instead be
• Cleaning and drying of the stove used as organic fertilizer.
• Replacement of fan after lifecycle Climate change mitigation: It reduces the production of greenhouse gas (GHG):
for example offsetting the use of LPG (replace 11 kg LPG tank monthly reduces
a total of 86 kg CO2 emissions annually), but also avoids change of land use and
Technology Options deforestation.
Two types of gasifier stoves are commercially available at present, namely Climate change adaptation: It reduces the households' vulnerability to cost volatility
continuous and batch type. The main difference between these types is continuous of non-renewable fuels, and vulnerability to weather shocks due to environmental
operation without entirely discharging and reloading the stove. Also, the number degradation (if the use of husk gasifier offsets trees cut).
of burners and material quality (e.g. stainless steel) can be selected according Potential positive synergies with: Increase in environmental awareness, income
Source: Bioenergylists
to clients’ needs and capacity. Commonly, one and two-burner models are viable diversification strategies or use of weather adapted calendar, certifications and TA
options, and these stoves are adaptable for AC or DC electrical inputs using a grid for organic production with natural fertilizers1.
connection or a solar panel and battery.

References
Price Range
Source: Bioenergylists Stoves Alexis T. Belonio, Rice Husk Gas Stove Handbook, 2005
A simplest and complete one-burner batch type gasifier set costs around USD $70. Altenphil, CO2 Emission Factor for LPG, 2008
Stoves Bioenergylists http://stoves.bioenergylists.org/beloniolowcostrhstove
Type of target group Price range
Domestic households Between USD $70 - $100
Small cottage industries, restaurants USD $160 upwards

1 For further information on potential synergies check the other product catalogues for EE and RE technologies.
European Microfinance Platform
The European Microfinance Platform [e-MFP] was
founded formally in 2006. e-MFP is a growing network
of 120 organisations and individuals active in the area
of microfinance. Its principal objective is to promote co-
operation amongst European microfinance bodies working
in developing countries, by facilitating communication
and the exchange of information. It is a multi-stakeholder
organisation representative of the European microfinance
community. e-MFP members include banks, financial
institutions, government agencies, NGOs, consultancy
firms, researchers and universities.
e-MFP’s vision is to become the microfinance focal point
in Europe linking with the South through its members.

e-MFP Microfinance and Environment Action Group

e-MFP Action Groups facilitate synergies among e-MFP
members and encourage them to implement activities
together, thus contributing to the advancement of the
microfinance sector.
The aim of the e-MFP Microfinance and Environment
Action Group is to bring together microfinance
practitioners to discuss and exchange experiences in
dealing with environmental issues and to create new
practical tools to advance environmental microfinance.
The Action Group is also intended to act as a think tank
that disseminates its results among e-MFP members and
the microfinance sector at large with a view to increasing
the awareness of and commitment to act on these
issues. It is meant both as an internal knowledge-sharing
and external awareness-raising platform that serves as a
reference in the microfinance sector.

Head of the Action Group: MicroEnergy International

Gmbh, www.microenergy-international.com

European Microfinance Platform

39 rue Glesener
L-1631 Luxembourg
Tel: +352 26271382
[email protected]
www.e-mfp.eu

With the support of