Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Multifunction Energy Platform (MFP) Pilot
EPA Grant Number: SU833916Title: Multifunction Energy Platform (MFP) Pilot
Investigators: Modi, Vijay
Institution: Columbia University in the City of New York , Earth Institute at Columbia University , Engineers Without Borders-USA , The University of Texas at El Paso
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2008 through August 14, 2009
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2008) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The following students contributed to this project: Matt Basinger, Columbia University (Earth and Environmental Engineering), Janelle Heslop (Earth and Environmental Engineering), Sara del Fierro (Environmental Biology, Human Rights), Jennifer Wang (Biomedical Engineering), Christen Soden (History and Political Science), Lacey Gleason (undeclared), Jin Wang (Applied Math), Yasir Diab (undeclared), Watue Sowaprux (Industrial Engineering & Operations Research), and Alison Ferris (Mechanical Engineering)
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
-
Multi-sector Baseline Survey: A five-sector survey (agriculture, energy, water, health, and general - demographic & income) was carried out among more than 175 households across three northeast Ugandan districts where Pilgrim’s farming cooperatives reside. The results of this multi-sector survey have been documented in an extensive 50+ page report produced by CU EWB. These results provide a deeper understanding of the livelihoods of these Ugandan farmers, shaping our efforts and how we tailor the MFP program. Additionally, data from the survey when combined with data from a follow-up survey will provide a useful mechanism for comparison, helping to quantify the impact of the program.
-
Engine Modification Kit “COVII”: A robust, field appropriate engine modification kit (named the “COVII”) for the MFPs has been designed and tested in Columbia’s laboratory. Careful testing has shown the kit to allow for safe engine operation on plant oils, while also improving engine emissions (CO, HC, NO, NO2, and smoke opacity) at low and medium engine loads.
-
MFP Pilot Sites: Two pilot sites have been established within Pilgrim’s farming cooperative network. A key finding in establishing these pilot sites was to set up appropriate sourcing channels, so that further MFP installations would utilize appropriate vendors. Engine sellers as well as a host of agro-processing equipment manufacturers were identified and interviewed, finally arriving at a preferred list of vendors. Additionally, workshops were held within the farming cooperatives to prepare farmers for the installation of the MFPs. (As of the submission date of this report, the two pilot sites had just received the assembled and tested MFPs, and as such no specific data with regard to their operation was yet available.) Education and capacity building was a core focus of these pilots. Workshops utilizing PRA (participatory rural appraisal) were carried out in each of the cooperatives prior to installation, to further farmer participation, mobilization, and education.
-
Key Partnerships: CU EWB strengthened its relationship with Pilgrim through closely collaborating on the completion of the Multi-sector Baseline Survey and MFP Pilot Sites. A new relationship with Makerere University was forged, specifically with its engineering school allowing a Makerere Mechanical Engineering senior to assist in the design, assembly, and testing of the MFP pilots as a part of his senior thesis work. Because momentum toward MFPs and jatropha already exists in West Africa, a close partnership was developed with a Mali company—Mali Biocarburant, a biodiesel company that works with the UNDP in West Africa with regard to MFPs, farming cooperatives, and jatropha. To further expand the farmer mobilization and jatropha growth EWB met with and began to collaborate with a Ugandan biodiesel and farming education company – EGOF. Tto help offset the risk borne by farmers when beginning to grow and sell jatropha oil, a key collaboration was made with EarthWise Ventures, a transportation company that wishes to buy excess jatropha oil from Pilgrim’s farming cooperatives. Pilgrim also is in the process of signing an MOU with the British Council and Makerere to further expand MFP efforts, jatropha production, and irrigation. This partnership will significantly expand the reach of the program, synergistically leveraging EPA P3 work.
Conclusions:
-
Teso farmers are very much in need of mechanized farming approaches, such as MFPs, to enhance their agro-processing techniques and expand their income and increase their food security.
-
MFPs utilizing the modification kit that Columbia designed have improved emissions when fueled on plant oil, compared to diesel fueling (at low and medium engine loads).
-
An adequate supply chain is locally available in northeastern Uganda to source materials for MFP assembly and installation.
-
A consortium of collaborators has been formed, providing considerable momentum toward further MFP expansion and greater mobilization for the production and use of jatropha plant oil, providing an exciting opportunity for many poor farmers in northeastern Uganda, and eventually throughout East Africa.
-
Expand MFP sites: Pilgrim’s farming cooperative network includes more than 40 sites across the Teso sub region. Phase 1 funding provided resources for installing two pilot sites in the Amuria and Katakwi districts. Phase 2 funds would help to further the monitoring and evaluation of these two sites, while also providing resources to install and monitor three more MFP pilot sites in additional Teso districts (Soroti for example). This combination of five pilot sites across multiple districts would provide significant momentum toward a national MFP program in Uganda. Cashflow data from each site as well as engine and equipment maintenance history could provide the basis for a model used to frame a national program. Phase 2 of this project would focus on expanding the immediate number of MFP pilot sites and using this momentum to open the door to a nationally supported MFP program. The intention would be to establish a widely supported program via a combination of funding from the UNDP, Ugandan Government, The Gates Foundation, and/or other institutions, similar to the path that Mali and other west African countries have taken. CU EWB has already applied to other grants (NCIIA & Mondialogo for example) that will be leveraged during Phase 2.
-
Continue “COVII” Modification Kit Analysis: Performance of the modification kit has been favorable in all short term tests; however, further investigation into its long-term performance will help to refine the design into a more effective product. Small additions to the kit will further enhance its ability to provide a sustainable mechanism for non-edible plant oil fueling of MFPs. For example, modifying the injector pressure and timing of MFP engines could further enhance combustion through decreasing fuel spray droplet size and matching heat release more closely with burn rate from specific fuels. Phase 2 of this project will include investigation into the engine performance (efficiency, emissions, etc.) as it corresponds to modified injector pressure and timing. These results also will be relevant to the wider plant oil combustion research community and likely will be submitted for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals.
-
Transition to local fabrication of engine modification kits: The design of the “COVII” engine modification kit intentionally made use of simple fabrication processes and basic materialsalready available within Uganda. In collaboration with Makerere’s Mechanical Engineering Department and local machining and fabrication shops (in Kampala and Teso) Phase 2 will include a transition toward local fabrication of the “COVII” – helping to boost the sustainability of the kit’s use in MFPs, decrease the cost to farmers in the long term, while also increasing income for machining and engine shops that take on the fabrication and selling of these devices.
-
Improve data collection techniques: A major impediment to MFP sustainability is the isolation that remote farmers and cooperatives experience. Being tens or hundreds of kilometers from major market centers can mean days or weeks of operational down-time when unanticipated repairs are required. Even simple maintenance tasks that need procurement of materials, like lubrication oil, can delay operation because of the remoteness and isolation of these sites, decreasing productivity and resulting in missed income opportunities. Recent mobile phone technologies, such as RapidSMS and Nokia’s Data Gathering technology suite, provide a valuable tool for immediate support in these cases. Phase 2 of this project will include the evaluation of RapidSMS and similar technologies within Pilgrim’s farming network – both for MFP operation data gathering and support, but also in the more conventional areas of public health. In addition to mobile phone technology approaches, participatory tools (such as PRA – participatory rural appraisal) will be utilized, building on lessons learned during Phase 1, including the PRA workshop sponsored by CU EWB in March 2009.
-
Increase jatropha mobilization efforts: Throughout Uganda and the Teso region specifically, significant amounts of jatropha grow wild or as a part of living fences or even provide shade and living “stakes” for vanilla plants. There is significant potential, however, for farmers to further focus on jatropha cultivation and sell oil into biodiesel and soap markets. Four important institutional collaborations were formed during Phase 1 with EarthWise Ventures, EGOF Biofuels, Makerere University, and the British Council AKTP. These organizations will help to provide expanded on-the-ground market demand, mobilization, and research (respectively) for sustainable jatropha cultivation, helping to mobilize farmers to grow jatropha and sell oil, increasing their income. A formal mobilization program will be designed and implemented. This program initially will be modeled on successful programs in West Africa (through input from collaborating company Mali Biocarburant). This mobilization program will be carefully analyzed and tracked. To further move toward a national MFP and jatropha program, a better understanding of what mechanisms need to be established at a national level to sustainably promote jatropha is needed.
-
Educational and regional workshops: In close coordination with Pilgrim, EarthWise Ventures, Makerere, EGOF Biofuels, the British Council’s AKTP, and Mali Biocarburant, the culmination of Phase 2 learning will be presented in a regional MFP and Jatropha Growers Workshop. Both local farmers and entrepreneurs, as well as potential investing companies, the UNDP, Ugandan government representatives, and others will participate in a workshop articulating best practices and lessons learned. Leading up to the regional workshop, the project will continue to carry out educational workshops utilizing PRA methods as modeled by the Phase 1 workshops. A core goal of the workshop will be to gain further investment and buy-in toward a national MFP and jatropha program.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 3 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
energy, biofuel, sustainable development, jatropha, MFP, Uganda, conservation, appropriate technologyRelevant Websites:
http://www.me.columbia.edu/fac-bios/modi/Lister_Engine.html
http://www.tech.mak.ac.ug/site/department.php?choice=Mechanical
P3 Phase II:
MFP and Jatropha ProgramThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.