Grantee Research Project Results

2011 Progress Report: MFP and Jatropha Program

EPA Grant Number: SU834302
Title: MFP and Jatropha Program
Investigators: Modi, Vijay , Ferris, Alison , Dawd, Evram , Lopez, Alex , Ciez, Rebecca , Basinger, Matt
Current Investigators: Modi, Vijay , Allen, Tyler , Drachman, Benjamin , Faber, Liza , Fan, Kathleen , Hreib, Katherine , Huang, Stephanie , Parker, Jessica , Stansfield, Stephan , Noppen, William Van
Institution: Columbia University in the City of New York
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: August 15, 2009 through August 14, 2011 (Extended to August 14, 2014)
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 15, 2010 through August 14,2011
Project Amount: $75,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2009) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities

Objective:

Multifunction Energy Platforms (MFPs) are comprised of a stationary diesel engine that powers various types of agro-processing equipment (millers, grinders, pumps, generators, etc.). MFPs have been promoted in parts of West Africa, but no institutional programs exist for their promotion in east Africa. Furthermore, fueling MFPs on locally grown, non-edible jatropha plant oil (via an engine modification process) can add to the sustainability of their use through significantly decreasing their operating cost (by replacing fossil diesel) while excess jatropha plant oil can be sold into biodiesel and soap markets as an additional income-generating mechanism.

The objectives of this Phase 2 research include expanding the MFP pilot program in Uganda to at least five sites (and consistently monitoring each site), concluding research on the vegetable oil modification kit and on the longevity of the MFP engines, verifying and initiating local fabrication of the engine modification kits, testing the feasibility of using various new data collection techniques, increasing jatropha cultivation and mobilization in the Teso region of Uganda, and educating university students and Ugandan residents about the various technologies being implemented and the data being gathered.  The completion of the above tasks and the collection and tracking of data produced by the MFP sites could provide the basis for a national MFP program in Uganda.

Progress Summary:

Expand MFP Sites:

In the summer of 2009, two MFPs were installed in the Orungo and Usuk sub-counties as part of the P3 Phase 1 funding. Since 2009, the two MFP sites have been closely monitored by students at Columbia University and by Makerere University students, as well as Pilgrim staff on site. In June 2010, Permanent Magnetic Generators (PMGs) were installed for use with the MFP engines in the villages, providing access to electric lights and outlets (allowing for charging cell-phone and car batteries).  Also in June 2010, discussions were held with various community members to qualitatively gauge the success of the initial two MFP sites and to obtain feedback. The results of these discussions led to a consensus among the community members that despite a bad harvest the inaugural year and the initial lack of operating experience, they were confident that the MFP held the key to future economic success. Also, as part of Phase 2, Pilgrim is hoping to reach out to the community members more often and hold repeat training sessions as necessary.

An additional objective of Phase 2 is to install three more MFPs in the Teso region of Uganda.

In November and December 2010, two additional MFPs were installed by Makerere University and Pilgrim staff in Tubur and Anyara sub-counties. Although the MFPs were installed in late 2010, the 8-week training program had not been completed. Due to technical issues, both of the new sites were closed for the majority of the time between December 2010 and May 2011. Necessary repairs were made to both engines in June and July 2011, enabling coop members to begin running the engines.

In June 2011, discussions were held with community members to discuss the success of all four MFP sites. One of the main challenges facing all four sites is the high cost of fuel. A global spike in fuel prices in early 2011 increased the cost of diesel to between $5.25 and $6.00 per gallon.  While coop members in Anyara and Tubur were disappointed that the MFP had not been running since it was installed, they were looking forward to completing the training program and operating the MFPs. Villagers in Tubur and Anyara also mentioned that many coop members had planted sunflower, and some had planted jatropha.  Discussions with coop members from the Phase 1 pilot sites showed an increase in overall confidence in engine operation, although they were disappointed to see profits significantly diminished because of the high fuel costs.

In June 2011, data was collected at both MFP sites to monitor the social, economic, and financial success of the two MFP sites. The data shows that there are seasonal patterns to MFP use, with most use concentrated between November and February. During these peak months, it is possible for the MFP to generate approximately 190,000 UGX in profit, assuming the MFP runs for three weeks during a one-month time period. However, overall MFP usage varies greatly with the growing season, so economic sustainability will depend on the ability to generate revenue between harvests.

“COV II” Modification Kit Analysis

Extensive testing and analysis has been completed to optimize performance of the Change-Over Valve (COV) modification kit, and to determine the long-run effects of bio-derived fuel on compression ignition engine performance, durability, and longevity. Specifically, two main studies were carried out – the first to determine how to optimize engine efficiency while using the COV modification kit in a Listeroid (MFP) engine, and the second to investigate the longevity implications of directly fueling straight plant oil in such an engine.

Experiments were carried out that showed improved performance and emission characteristics from the utilization of this three-part modification kit. Essentially, the right combination of temperature, timing, and pressure can optimize the performance of the engine running on bio-derived fuel, thereby potentially aiding remote rural farmers with a lower cost, sustainable fuel source.

Local Fabrication of Engine Modification Kits

To guarantee the long-term sustainability of the MFP program, it is essential that the COV modification kits be easily manufactured in-country. Even before implementation of Phase 1, it was confirmed that the machining techniques used to construct the modification kits were easily replicable at local machine shops in Soroti, Uganda. CU-EWB, Pilgrim, and Makerere University are working together to ensure that local fabrication will be a realistic component of the MFP modifications when the jatropha supply chain is ready. A manual for the construction and assembly of the final version of the COV modification kit has been completed. In total, the cost of parts for a modification kit is $174.11.

Improve Data Collection Techniques

As a result of a Participatory Rural Assessment (PRA) workshop, held at Columbia University, several mobile phone data collection platforms have been explored. Open Data Kit (ODK) was found to be the most appropriate.  ODK is an open-source set of tools that can be used by an organization or individual to create, record, and manage data collected via mobile phone. Future field work (i.e., surveying) utilizing Open Data Kit is planned but has not yet taken place.

Increase Jatropha Mobilization Efforts

As part of Phase 2, steps have been taken to scale up cultivation of jatropha and to tap into markets that would make jatropha production profitable. In January 2010, the process of importing jatropha seedlings from neighboring Rwanda was undertaken by Pilgrim. At that time, more than 1000 hectares of land in the Kumi district and 5-10 square kilometers of land in the Katakwi district had been set aside for jatropha cultivation. As of June 2010, community members in Usuk had already started growing jatropha and as of June 2011, community members in Orungo and Anyara were using it as a hedge crop.

Due to the nature of the jatropha plant, seeds cannot be harvested until the plant has reached maturity, which typically occurs 3-4 years after planting. Because of this fact, a jatropha oil supply chain is not yet in existence. However, steps have been taken to ensure that by the time the production of jatropha oil is substantial enough, there will already be a market in place for the oil suppliers.

Educational and Regional Workshops

In 2009, an MFP training program was devised by Columbia University students and Pilgrim staff members. The MFP training workshops were first held in Orungo and Usuk in the weeks after the MFP engines were installed and took place over the course of 8 weeks, with very positive feedback from community members even a year after their completion.

As proposed in the Phase 2 application, a cumulative, regional MFP workshop will be held in close collaboration with Pilgrim, EarthWise Ventures, Makerere University, EGOF Biofuels, the British Council’s AKTP, and Mali Biocarburant. The workshop is intended to showcase the related technology and the successes and failures of the MFP project. The intended audience of the workshop includes local farmers and entrepreneurs, potential investing companies, the UNDP, and Ugandan government representatives.

Future Activities:

After the installation of the initial three MFP engines (one as a tester lab, two in rural communities), the cost of each engine and its related components comes to approximately $12,230. The future success of the MFP program in Uganda and the larger east Africa region depends largely upon the financial sustainability of each MFP. Summarily, two methods are feasible to ensure such sustainability: minimizing the initial cost of installation and/or increasing the amount of revenue generated by each MFP. To date, approximately $6,340 has been spent on each of the two Phase 2 expansion sites. While this cost includes an engine, mill, PMG, training workshops, and transportation costs, this number does not include the full cost of the training program and installation costs for an electrical system. Overall installation costs could be further reduced at future sites by utilizing a Changfa S195 Diesel Engine, which costs approximately $1,050 less than the Listeroid engine. Methods for increasing MFP revenue are also being investigated and explored by the affiliated parties.

Summarily, a number of lessons have been learned in Phase 2 through the continued analysis and monitoring of the Phase 1 MFP sites. The primary lessons learned can be summarized as follows:

• Location of MFP sites: If there are many agricultural processing sites in the immediate vicinity, an MFP should not be installed in that part of the community, the competition will negatively impact profits.
• Initial MFP Attachment Selection: The original default was to install each MFP with an initial mill attachment. However, if there are already 4 mills in the area, for example, perhaps the initial attachment should be something different. By choosing the first attachment based on each community’s situation (and not simply using a one-attachment-fits-all approach), the MFPs will be more financially successful and sustainable.
• Proposed MFP Management System: Although CU-EWB and Pilgrim worked to devise a training program that suggested a certain MFP management system, both communities modified the management system and decided upon what worked best for them. Instead of training the communities how to structure their management system, perhaps Pilgrim and CU-EWB should simply work with the communities initially to figure out what works best for them.
• Training: Training was conducted over the course of 8 weeks immediately following the installation of the MFP engines. Villagers have requested that training be carried out again 6 months after the initial trainings to ensure long-term retention of training knowledge.
• Memorandum of Understanding (b/w Pilgrim and communities): Repeatedly, community members claim Pilgrim/CU-EWB promised various attachments or other things. Typically, no such agreement was made. Prior to installing future MFPs, Pilgrim/CU-EWB should present the communities with a written MOU outlining what their responsibilities are and what the communities are responsible for (as supposed to simply having a verbal agreement). The agreement should then be signed by Pilgrim, CU-EWB, and the community members.

In addition to the quantitative monetary benefits to the prosperity and to the people by whom the MFP engines have been run, numerous qualitative benefits to prosperity, to people, and to the planet have been observed as well. In community discussions at all four sites that were most recently held in June 2011, community members discussed the impact and effects of the MFPs that they had observed so far and voiced genuine excitement about the potential opportunities for themselves and their families provided by the MFP.

Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views

Other project views:	All 3 publications	2 publications in selected types	All 2 journal articles

Publications

Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Basinger M, Reding T, Williams C, Lackner KS, Modi V. Compression ignition engine modifications for straight plant oil fueling in remote contexts:modification design and short-run testing. Fuel 2010;89(10):2925-2938.	SU834302 (2010) SU834302 (2011) SU834302 (Final)	Abstract: ScienceDirect Abstract HTML Exit
Journal Article	Basinger M, Reding T, Rodriguez-Sanchez FS, Lackner KS, Modi V. Durability testing modified compression ignition engines fueled with straight plant oil. Energy 2010;35(8):3204-3220.	SU834302 (2010) SU834302 (2011) SU834302 (Final)	Abstract: Abstract HTML

Supplemental Keywords:

Energy, biofuel, sustainable development, jatropha, Multifunction Platform, MFP, Uganda, jatropha, conservation, appropriate technology

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2010 Progress Report

2012

2013

Final Report

P3 Phase I:

Multifunction Energy Platform (MFP) Pilot  | Final Report