Rice hull can be used to generate electricity

Rice hull as fuel to generate electricity?

This potential has been initially found by researchers, among them those of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), in efforts to tap rice biomass as a power generator resource.

Rice biomass such as straw, hulls, chaff, bran, and brewer have valuable use in energy, agriculture, and industry, it was reported at the National Rice Biomass Conference held last Nov. 24 at PhilRice in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

Sponsored by Kansai Corp., EC-ASEAN COGEN Programme Phase III, and Japan Biomass Consortium, the conference formed part of the celebration of International Year of Rice (IYR) 2004.

During the conference, which focused on how to fully develop rice hull’s potential in generating heat and power, processes such as gasification, carbonization, and combined heat and power generation plant were showcased. PhilRice is currently innovating on these processes to make them cheaper and affordable to farmers.

The research was started last year with funding support from the New Energy and Industriial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Once fully developed, the technology using rice hull as power generator is expected to lessen the load of power plants using fossil fuel. The technology would even produce carbonized hull, a by-product that is useful in various agro-industrial applications.

"The rice biomass technology needs to be developed and adopted because rice represents a big mass for we cannot stop eating rice," said Rep. Augusto Baculio in a message to the participants composed of farmers, rice millers, scientists, students, bankers, stakeholders, policymakers, local executives, and engineers. Baculio is vice chair of the House Committee on Ecology and co-chair of the Oversight Committee on Solid Waste Management and Clean Air.

More than promoting the technology and funding sources, the conference aimed to establish integrated and sustainable biomass use to provide solutions and create positive socioeconomic and environmental impacts in the countryside.

At present, experts are looking into the potential of rice hull as organic fertilizer, soil conditioner, and water purifier or filter. – RAF