Aklan NGO develops coco shell-powered electric generator

Sustainable Rural Enterprise (SRE), a non-government organization based in Kalibo, Aklan, will work with US-based Community Power Corp. (CPC) in developing a modular biomass power system called Biomax.

SRE president Perla Manapol said Biomax is powered by raw coconut shells and can generate 15 kilowatts up to four megawatts of electricity and 30 kilowatts of heat. The first prototype is now being used in Kalibo while a second one is being developed at CPC in Colorado, USA and will be deployed in Ibajay, Aklan before the end of 2002 or early 2003.

"This year or by next year, the product would be tested in Ibajay, also in Kalibo as part of our CPURE program," she said.

CPURE or Center for Productive Uses of Renewable Energy is based on the main campus of the Aklan State University in Banga. The CPURE carries out on behalf of rural enterprise clients – unique and much-needed applied research, development, and dissemination of productive, income-generating uses of renewable energy including biomass, wind, photovoltaics and small hydropower resources.

She said CPURE is currently designing, developing, and testing renewable energy-powered production equipment including twiners, multi-crop dryers, and shredders.

She added the CPURE will serve as a training center for enterprise-driven productive uses of renewable energy for participants from all over the world.

Manapol said the Biomax system powers production equipment including a grinder, sieving drum, decorticator, small power tools, lights and a computer by using local shell residues. Previously, majority of coconut husks were either burned or left to rot, generating pollution and greenhouse gases.

According to Manapol, the Biomax project was pioneered in a rural development project in Alaminos, a small-grid village 35 kilometers from Kalibo.

The waste heat from the Biomax can also be used for drying crops such as rice, copra, mangoes, fish, etc.– Donnabelle Gatdula