Makerere University is holding a Media Week Dec 12-16th and come Wednesday December 14th, it was D-day for CEDAT. We once

again showcased more research and innovative projects that we have. This time round, creec – Centre for Research in Energy and Energy conservation was the beneficiary of the media attention. The media was taken around the creec and told of the projects that the centre engages in: Bioenergy, Solar PV, pico-hydro and Energy management.

The journalists spent a lot of time learning about the modern cooking stoves that the centre makes as well as the making of briquettes, which are an alternative to use of charcoal. The stoves also allow for the use of maize cobs to cook.

 

Briquette making

Tree cutting has greatly contributed to climate change. Researchers are working around the clock to find alternatives to charcoal burning. Researchers are now making briquettes from agricultural waste, charcoal-dust, and a binder.

This is one way that we can preserve the environment.

Briquettes are used to cook in stoves.

  1. Biomass, an energy producing source is used principally in the form of firewood and charcoal, contributing to 91 % of Uganda’s energy needs and is used by 28.8 million Ugandans.
  2. Although Uganda is an agricultural country with vast amounts of forests and trees, at the present time, the majority of its agricultural waste is not being fully utilized for the production of energy.
  3. The briquettes will be made out of charcoal-dust and dry agricultural wastes; sugar cane trash, and maize trash from farmers. Simple technologies will be implemented to make it less expensive to produce briquettes.  Thus, the briquettes will be affordable by the local population.
  4. Briquettes have a high bulk density compared to firewood and loose biomass. Because of their density and low moisture content, the briquettes give  a longer burning time which will translate to cost savings for the customer.

 

Attachment Name Attachment Type
EMT2201 Engineering Mathematics IV DOC PDF PS