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Unlocking Biomass Energy Potential in St. Kitts and Nevis: Opportunities and Challenges

This document outlines the potential for biomass energy conversion in St. Kitts and Nevis, focusing on sugarcane and municipal waste. It discusses the current energy scenario, the shutdown of the sugar industry, and how this shift has impacted unemployment and income sources. The report identifies challenges such as modest biomass feedstock availability and competition for land use while highlighting opportunities for job creation, environmental benefits, and energy security through sustainable biomass utilization. Stakeholders are encouraged to explore public-private partnerships for advancing biomass-to-energy initiatives.

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Unlocking Biomass Energy Potential in St. Kitts and Nevis: Opportunities and Challenges

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  1. Biomass To Energy Potential On St. Kitts & Nevis Mark Lambrides (OAS/DSD) K.H. De Cuba (OAS/DSD) M. Rivera-Ramirez (ESG) Initial Stakeholders Meeting June13, 2006

  2. Content • Introduction • Mission • Scope • Possible Process Overview • Challenges • Opportunities • Biomass • Bio-Energy Assessment • Follow up

  3. Introduction • Justifications for Bio-Energy Assessment • Shutdown of the sugar industry • Unemployment • Decreased sources of income • Recent increase in sugar prices • Current waste management • Health impacts • Environmental impacts • High energy prices • High cost of diesel import for electricity generation • High cost of transportation fuels • Dependent on external geo-political forces

  4. Introduction • Sugar cane scenario overview (1)

  5. Introduction • Sugar cane scenario overview (2)

  6. Introduction • Current energy scenario overview

  7. Introduction • Current waste scenario overview

  8. Mission • Find if there is reliable biomass feedstock supply for long term production • Highlight commercially viable biomass to energy conversion approach • Outline strategy for public-private partnership to develop biomass to energy • Attract commercially proven developers to consider investment approach in SKN

  9. Scope • Focused on sugarcane and municipal waste biomass availability on St. Kitts • Focus on liquid biofuel and electric power production • Potential for value-added products

  10. Possible Process Overview

  11. Challenges • Economies of scale • Modest biomass feedstock availability • Biomass conversion technologies • Land use competition • Information dissemination on sustainable alternatives • Familiarity with current methods of production

  12. Opportunities • Environmental/health benefits • CO2 reduction • Increased soil fertility • Sanitary issues • Job provision • Existence of skilled labor force • Energy security • Economic • Avoided investment cost: No need for additional landfill/waste management alternatives • Decreased expenditures on electricity • Diversification of economic activities

  13. Biomass • Definition and Sources • Organic matter, matter from any living organism • Animal/human waste • Food crops • Grassy and woody plants • Residues from agriculture or forestry • Organic component of municipal and industrial wastes

  14. Biomass • As a renewable fuel • No net carbon emissions • Carbon dioxide released when biomass is used as fuel is balanced by the carbon dioxide captured when the biomass is grown

  15. Feedstock Supply • Residues • Dedicated Crops • Harvesting and Handling • Collection • Processing • Storage • Transportation • Conversion • Thermochemical • Combustion • Gasification • Pyrolysis • Other • Biochemical • Anaerobic (fermentation) • Anaerobic Digestion • Alcohol Fermentation • Aerobic • Composting • Activated (oxygenated) waste treatment • Direct Hydrogen • Physicochemical • Oil extraction • Hydrocarbon extraction • Utilization • Biopower • Process and Space Heating • Power generation • Biofuels • Ethanol • Biodiesel • Methanol • Pyrolisis liquids • Biogas (methane + CO2) including digester and landfill gas • Synthesis gases (CO + H2)(for further refinement to liquid/gaseous fuels) • Hydrogen • Charcoal • Biomass solids • Others • Bioproducts • Citric and other acids • Composite materials • Fertilizer • Fibers • Lubricants • Others • Pesticides • Structural materials • Surfactants Biomass • Conversion

  16. Conversion • Thermochemical • Combustion • Gasification • Other • Biochemical • Anaerobic Digestion • Alcohol Fermentation • Physicochemical • Oil extraction • Utilization • Biopower • Electrical Power Generation • Process Heating • Biofuels • Synthesis gases (CO + H2) (for further refinement to liquid/gaseous fuels) • Biogas (methane + CO2) including digester gas • Ethanol • Biodiesel • Others • Bioproducts (chemicals and materials • Fertilizer Feedstock Biomass • Conversions of interest Combustion: direct-fired systems. They burn bio-energy feedstocks directly. Gasification: biomass is heated with no oxygen or only about one-third the oxygen needed for efficient combustion. Biomass then gasifies to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen—synthesis gas or syngas. Biochemical: relies on the abilities of specific microorganisms to convert biomass components to useful liquids and gases, as ethanol or methane.

  17. Bio Energy Assessment • Objective • Financial and economic analysis of a potential Domestic Bio-Energy Programme to test its commercially sustainability

  18. Bio Energy Assessment • Methodology • Resource assessment (supply and demand) • Technology identification • Evaluate economic and financial feasibility of technologies given the resource availability

  19. Bio Energy Assessment • Resource Assessment (1) • Agricultural crops • Sugarcane or palm oil • Characteristics of sugar cane • Yields and land • Collection, processing, and transport • Residues generated • Storage

  20. Bio Energy Assessment • Resource Assessment (2) • Municipal Solid Waste and Sewage Sludge • Characteristics of waste • Quantities • Collection and treatment • Waste landfill capacity

  21. Bio Energy Assessment • Resource Assessment (3) • Additional market data • Energy Needs Assessment • Current consumption • Local markets for products

  22. Bio Energy Assessment • Technology identification • Direct contact with experts and manufacturers • Literature reviews and existing expertise

  23. Bio Energy Assessment • Economic and financial feasibility • Utilize feedstock supply, conversion and market data elements to evaluate feasibility of Domestic Bio-Energy Programme

  24. Follow Up • Bio-energy as part of the Sustainable Energy Plan (SEP) • Legislation • Social benefits • Institutional capacity • Power purchase agreements • Investors workshop

  25. Follow Up • Plans for the assessment • Remainder of this week • Data gathering interviews with stakeholders in St. Kitts and Nevis • Preparation of preliminary assessment • Draft expected by end of August • Stakeholder review and comment on draft • Presentation of findings • Initiative to facilitate development

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