UK based distributor and service provider for GE’s gas engines, Clarke Energy is to supply the first two containerised Jenbacher biogas engines to an anaerobic digestion project which will produce biogas from food wastes in Kenya.
The company said that it will supply the engines to Tropical Power, a developer of biogas and solar energy plants in Africa, for a 2.4 MW facility that is located at a farm near Lake Naivasha. The plant will treat food processing wastes from the surrounding farms.
Biogas produced by the anaerobic digesters will be fed into two J420 Jenbacher gas engines, which Clarke Energy said are specially configured to operate at the high altitude of the project – nearly 2000 metres above sea level.
In addition to generating electricity, the engines will be configured for cogeneration, with surplus heat recovered as hot water and used for biogas plant process heating and for heating adjacent greenhouses.
The supplier added that the biogas engines will be containerised units for operation in hot and tropical countries and will be a ‘plug-and-play’ deployment.
Economic Development
According to Clarke Energy economic development in Kenya has led to strain on the local power distribution network – a situation which can be improved by producing biogas from wastes.
The company said that the Jenbacher engines will facilitate consistent supplies of power to the local area.
Surplus power will be supplied to the electricity grid, helping to stabilise local electricity supplies and to ensure consistent business operations – a driver for economic growth and performance.
“This project demonstrates the viability of biogas as a power source in Africa to deliver significant supplies of power to the region,” commented James Hobday, Clarke Energy’s new business development manager for Africa.
Mike Nolan, operations director at Tropical Power, explained that he sees great potential for biogas in Africa, especially when used in combination with solar power.
According to Nolan solar power can provide daytime power, with biogas being stored for use at night and when it is cloudy.
Clarke Energy said that it will provide support to Tropical Power, training operators with gas engine operation and maintenance, with more demanding maintenance procedures will be supported by Clarke Energy’s East African service hub.
The biogas engines are scheduled for delivery to Kenya in the last quarter of 2013.
Source: Waste Management World
