Sustainable Energy Model for the production of biomass briquettes based on rice husk in low-income agricultural areas in Peru.

Abstract

The proposed Sustainable Energy Model is based on rice husk and the development of briquettes made from agricultural waste, which will increase efficiency in the domestic sector, and potentially replace conventional polluting fuels such as firewood. Large volumes of rice husks from millers are found scattered in rural agricultural areas of the San Martin region of Peru, where people are exposed daily to the emissions of polluting gases produced by burning these wastes, causing respiratory and lung diseases. Despite present circumstances, this waste has a great energetic potential that is not yet used by society, representing an opportunity to encourage socioenvironmental development and generate added value to the husk. Based on a compaction and drying process, briquettes were obtained with 4,040 kcal / kg of heat power and 80.39% combustion efficiency, allowing the little use of biofuel compared to firewood, and consequently, the utilization of this biofuel would reduce levels of deforestation. In contrast to similar projects, the sustainability of an energetic model of briquette production will be achieved when economic, environmental and social aspects are met, developing clean technologies and an efficient supply chain, from the supply of the husk to the commercialization of briquettes