October 2001 • NREL/SR-510-30813 Strategies for Enhancing Biomass Energy Utilization in the Philippines R. Samson, T. Helwig, D. Stohl, A. De Maio, and P. Duxbury Resource Efficient Agricultural Production-Canada T. Mendoza and A. Elepano University of the Philippine at Los Banos National Renewable Energy Laboratory 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 NREL is a U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory Operated by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle • Bechtel Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337 October 2001 • NREL/SR-510-30813 Strategies for Enhancing Biomass Energy Utilization in the Philippines R. Samson, T. Helwig, D. Stohl, A. De Maio, and P. Duxbury Resource Efficient Agricultural Production-Canada T. Mendoza and A. Elepano University of the Philippine at Los Banos NREL Technical Monitor: Ralph P. Overend Prepared under Subcontract No. AXE0-30001-01 National Renewable Energy Laboratory 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 NREL is a U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory Operated by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle • Bechtel Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337 NOTICE This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof. Available electronically at http://www.doe.gov/bridge Available for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors, in paper, from: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information P.O. Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062 phone: 865.576.8401 fax: 865.576.5728 email: [email protected] Available for sale to the public, in paper, from: U.S. Department of Commerce National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 phone: 800.553.6847 fax: 703.605.6900 email: [email protected] online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/ordering.htm Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Land distribution, food security, and a sustainable and affordable energy source are among the most important development issues facing the Philippines in the 21st century. Biofuel energy development can play a key role in eradicating rural poverty and creating self-reliant communities. A rapidly expanding population and rising fossil fuel energy costs mean increased pressure on the use of biomass resources for energy generation. Substantial investments in research and development are required to expand the biomass supply and enhance energy conversion technology. This report analyzes opportunities for bioenergy utilization in the Philippines. It quantifies the potential biomass resource base, and identifies several uses for biofuel that would increase household energy security, promote self-reliant agricultural practices, and improve human and environmental health. Biomass Resources Several surplus crop residues could be recovered from primary agricultural production or after processing including: • rice hulls (1.5 million Oven Dry Tonnes (ODT)) • sugar cane trash (274,000 ODT) • bagasse (322,000 ODT) • maize cobs (391,000 ODT) • coconut (10.4 million tonnes are available, however utilization is limited by manual labour requirements and poor transportation infrastructure in remote locations) The transition of rural land from tropical forests to agricultural farmland has shifted the biomass resource base. The majority of wood is now obtained from farmlands. Improving agro-forestry systems, increasing tree diversity, and extending tree rotations can help to bring about the appropriate use of woodfuel. Dedicating land specifically to biomass production could increase the amount of biomass available for energy generation and other applications. Napier grass and other perennial warm-season grasses could be grown as energy crops on marginal farmland. The introduction of 100,000 ha of napier grass could generate 2 million ODT of biomass for energy applications. Bioenergy End-use Applications The use of bioenergy in households and in agricultural processing has been the focus of this study. An emphasis has been placed on heating because currently it consumes the most bioenergy and is best suited to the decentralized availability of resources (the economics of liquid fuel and power generation are not as favorable). Household cooking consumes approximately 75% of the total biomass used, and is of considerable importance as there are 13 million families in the Philippines. An economic analysis indicated that the LT-2000 multi-fuel stove for rural households and pellet stoves for urban households (using cane trash or grass pellets) provided the greatest opportunities Strategies for Enhancing Biomass Utilization in the Philippines iii for reducing cooking costs for those purchasing fuels. There are one million households that could potentially be using the LT-2000 multi-fuel stove in the Philippines. The domestic production of 1 million tonnes of fuel pellets (derived from napier grass, cane trash, or wood residues) could enable up to 2.5 million households make the switch to pellet fuel cooking. This could displace up to 2.5 million liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cooking households, saving $145 million US annually in LPG imports. Agricultural residues and pellet burning furnaces could also play an increasing role in crop drying applications and other heat related energy applications in the future. With current crop residue production, biomass could supply approximately 160 MW of power for national use (1% of power by 2004). An assessment of year-round power generation found bagasse, followed by sugar cane trash, to be the most economical options. Fast growing tree plantations and napier grass were slightly higher in cost. The importation of 365,000 barrels of bunker oil for thermal processing by sugar mills could be displaced by about 161,000 tonnes of cane trash (at 26% moisture) which could save approximately $1 million US in oil imports. Cane trash farming is self-sustaining because improving soil fertility, nitrogen fixation, and water retention enhances crop yield, productivity, and longevity. Trash farming also results in a significant decrease in fertilizer use, which decreases energy input, overall production costs, and fossil energy use [and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions]. Successfully implementing low input trash farming on the 350,000 ha of land currently producing cane could save up to 1.8 million GJ of energy inputs, which would generate 26.5 million GJ of energy (in the form of recoverable bagasse and cane trash) for bioenergy applications. Trash farming has the potential to transform the industry from a net energy importer into a domestic energy producer. Strategies for Enhancing Biomass Utilization in the Philippines iv Table of Contents Chapter 1 Overview of Biomass Resources in the Philippines ...................................................... 1 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... 2 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Major Farming Systems in the Philippines and Current Trends ........................................ 4 1.2 Assessment of the Bioenergy Potential Of Major Agricultural Crops in the Philippines ..... 7 1.2.1 Sugarcane ......................................................................................................... 7 1.2.2 Maize .............................................................................................................. 10 1.2.3 Rice .............................................................................................................. 12 1.2.4 Coconut ........................................................................................................... 16 1.2.5 The Bioenergy Potential of High Yielding Perennial Grasses........................... 21 1.2.6 Wood and Wood Based Residues ................................................................... 24 1.3 Suitability of Biomass Residues for Bioenergy Applications............................................ 27 1.4 Outlook for Biomass Resources in the Philippines ......................................................... 29 1.5 Chapter 1 References .................................................................................................... 30 Chapter 2 Promoting Biomass Utilization in Agricultural Processing and in the Home............ 33 Executive Summary...................................................................................................... 34 2.0 General Overview of Biomass Energy Utilization in the Philippines ............................... 35 2.1 Sectoral Opportunities for Biomass Power Generation................................................... 39 2.2