Government will soon start generating energy from rice husks as part of push to absorb greenhouse gases and as a strategy to fight deforestation. The ‘Rice husks to power project’ is being implemented in Nyagatare District to produce green energy. Bright Ntare, the programme manager of National Climate Fund (FONERWA), said the project is among 17 climate change adaptation projects under implementation in the country. Speaking on the sidelines of the South-South meeting in Kigali last Thursday, convened to discuss financing climate compatible development, Ntare said the projects are being funded by FONERWA at a tune of Rwf22 billion. The three-day meeting drew experts from Bangladesh, Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Peru and Rwanda to discuss different funding alternatives for projects initiated to mitigate effects of climate change in developing countries. It was organised by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in collaboration with Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA). Participants said green technologies by private investors need funding to avail renewable energy in rural areas. Ntare said the ‘Rice husks power project’, whose implementation started last year, could be ready in two months. Ankush Chhabria, the managing director of Novel Renewable Energy, (the implementing firm), said the produced energy will be connected to national grid. The pilot project will produce 70 kilowatt per hour and could be rolled out to other areas of the country next year, he explained. “When the husks are left in the soil by farmers and rice millers, they emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that contribute to climate change but once the power machinery is completed in two months….the ash from the processing will be distributed to farmers as a fertiliser,” Chhabria said. The company has signed a contract with rice millers for the distribution of husks. Under the technology, husks are burnt in well-constructed facilities and machinery that finally store the gas into clean energy for use. A part from funding public institutions, FONERWA also gives innovation grants and credit line funds that focus on research and technologies to private sector investors. Ellie Marsh, who works with global development advisors from Switzerland, noted that there is need to create opportunities for private sector, build investors’ confidence and foster public participation into adaptation mechanisms to develop such technologies in developing countries. She also stressed that implementation and sustainability level of the climate plans needs to be strengthened. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
