PhD Oral Defense: Improving energy supply and use of the rice value chain using rice husk energy systems

PhD Oral Defense of Ebenezer Miezah Kwofie, Bioresource Engineering

Rice is the most rapidly growing source of food in Africa with profound implication for food security and welfare of poor urban and rural households. Its production within rural communities besides being laborious and energy intensive, raise concerns on issues such as energy efficiency, deforestation, rice husk disposal, greenhouse gas emission and smoke related health impact.  With farmers’ health and the environment at stake, a simple but effective and environmentally friendly system may be required to improve both rice quality and overall livelihood of rural rice processors. This project is part of McGill’s contribution in providing such solution within the region using rice husk energy systems. The primary objectives of this work were to provide an alternative biomass energy supply through efficient rice-husk-fired systems and to improve energy use through an integrated steaming and drying system (ISDS).

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