Biogas and Solar Cell Technology Seminar by XU-ANEC

Seminar Title: Biogas Technology and Solar Cell Basics
Resource Person: Engr. Arnel T. Chavez B.S. Agricultural Engg / Science Research Specialist of XU-ANEC (Xavier University Non-Conventional energy Center ) / In Charge of the Technical Division of the Center
Date: Sept 10, 2008 1:30 PM at the ILIPCO office, Tablon, Cagayan de Oro

Brief Background: XU-ANEC is an extension arm of the Philippine Department of Energy, entrusted to do research, training, consultancy for Renewable Energy Projects. They are based in MANRESA Farms near SEARSOLIN, in the College of Agriculture research farm of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro.

Description: There was a brief intro to XU-ANEC and then a presentation on Biogas Production ( can also he found in APPROPEDIA wiki here) . This was a shortened seminar from the same XU-ANEC presentation, which was then a 2 day seminar on How to Construct a Fixed Dome Hollow Block Biogas Unit. A brief description was given on the process of Methane Production, the yields of each material used for biogas, from Cattle Dung, Pig Dung, Green Grass ( Which can produce a SURPRISINGLY high enough amount of methane, similar to Pig Dung).
Cost estimates for FIXED DOME Digesters a few years ago was 5,000 to 6,000 pesos per cubic meter, but has now increased to P 10,000 to 12,000 per cu. m.

I mentioned that There were also HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Biogas Digesters, which could cover more ground (and might be cheaper to construct). Engr. Arnel said that these are Landfill type Biogas digesters for really large scale systems (He mentioned earlier that the fixed dome would be cost effective, in this case, for at least a 10 sow strong piggery). He mentioned that Fixed Domes were long lasting and that there were other D.A. (Dept. of Agriculture) Digesters made of LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene Plastic) called TUBE Digesters, but would last only 5 years.

There were many interested people in the seminar ranging from Cattle Ranchers, Pig Farmers. One farmer wanted to know if she could use Biogas to power her mining operation beside her Piggery. Many people wanted to get the plans and wanted to know how much was consultancy. Engr. Chavez said (since they were from the Dept. of Energy), consultancy and construction supervision would be a free service, an outreach, and the plans for the fixed dome were available in their MANRESA office.

The next presentation was on Solar Cell Technology Basics. they should a basic system used in a Home, with the Solar Cell panels (Solar Collectors) , Deep Cycle Batteries ( MOTOLITE was their only brand of choice) , the Charge Controller ( which determines if the batteries are charge enough, and acts as a current controller, swithing electricity use between Solar cell at day, and Batteries at Night). Solar Cells run on DC Current, so they have to be changed to AC Current once it reaches the House.

They also showed the Solar Array (meaning large amounts of Soalr Cells) of the CEPALCO 1 MW Solar Cell Facility in Indahag, near Cagayan de Oro City. This was touted to be one of the 10 biggest Solar Power Plants in Asia.

Comment: Most of these technologies, the Fixed Dome Biogas Digester, the Solar Cells, are now the mainstream types of renewable energy devices. They are fairly old but have been carefully studied by the Cagayan de Oro Engineers for some time now. Other kinds of Biogas Digesters (mostly plastic), and Solar Cells ( which do not need expensive Photolithograpy - Microchip making facilties, but only special, cheaper printer-like facilities using a cheaper semiconductor "ink" ) are now coming into the commercial stage. Nonetheless at Oil hovering at around US$ 100+ per barrel, all these options are almost, or are already cost effective alternatives.

That's all for now. Back to work.

A Brief Chitchat with Dr. William Dar of ICRISAT

Title of Seminar- Innovation Forum: How to Harness the Power of Science and Technology in Development
Date: Sept 11, 2008 @ the SEARSOLIN seminar room, MANRESA farm, College of Agriculture, Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City

Sponsors: The Ayala Foundation, MIT PESO Challenge

Participants: The Seminar Started at 3PM. Participants in the Podium were Fr. Jett Villarin - President of Xavier University ( XU )- Ateneo de Cagayan , Mr. Bobby Ansaldo of Pioneer Seeds(?) , Prof. Roel Ravanera - Dean of the College of Agriculture XU, and Mr. Hector San Juan VP of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce

Description: It was an afternoon long introduction to the facilties of ICRISAT, the International Research Facility run by former Department of Agri Secretary Dr. William Dar in Hyderabad, India . Focus was given to the 1,000+ Hectare Agri-Science Park. Focus of research was on different types of Semi-arid crops like Millet, Cowpea and Sweet Sorghum. Pictures were shown of the the Agri Business Incubators (ABI) private research companies doing research using ICRISAT facilties, among other types of research. Surprisingly fortunate, ICRISAT is a nonprofit research facility making profits in its services, to further fund its public research initiatives. Thats how it should be, self-sustaining.

Comments were given to the Sweet Sorghum research and the Rusni Distilleries, which has put up a 40,000 liters per day pilot facility converting sweet sorghum to ethanol, a major research thrust. ICRISAT is also a breeding facility for BT Cotton and is now currently forming a Translational facility (BIOTECH genetic engineering facility) and is spreading their managerial skills in creating Agri-Science parks to other nearby Indian and South African Institutions.

After, Dar's speech, Mr. Alfonso Alamban (formerly Department of Trade - Cagayan de Oro Head) gave a brief intro to the new agricultural research consultancy arm of the Xavier Science Foundation called AgriTRACS ( Agridev Training, Research, Advocacy, Consultancy Services ) .

During open forum, Mr. Hector San Juan of Oro Chamber mentioned about having more data on Jatropha growing ( which is a plant said to be useful for Biofuel). Dr. Dar said that what is available now are not VARIETIES but RACES (meaning what is being distributed in Mindanao is not standardized, or coming from a definite VARIETY, but a mixture of seeds, which have actually varying yields).

After the seminar, there was cocktails at the outdoor garden beside the seminar room. Discussion went to the Castor Beans being planted by AgriTRACS member Venn, and Dad was able to comment that yields in the Philippines would only reach 1.5 tons per hectare, and 2nd croppings would wither. Dad also commented that D.A. was aksed to get seeds from India where they were touted to grow UP TO 15 tons per hectare. However, bringing Castor Beans out of India WAS PUNISHABLE with 15 years prison. We inquired with Dr. Dar and he said that maybe it would be possible to bring out seeds, if it were done as a research activity, and was negotiated governement to government ( India and Philippines).

Discussion went to the length of time it would take to Crossbreed desired varieties of the same plant. According to Dr. Dar, 7 to 10 years. A WHOLE DECADE JUST TO REACH COMMERCIAL STAGE! Finding an opportunity to speak, I commented to Dr. Dar if it was possible to create a Transgenic Crop instead, Getting genetic fingerprinting of differing varieties, adding desired genes to subject plants, and how long it would take. He said maybe around 5 years pa rin. Dr. Dar is a very orderly and approachable person , and being the Futurist, I wanted to talk to him further by email. So we exchanged cards.

It was such a nice, somber feeling, being around research people. And it was quite an eye opener.

On Having a 'Philippine Solar Cell Valley' and Brain thrust groups

My friend, a Mr. Dennis Posadas journalist for BUSINESSWORLD Magazine, and a Director for the "Philippine Congressional Commission on Science, Engineering and Technology" published 4 articles on Solar as a Sunrise Industry (pardon the pun):

[Aug 19, 2008] http://itmatters.com.ph/columns.php?id=posadas_081908
[Aug 26, 2008] http://itmatters.com.ph/columns.php?id=posadas_082608
[Sept 2, 2008] http://itmatters.com.ph/columns.php?id=posadas_090208
[Sept 9, 2008] http://itmatters.com.ph/columns.php?id=posadas_090908

In it he outlined a company called Sunpower who produces Sillicon Solar Cells with a whopping 22% efficiencty AND based here in the Philippines.

I agree. Energy demand will be so big, there will be a need for even the old version solar panels, even at oil at US$ 106+ per barrel (NY Crude) as of today September 9, 2008.

My comment to Mr. Posadas; So you want to capitalize on Sunpower's presence to start the Solar Industry in the Philippines? Just a few suggestion on how to start this industry

1.0 according to your book RICE and CHIPS, there should be Brain thrust Groups, that should commingle, be open to exchange and share ideas, persons who can network to capitalize on Skill, talent, resources to establish the workings of such an Industry. First you gotta find the critical resource persons and companies to build the Industry. Does the Philippines have the MINIMUM required talents and resources to start the ball rolling? I know UP Diliman receives massive amounts of resources for its ECE (Electronics and Communications Engg) and EE ( Electrical Engg) departments ( I left UP just when there was an ECE course in UP Engg), and ASTI has been working with Microchips since 1997 ( In collaboration with Taiwan firms?).
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2.0 According to the Technology Management book published by UP Dil, around year 2000, it took decades for Korea to catch up with world standards in CNC Technology, first by partnering with the more advanced Japanese Industrial Companies in the 60s, then slowly forming their own R & D, and ultimately, catching up in Technological capability as the rest of the Advanced World.

THESE GUYS NEVER HAD INTERNET RESEARCH CAPABILITIES. I suggest you do an Obama Strategy of Integrating Web Capabilities ( Technology Review Magazine Article "How Obama Really Did it") in 2.1) Communications with Brainthrust Networks, 2.2) Developing Research Finding and Distributing Techniques and 2.3) Funding of Research thru Internet Capabilities, into a seamless integrated system.

2.1 There are many, many Philippine Researchers in the Philippines and overseas. I read about them in the Philippine Star Newspaper (The "Star Science" article) Every Thursday. They are found on the TLRC government website(requires password) (This stands for the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center, the central arm of the Philippine DOST - Dept of Science and Technology - for diffusion of new livelihood and technology. Many, many technologies are available here thru their E-Technobank LIBRARY, accessible on the internet thru Prepaid Cards, which I also have).

This is quite remarkable, but I doubt if there is any comprehensive COMBINED Directory of Philippine Researchers and Scientists and their specialties. If this were real, it would be in demand by Industry, and it would make it MUCH easier to find the right specialist for their products or services.

2.2 This was something I had noticed about Philippine Technology Researchers; they were not very good in searching for useful technical stuff on the net.

Searching for information, ANY kind of Information , was something I honed thru a decade of Internet Research for New Products, Skills, Techniques in my company.
Every year, it would gets easier and easier to search for data, skills, techniques, patents, methods on any field of expertise, EVEN THOUGH theres more data out there.

But, it can get very hard or very long to search, if you dont know the proper systematic internet searching techniques , or the complete resources available (blogs, instructables, patent sites, e-commerce sites, market sites).

Websites now have a definite formal structure that makes them easily searchable, but few know that ( There is even a Professor in Insead, the European Management School, who knows how to AUTOMATE the art of making a book or a Manual, simply by groupings complementary facts from the Internet) .
Researchers in our country, know all the tools and statistical techniques to test new products, but are not adept at searching quickly for New Products or Services, Inventions (thru patent sites), Manufacturing or Fabrication techniques (thru invention sites like www.instructables.com ), in the Internet.

Its not even part of our academic curriculum. Like UP, theyre just thrown to the elements of nature to find the research on the internet. It takes time and experience to know which sites are reliable sources and which internet tools are the most effective at getting the desired information, and an ORDERLY and EFFICIENT METHOD of storing research information for whatever use you might need. Surely Academia can spare 1 semester for students to learn the art of Information Searching.

We should follow something like the Japanese; They have one special agency, regularly sifting thru the world patent offices for new technology and SUBMIT these TECH UPDATES to their Japanese Corporations. THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE GOVERNMENT SENDS THEM REGULAR MAIL ON NEW, USEFUL TECHNOLOGIES, FROM ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD, THAT THEY CAN ADAPT TO IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES. Its called "Competitive Intelligence" and Philippines has nothing like that here. Without the constant diffusion of Technology, ESPECIALLY to the SMEs, we would not be able to grow faster than we should.

2.3 Integrate Funding for Research to promotion of research studies, so funding can be generated quickly, especially from Overseas Filipinos and Filipino Corporations. Do the Obama strategy; make it very easy for our affluent Filipinos to give to badly needed research. One single website outlining our Philippine research thrusts, possible researches, its impact to Philippine Industry and funding required to make it successful (maybe payable by credit card), will go a long way to making it successful.

I'm bushed. That's all for now.