Construction of a self-production electricity plant based on rice husk gasification

The Biostar project aims to enhance energy and food security by developing a bioenergy sector tailored to the needs of the agri-food processing industry in West Africa. Biostar actively contributes by testing innovative equipment within small and medium agro-industries to boost their energy efficiency.

The DB Foods rice mill, located in the Saint Louis region of Senegal, has been selected for a self-production plant project that will utilize rice husks. With a capacity of 100 kWe, the system will be connected to the national grid, enabling self-consumption for the processing plant and the injection of any excess electricity into the grid.

iED Invest has been selected as the EPC contractor for the gasification and electricity production system, responsible for:

• Conducting detailed engineering studies
• Constructing and delivering equipment on-site
• Installing and commissioning the plant
• Providing operational support, including training and assistance for the operator, which is crucial for the sustainability of the installations. The IED Invest operational support team, based in West Africa, will be mobilized to assist during the initial months of operation.

This 100 kWe gasification system enables the rice mill to:

• Achieve near self-sufficiency in electricity by transforming approximately half of the waste produced on-site, reducing a significant cost and providing better control over its growth
• Produce around 30 tonnes of biochar per month, which can be used as an agricultural amendment on local farms.