Careers in Renewable energy - Webs · Processing of energy crops is more laborious during the...
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CAREERS TO CONSIDER IN RENEWABLE ENERGY Insight from the Zambian Industry
Transcript of Careers in Renewable energy - Webs · Processing of energy crops is more laborious during the...
CAREERS TO CONSIDER INRENEWABLE ENERGY
Insight from the Zambian Industry
ABOUT BIOFUELS
Biofuels are a form of fuel derived frombiomass or biological materials.Biofuels differ from fossil fuels, in thatthey are derived from renewablesources. Common sources include cropsand waste.
COMMON TYPES OF BIOFUEL
BioethanolBioethanol is a biofuel substitute for petrol It is derived
from cereal-based crop like sweet sorghum andsugarcane. The ideal crop for ethanol production is sweetsorghum due to its ease of cultivation and reduced foodfuel competition
Sweet sorghum farm to fuel project, similar to sugar production
BiodieselBiodiesel is the biofuel substitute for diesel. It is derived
from oilseed-based crops such as sunflower, castor beansand soya beans
COMMON TYPES OF BIOFUEL
Castor bean plant and Jatropha plants known for their non edible vegetable oil content, ideal for biodiesel production.www.taperabiofuels.webs.com
BiogasBiogas is the biofuel substitute for natural gas. It is derived
from organic waste materials, including animal waste andwaste generated from municipal, commercial and industrialsources.
COMMON TYPES OF BIOFUEL
Biogas schematic and example of Southern Bio power in Zambia
ORIGIN OF BIOFUELS
In the late 1800’s, Rudolf Diesel testedvegetable oil as fuel for his engine. With theadvent of cheap petroleum, appropriate crudeoil fractions were refined to serve as fuel anddiesel fuels and diesel engines evolvedtogether.Recently, because of increases in crude oilprices, limited resources of fossil oil andenvironmental concerns there has been arenewed focus on vegetable oils and animalfats to make biodiesel fuels.
TAPERA INDUSTRIESTHE BUSINESS OF BIOFUELS
Tapera Industries Limited is in the business ofrefining of bio-diesel fuel from vegetable oils andanimal fats. Other products include natural soapsand crude glycerine.As is becomes more and more evident that thefuture of the fuel industry lies on an ongoingimpetus to provide a cheaper and non-depletingsource of renewable energy, Tapera has taken theinitiative of being one of the pioneering businessesin the field of bio-fuels, using locally adaptedprocesses and equipment, it is wholly identifiablewith this product.
THE BUSINESS OF BIOFUELS
Tapera Industries locally adapted processing equipment at pilot plantLusaka; Tapera founders at Thomro biofuels Jatropha curcas demo siteChibombo
THE BUSINESS OF BIOFUELS
o Biodiesel Raw material Cotton seed oil, Used cooking oil, castor bean oil
oThe production of biodieselThis is done in batches of a maximum 300 liters by the
Transesterification of vegetable oil with sodiummethoxide reagent, used to give biodiesel and glycerol
oReaction is as follows:
Vegetable oil + methoxide → Glycerol + Esters (Biodiesel)
MarketsOur clients include road users, diesel machine operators i.e.
borehole drilling companies and farmers. Through theZambia oil refinery, Indeni, we intend to distribute ablended fuel throughout Zambia for general consumption.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN BIOFUELS
EducationMutoba Ngoma who is the founder CEO of Tapera
Industries Limited, studied Aerospace engineeringand manufacture engineering. He is a registeredtechnologist with the Engineers Institute of Zambia(MEIZ).
These attributes have helped him in the setting up ofthe biofuel industries. His role as director exposeshim to all aspects of the business, which includeprocurement, processing, human resources,marketing and sales.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN BIOFUELSEmployee roles in the biofuels industry are asdiverse as any other industry, and sometimes can beconsidered a combination of multiple industries.A typical biofuel farm to fuel project, whetherintegrated or independent, will have the followingroles and responsibilities.
ResearchFarmingProcessingMarketingTransportingAdministration
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES INBIOFUELS
ResearchResearch in the renewable energy sector is on going.New methods of processing and harnessing energy arebeing developed every day through the experiences ofexperts and investigations of the academic experts.In relation to biofuels, research in the improvement of1st generation biofuel raw materials to develop hybridseed which can boost yields of vegetable oil producedor research into the development of producing 2nd
generation biofuels i.e. harnessing oil from algae toproduce biodiesel or increasing ethanol output fromstrains of the ecoli bacteria which can convert sugarsglycerol from the biodiesel process to produce ethanol.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES INBIOFUELSFarming
The cultivation of energy crops is not a newphenomenon. Several vegetable oils are considered the1st generation energy crop because they can be used forfood or for fuel.Careers in farming of energy crops includeAgronomists, horticulturalist, mechanical engineersand Farm managers.These career position are essential in the running ofany farm, though some may be part time. Furthertraining may be required based on the specification ofthe crop involved. i.e. hybrid castor bean crops grow ata much faster rate than normal crops thus need theright care to make sure it thrives and yields as muchas possible.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES INBIOFUELS
ProcessingProcessing of energy crops is more laborious duringthe harvest. When delivered to the processing site,several mechanism can be used to ease the work.The careers in this section include mechanicalengineers, technicians, lab analysts, processengineers, and production manager.These career positions should be filled to facilitatesmooth running of the business. Industry specifictraining is required for all the personnel on site, so asto adhere to health and safety requirements and runthe production floor as efficiently as possible. Withthe ever growing biofuels industry around the world,equipment manufacturers provide full training totheir clients.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES INBIOFUELS
MarketingEven though the biofuels industry has been inexistence for decades, biofuel is relatively unheard ofdue to its limited relevance to society. The need forrenewable energy is usually tied to the price of fossilfuels. To pull away from that dynamic, theresearchers are tasked with finding or developingcheaper raw material sources.The marketers are required to generate awarenessof biofuel products and their benefits to theconsumer and the environment.Marketing careers include head of marketing,account manager and marketing agents. Accountmanagers are required to keep the client businessreturning and satisfied with product
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES INBIOFUELS
TransportingTransportation in the farming sector is essential tofacilitate movement of workers, raw materials, finishedproducts.Different types of farming systems require certainpersonnel trained to handle pressure of a fast growing,on demand industry.Careers in the transport section include HGV drivers,logistics officer, auto mechanics and transportmanager.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES INBIOFUELS
AdministrationAdmin is the heart of the project, it can consist of justthe board of directors and skeleton staff or a fullscale admin personnel to handle the day to dayaspects.In Zambia, the most common type of admin is basedon the project proponent being on site to handle allaspects of the business. This is due to limitedexpertise that entrepreneurs may encounter, hencethey do not want to incur the cost of the trainings.Careers in this section include accountant, humanresource manager, project manager (usually theproject owner), farm manager, logistics manager.
CONCLUSION
The biofuel energy sector isa growing industry with somuch potential forsustainable fuel supply inlow income countries andstrong economic growthand job creation. Careers inthe field of biofuels aregood one because just asbiofuels industry issustainable, there can onlybe more demand for morepersonnel to fill in thepositions of the evergrowing industry.
BIO-FUEL IN ZAMBIA DIRECTORYBusiness Activity Contact
PersonEmail Website
Thomro Biofuels Jatropha Energy Crops and Oil processing
Thompson Sinkala
[email protected] www.thomrobiof
uels.comSouthern Bio Power
Bio gas and Energy Crops processing
MartinaBergschneider
www.Southernbiopower.com
Zambia sugar Sugar and Bio-Ethanol
LovemoreSievu
www.illovosugar.co.za
CopperbeltEnergy Coporation
Bio-diesel fuel and Electricity generation
Kelvin Nkole [email protected]
www.cecinvestor.com
Mulembo Farms Jatropha Energy Crops and Oil processing
Peter Snyman [email protected]
MarliInvestments
Energy Crops and Oil processing
Kamal Desai [email protected]
Tapera Industries Bio-diesel fuel production
MutobaNgoma
www.taperabiofuel.webs.com
