Project Title

Pilot Demonstration on the Use of Cook Stove Utilizing Selected Biomass-Based Fuel

Partner Agency

Central Mindanao University (CMU)

Project Description

In pursuit of the mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure sufficient, sustainable, and accessible energy for the Filipino people, DOE collaborated with CMU to design an efficient cook stove using endemic biomass grass-based fuel. This initiative will help mitigate global warming as it will decelerate the local rapid rate of forest harvesting for wood fuel purposes.

Napier is currently used as an alternative to wood as fuel source for cooking, however, this is also used as animal feedstock. To reduce the competition and to favor on its more significant use, Bugang (Saccharum spontaneum) was investigated for its fuel potential since it has harder stem comparable to Napier. Central Mindanao University – College of Agriculture (CMU-CA) was chosen as it has invested in agricultural researches on rural entrepreneurship innovations.  

DOE allocated a budget and the institution received Php 1,000,000 for the realization of this project.  The project has a duration of two years from May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2020. 

Outputs and Deliverables 

The project was divided into two components: the propagation of bugang and the pilot demonstration on the use of cooking stove using bugang stems as alternative biomass-based fuel. 

The Project Team consulted taxonomists in identifying bugang for plant sourcing. The Team initially used plant cuttings sourced from Lake Apo area for its propagation. There were several trials conducted but the attempts were unsuccessful. Dry spell due to El Niño phenomenon compounded the difficulties encountered in growing bugang. The Project Team surveyed nearby areas of neighboring provinces for the second batch of bugang plantation. Biomass gathered from Kalilangan were used for the second attempt and it was pursued with the use of rhizomes. Enough data were collected to assess its propagation growth. The monitoring of plant growth was done on a weekly basis which included plant height, survival rate, and number of tillers developed even with the Enhanced Community Quarantine as to not compromise the results of the investigation. 

The conclusion of the project was that bugang can be propagated using rhizomes with a survival rate of 74.67%, an average plant height of 198.71cm and 27.13 tillers. The study group recommended to investigate the use of tissue culture and/or the establishment of fertilization programs for optimized propagation of bugang.

CMU-CA had an initial discussion with the CMU-College of Engineering of the university for possible collaboration for the design of the cook stove. 

Remarks

The project encountered some difficulties in sourcing the biomass and unfavorable climatic conditions during the course of implementation and the global pandemic. The agreement expired ahead of the completion of the project, hence the objectives were not fully-attained including the delivery of a cook stove system and its prototype. CMU-CA was able to choose a biomass grass-based fuel and recommended further research as to its propagation. The project team was able to utilize Php 510,601.65 out of the allocated Php 1,000,000. Aspiring project proponents may pursue the conduct of viability study of the endemic grass as wood substitute, which may build up from what was initiated by CMU in partnership with DOE.