Cambodia rice husk biomass-energy project signs GE

US-listed GE has revealed that the SOMA Group is to use GE’s Waukesha gas engine technology to power a new rural, rice husk biomass-energy project.

The project is Cambodia’s first integrated biomass gasification-gas engine solution designed to supply renewable electricity to the local grid in support of the country’s Cambodia Rice Husk Biomass-Energy Project rural electrification goals.

SOMA, a leading Cambodian industrial conglomerate, and GE signed the contract during a US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and US Chamber of Commerce-sponsored forum in the city of Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia. Ministry level officials from the US and Cambodia were both present at the signing.

The Hak Se mill biomass gasification project is in the country’s rural rice milling region of Kamphong Cham and will be developed by Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies a  technology company in renewable energy technologies based in India.

The rice husk will be converted into biogas, which then will be used in two GE VHP 5904 Waukesha engines to generate a total of a 1.5 megawatt (MW) of renewable electricity. Part of the power will support the rice mill’s operations while surplus electricity will be sold to the local grid. The new power plant is expected to begin commercial service in March 2013.

By recycling rice mill waste into biogas to support the local grid, the SOMA Group project is supporting Cambodia‘s Rural Electrification Program that seeks to supply electricity to every village by 2020 and to connect 70 percent of the country’s households to the grid by 2030. Currently, only 50 percent of rural villages have access to electricity with demands for power growing at 25 percent a year.

The deal is the first since GE and the Cambodian government signed a 2011 alternative energy development agreement to identify opportunities to use GE’s technology to meet the country’s energy challenges.