Lean Briqs and Pellets

Target SDGs

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Learn Energy Solutions Ltd are the primary distributors of lean briqs and pellets. The Briqs have been implemented by Unilever , Norfolk hotel, AgaKhan Hospital, Spinners & Spinners, Coca-Cola, PJ Dave Group, Mount Kenya Milk, SBC Kenya, Spinners and Spinners Butterfly (Spice World Limited).

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include BioChar, Kencoco Ltd Charcoal Briquettes, Inyenyeri Fuel Pellets, Briketi Briquettes, Pivot Fuel, and AEST Agricultural Waste Charcoal Briquettes.

Regions

Africa, East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa

Countries

Kenya, Tanzania

Manufacturing/Building Method

The product is locally manufactured in Kenya by Lean Energy Solutions Ltd in three briquetting plants located in Muhoroni (Kisumu County), Kiambu County, and Maai Mahiu (Nakuru County).

Briquettes are manufactured from agricultural waste from sugar and coffee processing; Muhoroni Sugar supplies bagasse from sugarcane, and Sasini supplies coffee husks from coffee processing. Other agricultural waste like sawdust, coconut husks and shells, and maize cobs are supplied by independent biomass suppliers.

Both products are manufactured by compressing low bulk density agricultural waste biomass into high-density solid fuels. The raw materials are passed through a hammer mill to produce a dough-like mass that is later fed to a press to obtain evenly shaped final products.

Lean Energy Solutions is looking into developing a crusher and upgrading their hammer mills to crush other types of biomass like roadside bushes, maize cobs and stems, rose stems, sugarcane stems, and others.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Lean energy Solutions has adapted a unique model where we help clients convert from fossil fuel fired boilers to biomass boilers. we then take charge of the boilers and use our manufactured briquettes to run the boilers. Additionally, the surplus briquettes are sold to our other partner industries that own their own  biomass boilers, including learning institutions, hospitality facilities and many other companies. Other Industrial boiler/kiln users can obtain the briquettes by contacting the manufacturers directly for an order.

Distributions to Date Status

Lean Briqs has distributed and sold over 200,000 tonnes of briquettes since 2009. The briquettes have been distributed all over the country in Kenya.

Design Specifications

Specifications of the Briqs:

Calorific Value: 3,700-4,200 (Kcal/kg)

Total Moisture Content: 8% – 12%

Density: 1,000 Kg/m3

Briquettes Length: 100-500 mm

Ash Content: 5-10%

Size: 90 mm Diameter

Raw materials: bagasse or coffee husks

Specifications of the Pellets:

Technical Support

Lean Energy Solutions provides assistance to re-purpose conventional boilers to run on briquettes. We convert boilers all over, with clients in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Replacement Components

Unknown

Lifecycle

Single use

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Manufacturers specified performance targets for both products include: high in calorific value, low in ash content, easy to transport, environmentally friendly (no contained sulfur) and clean energy.

Manufacturers also specify that 1 tonne of briquettes manufactured save 1 tonne of CO2 emissions, create 12 man-days of employment and save 150 USD of foreign exchange for the nation.

Vetted Performance Status

Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI)

Safety

Potential hazards regarding spontaneous combustion without proper storage and potential burns during the use of the fuel. Users must keep the fuel in a dry and cool environment. Proper silos for storage should be installed to ensure safe conditions.

Fuel pellets are usually a safe fuel for household users. But there can be risks associated with harmful gasses emitted during combustion like carbon dioxide,  monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. Household users must be careful when handling pellets to prevent burn injuries.

Complementary Technical Systems

Industrial boilers, kilns, boiler conversion, energy audit and gasifier cookstoves.

Compliance with regulations

Kenya Bureau of Standards, ISO certification, Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI)

Evaluation methods

All our products have been physically tested and evaluated by national and international  standards . this includes product test runs conducted by KIRDI including on the calorific value and safety of the product. Testing of the products by Clean Cooking association on Kenya for industrial use and household usage.

Other Information

Lean Energy Solutions Ltd. also provides solar PV, energy audit and boiler operation services