Published on 27/09/14 by Prensa Latina
An international workshop on the development of renewable energy sources, mainly gasification of forest biomass, will be held on Oct. 6-8, said organizers.
It is the most important project implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido) in Cuba, ongoing in the special municipality of Isle of Youth, explained in a press conference Maria Tomas, commercial specialist of energy, research, development and services.
Jorge Luis Isaac, a specialist of public service firm Union Electrica de Cuba, said that the project includes the use of wind energy and the technology of gasification of forest biomass in the Isle of Youth, considered for its size as a very climate change-related vulnerable site with difficulties for energy supply.
This technique means the conversion of forest industry wastes into fuel gas through a thermochemical process to generate electricity or heat for the industry. At least 1.5 kg of biomass is needed to produce 1 kilowatt.
The project was signed in 2005 and went through several phases up to now, including the training or staff, the creation of firms to promote renewable energy sources and the transfer of technologies for the design, production and operation of forest biomass gasifiers.
To introduce this technology in Cuba, Unido donated a forest biomass gasification plant, located in Cocordilo town, in the Isle of Youth, to supply energy to a community of 80 houses and 230 inhabitants from waste generated by cleaning the forest.
The project, worth some 5.3 million USD, is supported by the Global Environment Fund under the United Nations Environment Program to implement actions to mitigate the effects of climate change and develop renewable energy sources.