Recycling - Rice Husk & Ash
Bio-Green-Circular (“BCG”) Business Model
Whilst the primary business of A.T. Biopower is electricity generation, agricultural recycling and waste management is arguably an equally apt description.
Every day, at full load, the power plant consumes upwards of 520 tonnes of rice husk and, applying this parameter, generates 98 tonnes of silica-rich ash. Both the inflow and outflow are critical components of the economic and sustainable business model, with many touch points in the BCG economy.
Rice Husk
A.T. Biopower’s home is in Bang Mun Nak, Phichit, in the heart of Thailand rice country, making rice husk waste a logical choice to fuel the power plant.
The region’s rice farmers benefit from flat and low-lying land, with well managed irrigation. The paddy fields that surround the power plant provide a visible barometer of the season and future fuel supply.
Rice husk is the hard protective coating around the grain, residue that is discarded during the harvesting or milling process. It is agricultural waste, typically accounting for 20-30% of the weight of the harvested paddy, although it can total as much as 50%.
Over the years, enduring relationships have been forged with both rice mills and traders, from whom rice husk is purchased throughout the year.
The quality of the rice husk is important, with a simple, yet well understood, testing process in place, with impurity and moisture content key areas of focus.
We work closely with our partners to better understand the changing dynamics of the market and plan sourcing over the seasons.
Rice harvests, in terms of both number and timing, may vary dependent on province and milling of paddy does not always correlate with the timing or scale of harvest, so it is important to be well informed.
Upwards of 175,000 tonnes of rice husk may be purchased over the course of an operating year, with inventory maintained in reserve as contingency and for smooth operation, including during wet season. This returns valuable income to mills and (and, in turn, to farmers) for a commodity regarded as a waste, as well as avoiding the adverse greenhouse gas effects of degradation and/or burning in the field.
Should you wish to partner with us, as a supplier of rice husk, please contact us
Ash
Ash is a by-product of rice husk combustion, with ash content of up to 19%, of which at our power plant approximately 80% is collected as fly ash and 20% as bottom ash.
Whilst collected separately, the nature of the operation is such that there is very little difference in the characteristic and quality of the two ashes.
Whilst for many biomass power plants ash may be viewed as a waste to be solved, for A.T. Biopower the unique characteristics of its ash, including high silica content, represents an opportunity that has grown, and continues to grow, with the global transition towards more sustainable supply chains.
Rice husk ash is a by-product of combustion and has a multitude of applications due to its chemical and physical properties, including:
- Construction materials: It may be used as a substitute for Portland cement in concrete production, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative.
- Fertilizer: Rich in silicon and other nutrients, rice husk ash may be used as a soil additive, to improve soil fertility and water retention.
- Adsorbent: With high adsorption capacity, rice husk ash may be used to remove heavy metals and other contaminants from wastewater.
- Refractory material: Given its high resistance to heat and abrasion, it may be used in the manufacture of high-temperature materials, such as fire bricks.
- Silica: Given its very high silica content, it is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional sources, such as sand, which can be highly energy intensive.
- Abundant and sustainable: Rice is a staple crop in many parts of the world, meaning that rice husk, if combusted, is readily available and sustainable over the long term.
- Environmentally friendly: Rice husk is a waste product, so using it as a resource helps to reduce waste and reduces the carbon footprint of the manufacturing process.
- High silica content: Rice husk ash has a high silica content, which is a key ingredient for many industrial applications, including construction and environmental protection.
- Low heavy metal content: Unlike other ash sources, rice husk ash is low in heavy metals and other toxic elements, making it safer to use in a range of applications.
Why A.T. Biopower Rice Husk Ash?
As noted earlier (refer About Us), ash was an important factor when designing the power plant. Reflecting the unique design of the boiler, the quality and quantity of rice husk ash generated by our power plant is unmatched by others.
Our ash is fine in texture, consistent in quality, and has a very high silica content, with independent laboratory reports pointing to both fly ash and bottom ash having CO2 content of upwards of 94%.
Unlike many power plants, we are not multi-fuel. We only use rice husk, and we therefore provide an assured source of silica-rich ash, uncontaminated by other fuels, and in scale, that cannot be found elsewhere.
Should you have a requirement for silica-rich ash, please contact us