b'C O N S U LT I N GTHE BUSINESS OF BIOWASTEDeveloping a profitable model for off-grid energyUnreliable electricity can beAt the same time, farms areThe early stage business isCommercialization (MTRAC) the difference between aunder constant pressureoperating this closed-loopInnovation Hub for AgBio at profitable harvest and a loss,to increase crop output,system in three sites. InMichigan State University particularly for smallholdera goal that goes hand- Puerto Rico, (pictured left)to advance this work.farmers, cooperatives, andin-hand with the need tothe MBRACE team installed larger businesses operatingimprove and maintain soila 15-kilowatt gasificationIts exciting to take a product in low- and middle-incomequality. Farms also have tosystem and tested itfrom pilot scale through the countries (LMICs). Manymanage crop residuesausing wood feedstocks.commercialization process, such ventures contend withpricey and taxing processTheyre now working withsaid Sachin Nijhawan, a inconsistent, inefficientthat can include burning,a community-managedresearch fellow with WDIs and expensive power. Whilecomposting or transportingcooperative powered by solarenergy sector helping to guide generators are a frequentthe unused remnants, ormicro-grids, with the goalthe project. The gasification solution to energy challenges,biowaste, of their harvests. of lower electricity coststechnology has been used theyre inefficient and produceand selling excess powerfor many years, but this new high levels of emissions. These layered challenges areback to the grid for a profit. product has features that normally addressed in layeredmake it best suited for the approaches, but UniversityMeanwhile, in Costa Rica, theagricultural feedstocks, is of Michigan Professor Joseteam is working closely withthe right size and creates a Alfaro has developed a morea major coffee cooperativebest-in-class product with comprehensive solutionto improve energy sourcing,immense market potential.rooted in a circular economyguard against power losses, approach. With the help ofand put the group in a positionNote: This work is supported WDI, Alfaro, an Assistantto sell carbon credits. under the MTRAC Program Professor of Practice at U-Msby the State of Michigan 21st School of Environment andAnd, in Michigan, Alfaro hasCentury Jobs Fund received Sustainability and a WDIbuilt and installed a gasifierthrough the Michigan Strategic Research Fellow, is rolling itat U-M Matthaei BotanicalFund and administered by out as a new business, MbraceGardens near Ann Arbor.the Michigan Economic (Minigrids from BiomassWDI was recently awardedDevelopment Corporation.Residues for Agriculturala grant from the Michigan Circular Eco-nomy). Translational Research and 12 20|21 INSIGHTS'