Light Up Bio Energy Solutions (LUBES)

Small scale Power production and supply to smallholder farmers through the use of a sustainable biomass and waste management system. proven waste to energy [WTE] technology. 

Zambia suffers from severe environmental pollution and deteriorating livability because of inadequate collection and haphazard disposal of waste. Smallholder farmers with potential to scale up and increase the food basket in Zambia lack Sustainable energy source. They aren’t connected to the national grid despite their potential, LUBES utilizes waste generated in the specific pile up areas. We teach these small scale farmers how to generate power on a small scale to keep their farms running through the use of biomass. We utilize the EPA content recycling tool to cut down on materials high in carbon thus not contributing to global warming.

LIGHT UP BIO ENERGY SOLUTIONS (LUBES)

Identified as one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by the United Nations, access to affordable and clean energy improve outcomes in education, health and peace. The use of biomass for power has been studied widely and many large-scale, grid-connected plants are already in operation. However,  our company  utilizes the sustainability of electricity from biomass which varies according to price, availability and land use. The light up bio Energy Solutions (LUBES) involves a small scale power supply  In rural farming communities, using locally available agricultural wastes as feedstock in small-scale power production.This stands at an advantage because utilisation of residues does not adversely affect the food supply and can contribute towards CO2 mitigation. Our power plant also serves as waste management facilities for the surrounding area. Thus, small-scale biomass power is a potentially sustainable option for addressing the energy needs of agricultural communities as well as for better waste management. We initiated and designed a digital EPA recycling content tool that screens materials that are high in carbon, we estimate embodied carbon across purchasing and/or manufacturing materials with varying degrees of post-consumer recycled content. We make use of materials low in carbon for power production.

Renewable energy helps the small holder farmer save money and also combats the effects of global warming. The LUBES Biomass power plant will meet the rural strategic plan goals.

1. Goal #1 (education)
This is accomplished through frequent tours of the power plant, which are hosted for a number of professors and student organizations, as part of coursework and events, in order to teach students and the community about biomass energy
and energy storage.
2. Goal #2 (innovation)
This is completed by the demonstration of low-carbon energy production. which could be scaled up by other energy companies in Zambia.
3. Goal #3 (Food security)
This is made possible as smallholder farmers access energy, in the long run the food reserves will be full. Smallholders play an important role in food security provided they have access to energy.

The team is well qualified and embraces women in technology by founding a strong foundation of women taking the lead role. Mwaka Malaika Sichintu who is the Chief Executive Director (Founder of LUBES) holds a Bachelor’s in Civic Education, and Occupational health and safety. Currently LUBES has two branches in two different provinces of Zambia since it’s formulation. The remaining team is made up of three civil Engineers and two Electrical engineers who are an addition to the team. 

Shellina Gamble the Branch Manager of LUBES Lusaka province whose also a co founding member holds a Bachelors degree in Banking and Finance Cavendish University Zambia. She runs the Lusaka branch

Sampa Chalo who is the head of wing Energy resources department in Lusaka Province holds a 
Bachelor of Science in Purchasing and Supply, with additional qualifications in Energy cooperate affairs. She enables proper reach 

Memory Banda who is the head of Central command and Human resource sourcing team LUBES Lusaka Province holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Civic Education from the University of Zambia. She handles recruitment processes of persons living with disabilities by identifying roles fit for them in LUBES.

We have carried research among potential users since 2019, initially we onboarded 550 women small scale farmers in Shibuyunji, a series of workshops lasted for 4 months we’re conducted. Basically the purpose was to engage farmers on the use of sustainable energy sources and small scale power production. We received an overwhelming response that in our first year of inception we received an additional 1387 smallholder farmers signed up for follow up workshops and trainings on how to produce power in the comfort of their farms. Since 2019 our work involved workshops and trainings, currently we are slowly transitioning to establishing a Biomass power plant were all farmers can visibly benefit from our services on a large scale.

A sustainable and resilient agricultural sector is key to sub-Saharan Africa’s economic future. Farming is the primary source of food and income for Africans and provides up to 60 per cent of all jobs on the continent. This is where smallholder farmers come in; the world depends on the 570 million smallholder farming households globally to eat, and this same group of people happens to be the poorest and most food-insecure.
Access to Biomass energy services and equipment for smallholder farmers in rural areas could have significant positive impacts on food security, gender empowerment, and rural poverty.

Increasing smallholder productivity is a notoriously difficult problem to solve because many smallholder families are only one bad harvest away from financial ruin. Without a sustainable energy source for livelihood, farmers can’t afford to invest in inputs and tools that could increase their productivity for instance, seeds, irrigation, fertilizer, post-harvest processing and cold storage. As such they remain shut out of the national grid and access to electricity. LUBES offers African farmers the needed energy source that delivers higher-yielding and more resilient crops.

The establishment  is estimated to cost a total of $200,000, which includes $80,000 for the system itself and $20,000 for graduate student salaries (for system design, labor, software development). The benefits (with Biomass storage) is expected to produce about 150,000 kWh per year. Some maintenance will be required, which primarily consists of periodic lubrication and cleaning, and may cost about $ 1,200 to $ 1,500 per year.

Our solution is sustainable in that LUBES utilizes an EPA content recycling tool which is sustainable energy option and significant waste management system by managing high carbon wastes into other usable materials, the low carbon less costly, accounting for nearly 45%–65% of are used for power production. The content recycling tool is assistive in reduction of high carbon concentrated material during the process of power production. Converting this sludge into renewable energy could provide an economically viable alternative. This is a new technology use in Zambia, as such technologies are not yet in full practice in Zambia.

LUBES will meet the rural strategic plan goals.

1. Goal #1 (education)
This will be accomplished through frequent tours at the 
power plant, which are hosted for a number of professors and
student organizations, as part of coursework and events, in
order to teach students and the community about biomass energy and energy storage.

2. Goal #2 (innovation) 

This will be completed by the demonstration of low-carbon energy production.  which could be scaled up by other  energy companies in Zambia.

3. Goal #3 (Food security)

This will be made possible as smallholder farmers access energy, in the long run the food reserves will be full. Smallholders play an important role in food security provided they have access to energy.

2023/2024 IMPACT STRATEGY 

- Facilitate access and Development in renewable energy and energy efficiency among smallholder farmers that aren’t connected to the national grid.

- Disseminate information on Biomass energy and energy efficiency.

- issues affecting the development of a renewable energy sector in Zambia.

- Be a consultative body on issues related to connecting smallholder farmers to renewable energy markets.

The technological innovation we are using is in line with the EPA. The digital content recycling tool in identifying high carbon materials is in form of a sensor and app. The content recycling tool is assistive in reduction of high carbon concentrated material during the process of power production. Converting these materials  into renewable energy. It is an existing technology EPA created the Recycled Content (ReCon) Tool. We modify it by making a manual potable sensor to screen objects that are high in carbon to help during our power generation process and gas emmisions

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

(2 provinces/ (majority women farmers Zambia)

Direct beneficiaries: 5000

Indirect beneficiaries: 2521

Planning to serve 23/2024: 100 000

long term: 420 000 by 2030

As a team we have the needed capacity building and potential to scale. Since 2019 we thrive to not only work with numbers but create much needed impact. The only barrier we face as a team is the much needed financial assistance to completely scale on a greater extent. Despite that we have been working tirelessly to ensure we move regardless of financial constraints. Once our plant is fully established and minigrids formed we will generate much needed income as a company. 

We are a member and partner with the Global Waste Cleaning Network – GWCN.

It is an international non-profit network comprised of NGOs, Educational institutions, and private and public sector companies, that are active and interested in environmental issues related to the management and reduction of waste, whether solid, liquid or gaseous. we facilitate abs take part in workshops

Lusaka City Council: in charge of all activities to do with keeping the environment clean.

Because of the impending energy crisis and the environmental problems caused by the excessive use of fossil fuels, biofuels produced from renewable energy LUBES  has been playing a more significant role. Our business model inflows: 

1)Our Stakeholder perspective we include business entrepreneurs  ,waste suppliers/ producers, operators and community.

 2) Sustainability management perspective including economic management, social management, and environmental management.

 3) Effectiveness perspective including Social Return on Investment.

4) Learning & growth perspective including workshops/training/learning and innovation/technology.

We generate Electricity and units then sell to smallholder farmers for commercial purposes. For the over generated Electricity, we sell to the Government via Grid and earn the income.