HyperGen through this project aims to adapt a novel design of Micro Gas Turbine (MGT) for use with biogas from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) by developing a Multi Fuel Injector (MFI) that can handle a variety of fuels, e.g., pure biogas, BioLPG, or diesel. The HyperGen MGT (HMGT) is aimed at competing with Piston Engine Generators, particularly diesel (DPGs) in small scale applications (<500kW). MGTs are simpler, lower maintenance, cleaner emission, and easier to multifuel. HyperGen's platform goes further by providing a basis for significantly higher efficiency and adopting a wide array of fuels, whilst providing consumers with affordable, reliable, low carbon electricity. This project focuses specifically on working with biogas and developing resilience to the corrosive biogas combustion gases through material testing and less interference between biogas and corrodible surfaces. The MFI is critical in ensuring a smooth transition to low carbon fuels given the dearth of availability of small-scale engines for operation on pure biogas without added diesel. The MGT could provide an alternative to DPG in minigrids, including solar PV ones in developing countries. Biogas storage is cheaper than batteries and cleaner than diesel for peak or back-up generation. This project will focus on farm cooperatives in Malawi that are supported by our partner Malawi Fruit. These communities currently have very limited access to electricity. Malawi Fruits will provide a consumer view on competing technologies and assess how access to 24/7 clean power from MGT could change the lives of these farmers. Production of biogas for cooking and fertilizer from Anaerobic Digestion is also a likely side benefit that could be deployed early on. The project will 1) Deliver a working MFI and conceptual design of Balance of Plant around the MFI/MGT (from biogas to heat and power) adapted to the feedstocks for biogas available on Malawian cooperatives. 2) Investigate methods allowing the MFI/MGT to handle the corrosive biogas, while maintaining energy efficiency. This may include biogas purification e.g., zinc oxide bed, filtration, the challenge being that these methods must be adapted if applied in the field in Malawi or ODA countries in a continuation project. 3) Assess resources, energy needs and attitudes of Malawian farming community through surveys and workshops conducted by Malawi Fruits. This will inform Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) when specifying the whole plant around feedstock availability and collection, as well as uses for the biogas and waste heat beyond power generation.

Agriculture is the key industry in Malawi; however, given the sub-tropical, climate, the cold supply chain for fruit, vegetables and other temperature sensitive goods is lacking. In most of Malawi, the electricity supply is unreliable, and the increasing cost of fossil fuels makes it expensive to operate internal combustion driven generators and compressors. The lack of a reliable, affordable, and available cold supply chain leads to high levels of wastage up to 50% of some crops harvested. In rural areas, farming is mostly on a subsistence basis and a female occupation. Farmers either sell their produce directly (or via resellers) at markets or roadside walking up to 2 hours to reach their pitch. Because the crop is not chilled, it cannot be easily sold to shops or supermarkets where higher prices could be realised. Our innovation is to develop a micro, affordable, mobile, sustainable refrigeration system comprising a modular refrigerated box cooled by Phase Change Material (PCM) panels. The crop is pre-cooled at a central location using a solar powered refrigeration unit that also cools the PCM panels. Temperature integrity is monitored via sensors that monitor GPS position and temperature and the data is transmitted to a cloud database for verification by supplier and customer alike. The design and development work will be undertaken by Aston University in conjunction with its SME partners Hubl Logistics, Enterprise Projects Ventures Limited (EPVL), Malawi Fruits and Engineeronics Ltd in the UK and Modern Farming Technology (MFT) in Malawi. EPVL will supply the systems and the prototype will be evaluated in the field by MFT and Malawi Fruits. MFT will assess any gender related issues with the design. A digital twin of the design will be developed at Aston and performance of the prototype will be compared to the digital twin which will inform the final design. Aston University will conduct studies of the impact of the technology on gender and unrepresented groups. Fruit and vegetable farming and selling in Malawi are activities divided based on gender with land ownership male dominated with females relegated to farming and sales. The technology is being developed with farming and selling enterprises in Malawi in mind to empower women to develop their enterprise and social standing by adding value to their activities. CoolRun enables users to cut waste dramatically providing more to sell and reach markets where prices are higher thereby generating greater returns.