Engr. Belonio’s Rice Husk Stove invention earned him the Rolex Awards for Enterprise. Chosen from nearly 1,500 applicants in 127 countries around the world, Engr. Alexis Belonio, an associate professor of agricultural engineering at the Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, is the first Filipino, and Ilonggo, to earn this prestigious award.

Founded in 1976, the Rolex Award aims ”to foster a spirit of individual enterprise around the world”, by recognising “pioneering projects that demonstrate innovative thought and contribute to the betterment of humankind”.

Engr. Belonio’s latest stove invention turns rice husk, generally considered as waste, into purified gas, which makes a much hotter and cleaner blue flame, and much cheaper energy for cooking. It wouldn’t be difficult for experts  to recognise the potential benefits of Engr. Belonio’s invention. But for the common Juan de la Cruz, check this out: Engr. Belonio in his study said that a ton of rice husk is equivalent to 23 tanks of 11 kg. LPG or 510 kg of charcoal. If an average family uses 10-12 tanks of LPG a year, this simply translate to more than 10 thousand pesos of yearly savings. Now, let’s say, and if I still  remember my math, that roughly around 45 kg. (say 2 sacks) of rice husk is equal to 1 LPG tank or 23 kg. (say 1 1/2 sack) of charcoal or 38 kg. (say 4-5 big bunch) of Guimaras firewood . The rice mills may end up selling their husk rather than burning them. And trees from the mountains and even in your backyard may not  end up as fire wood or charcoal.

Engr. Belonio further stated that the Philippines is producing almost 2 million metric tons of rice husk yearly. If we could convert just 25%, take note, just 1/4, into energy, that is equivalent to around 189 million liters of kerosene, 211,000 tons of firewood or 127,000 tons of charcoal yearly. That simply can make a huge economic and environmental impact in the Philippines and in all rice (and rice husk) producing countries.

Engr. Alexis Belonio said, “It is a God-given technology. I wish to share it with people all around the world.” To further his purpose of helping everyone through his invensions, he is using the prize he won to introduce the device to other parts of the world, including Vietnam and Nepal, and set up a demonstration and training center at Central Philippine University in Iloilo, Philippines where visitors can receive a free copy of the fabrication manual. He even allowed everyone to access his Rice Husk Gas Stove Handbook through the Internet for free.  

To check the free handbook: http://bioenergylists.org/stovesdoc/Belonio/Belonio_gasifier.pdf

(Article sources: rolexawards.com,  inquirer.net)

(Photo sources: Yahoo photos)