Consultancy on Biochar Gasification Kiln integrated with heat transfer for agricultural drying

HELVETAS is an independent development organization based in Switzerland with affiliated organizations in Germany and the United States. Helvetas has been active in Vietnam since 1995, working in various areas typically Agriculture, Biodiversity Conservation, Forestry, Eco-Tourism, and Rural Economy.

Under the European Union's SWITCH-Asia programme, HELVETAS is implementing the project “Circular Economy Cocoa: From Bean to Bar,” which aims to develop circular economy solutions within the cocoa and agri-food sectors. This project began in 2022 and is active in 6-7 cocoa-growing provinces across the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta of Vietnam.

In cocoa bean pre-processing, local producers face challenges in implementing their drying process efficiently and sustainably. While solar drying systems are utilized in some regions, their effectiveness decreases substantially during cloudy or rainy periods, necessitating alternative heat sources. Concurrently, traditional drying methods that rely on biomass combustion generate high emissions and produce inconsistent drying conditions.

To enhance energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact, HELVETAS seeks service providers to develop and demonstrate a biochar gasification kiln with an integrated heat transfer system for cocoa bean drying. This system aims to provide a more sustainable and effective drying solution for cocoa producers by utilizing locally available agricultural wastes such as brushwood, cocoa leaves, cocoa shells, macadamia shells, rice straw, and rice husks as feedstock. Additionally, the biochar produced after gasification can be used for soil amendment, creating a circular solution that enhances both energy efficiency and agricultural sustainability.

The assignment includes the development of two separate biochar gasification kiln systems:

• Ben Tre (Chau Thanh district): Integrating a biochar gasification kiln into an existing solar drying facility, optimizing the combination of solar and biochar heat sources.
• Dak Lak (Ea Kar district): Integrating a biochar gasification kiln into an existing conventional drying facility.

For each system, applicants must submit a separate Technical and Financial Proposal. The full Terms of Reference (TOR), Technical Specifications, and Proposal Templates are attached for reference.

 Interested candidates should submit their Technical and Financial Proposals to Helvetas Vietnam at diep.dinh@helvetas.org and helvetas.vietnam@helvetas.org by April 11, 2025.