Maker Works has been proud to host a variety of project teams from the University of Michigan over its 11+ years in operation. One of these teams, composed of Jose, Sofia, and Rachel, developed and prototyped a novel gasifier design with the resources in our metal shop. Not only did their team learn the hands-on skills required to build their new gasification technology from scratch, but they also went on to bring their final model to Costa Rica and launch a full-scale bioenergy business. What is a gasifier, and how did access to Maker Works help with its development? Read on to find out!
Rachel, Sofia, and Jose in front of the Poás Volcano in Costa Rica
Jose Alfaro (He/Him)
Sofia Camarero (She/Her)
Rachel Kaup (She/Her)
University of Michigan &
San Jose, Costa Rica
poasbioenergy.com
What can you tell us about your group, projects, and areas of interest?
Our group started as a research team out of the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). We focused on the development of biomass gasification technology. Biomass gasification is a way of producing renewable energy and has been around for over a century. At Maker Works, we were able to build our own gasifiers from scratch and improve them each time until we were able to build a gasifier that produces a higher energy gas than otherwise reported in the literature. Now we have launched Poás Bioenergy and are taking that technology borne out of the Maker Works shop and SEAS and commercializing it to give small and medium scale farmers in developing countries access to cheap, reliable energy as well as the ability to enter the biochar and carbon credit markets.
Sofia and Rachel outside Maker Works with the last prototype they built at the shop. The gasifier team learned how to weld and machine metal through classes at the shop.
What is your relationship to Maker Works and how did you get involved with the shop? While we have since moved on from Maker Works and got our own professional welders (thankfully), we always look back on our time working at the shop with fond memories. While UofM has cutting edge machinery, it was hard to access the core metalwork machines we needed to create our own research unit. This led us straight to Maker Works where we were able to build our gasifiers at a place where we could learn from other experts at the shop while having access to the tools we needed.
One of their recent prototypes operating in Ann Arbor! The syngas produced is being flared in this photo, but can also be run through a generator to create electricity.
How has Maker Works, access to shared tools, and a shared community impacted you and helped you reach your goals?
There were many days where we found ourselves stumped and frustrated, not knowing how to proceed. Every time somebody at Maker Works, staff or community member, would volunteer to help and teach us. Everyone was always happy to help and got us through those frustrating times. Without the shared tools and the provided instruction on how to use them, we wouldn’t have been able to build our gasifiers that are out doing good in the world today. It’s safe to say we wouldn’t be where we are today without the help of the Maker Works community along the way.
The Poás prototype installed and functioning at the University of Michigan Botanical Gardens. (Notice the welds improved when we hired a professional welder!)
What would you say to others about your experiences with Maker Works and why is it a valuable part of the community?
Maker Works is a safe space that brings people of similar interests together and provides them with the tools they need to pursue their goals. Our team had little to no experience in metalwork and we received quality training with great patience and in a friendly environment. Without Maker Works, creative people in the community would have a much harder time bringing their visions to life, making the opportunities the shop provides invaluable. The most important part was having the community of people that felt the same way we did, that we could all help each other and benefit from the knowledge. The tools are amazing and great, but the brains and community spirit there are out of this world. More than one time when we wanted to quit somebody in the community unknowingly encouraged us and gave us the right inspiration to keep going. Truly, we would not be here without Maker Works!
From taking beginner welding lessons in Michigan to providing novel bioenergy solutions in Costa Rica, the Poás team sure has come a long way! If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to weld or work with metal, Maker Works is a great place to start. Click the button below to sign up for one of our metal shop classes today!