For nearly all of us, part of being resilient in the modern world involves using modern tools. I’m using one now. It allows me to educate myself, to communicate and to create. Most of us also rely on these tools in one way or another to make a living. Its easy to overdo it but its really a pretty amazing time to be a part of.

The catch is that these tools do not work alone. Their need to be constantly recharged often increases our dependency on a large and unreliable system. Therefore, a significant challenge for any resilient community is to create its own power source.

Microgeneration is the creation of power on a small scale – whether it be an individual household, a business or a local community. We’ve all seen this with solar panels, wind turbines, etc.

A lesser known method of energy production is gasification. Gasification is the conversion of organic matter into something called syngas (synthetic gas). Syngas is a highly efficient fuel that is considered a source of renewable energy if produced from biomass such as wood, agricultural waste, or even sewage sludge. It can be used for heat, electricity or transport fuel in a regular diesel engine.

For those looking to create resilient closed-loop systems that lessen their dependence on a fragile energy source, this may be a promising option.

A gasifier is a contraption that can be made at home (or purchased) to produce syngas from biomass. They vary in shape and size but the following sketch will give you an idea of how it works:

One of the most amazing things about modern tools is how they increase our ability to collaborate and develop new technologies. In garages, basements and small workshops around the world people are tinkering and sharing their results, getting feedback and improving these types of technologies.

Not only do we become more resilient, but we create healthier systems that turn waste into consumable energy. We save money that can be reinvested in ways that capture energy instead of burn it away.

Here is a fairly in-depth video from a guy who built a nice gasifier that burns wood pellets and powers a generator:

You can also build these things to directly power an automobile or tractor:

In fact, during WWII many Europeans developed these types of vehicles as petroleum was hard to come by.

A sustainable future does not necessarily mean returning to the ways of the past. It does however include resurrecting some elements of the past and using modern technology to further develop them. For a lot of people gasification is a good solution to the worsening energy problem.

TVP