Local waste-topower prepared
Energy policymakers expect local communities, state agencies and private investors to raise around 100-200 billion baht over the next few years to fund power plants that convert agricultural and solid waste into energy.
Relevant state agencies and state enterprise on energy are teaming up to study the project.
Energy Minister Sontirat Sintijirawong said the project is aimed at attracting local communities whose renewable energy (RE) resources are seen as waste and end up in landfills but could be used as refuse-derived fuel (RDF) or for waste-to-energy.
Waste from agricultural products comes from the byproducts of rice, corn, cassava, wood chips, coconut shells, palm oil fruit and sugar cane.
“We received a warm reception from private investors for the project and we expect an official launch by the end of this year,” said Mr Sontirat.
The average estimated investment cost across biomass, biogas and RDF projects is 100-200 billion baht.
He said fast-growing plants such as giant napier grass, acacia and bamboo or new species of plants that can be used as biomass fuels will be prioritised.
The potential projects should have access to transmission lines and other infrastructure in order to connect with the grid.
Power plant capacity has not yet been determined, but funding for the projects will be doled out on a first come, first served basis.
For communities unable to connect to state transmission lines such as those in high mountains or on remote islands, power plants will be built for the community’s power generation alone.
Participation in the project will comprise of local communities, state agencies and private investors, but the business model and conditions for joint ventures have yet to be determined.
“The first round of projects will break ground for construction early next year,” Mr Sontirat said.
He said the project will share revenue with the community, particularly in remote areas, by buying fuel to feed power plants from locals, while the power output will serve the same community.
Preliminary sites for the project have been determined at 1,000 locations nationwide that have access to the nation’s transmission line system.
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We received a warm reception from private investors for the project and we expect an official launch by the end of this year. SONTIRAT SINTIJIRAWONG Energy minister