Saturday 11 October 2008

Energy Ministry scheme to widen uptake of biogas

YUTHANA PRAIWAN

Small and medium-sized firms can cut 80% from the cost of installing biogas technology by joining a new Energy Ministry programme. The Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) is sponsoring the project as part of the government's five-billion-baht five-year biogas promotion scheme ending in 2012, said EPPO secretary-general Viraphol Jirapraditkul.

He said the new biogas investment sponsorship initiative has a budget of 180 million baht and has a target at least 300 business operators applying before the programme ends in 2010.

This year's successful applicants will gain financial support as high as 80% of their total costs. Support will be reduced to 60% for businesses applying next year and to 40% for those applying in 2010.

''To convince business operators to help the country develop renewable fuel, we have to provide financial support,'' Mr Viraphol said. ''Initial expenses such as consultants' fees, construction and equipment design fees would discourage them from [adopting] new technology.''

Authorities have already has success in persuading companies with high amounts of solid waste _ over 10,000 cubic metres a day _ to turn solid waste and waste water from production into methane gas or liquefied petroleum gas.

Typical large-scale biogas producers are in the poultry, agro-industry and food processing sectors. The new programme is aimed at smaller-scale operators such as restaurants, food courts, hotels and resorts, which produce only around 50 cubic metres per day.

EPPO believes biogas from the new scheme could substitute 3,250 tonnes of LPG worth 58.5 million baht each year. The project should also cut budgets for eliminating waste in the community.

Solid waste that can be turned into methane includes waste from palm oil, cassava, rubber and poultry. Waste water from ethanol and food processing plants is also suitable for producing biogas.