Executive Summary Study on Biomass Resources Management for Alternative Energy in Macro Level
Executive Summary The study on biomass resources management for alternative energy aims to evaluate the existing potential of biomass resources, investigate all opportunities and capabilities in collecting biomass for both electricity and heat generation, and assess the viability of biomass project investment as well as its economic, social, and environmental benefits. In order to enhance biomass market in the future, the study also provides policy recommendations on managing biomass resources, and explores all technologies for biomass conversion. All outcomes of the study are summarized as follows.
1. Biomass Status in Thailand
1.1 Rice Rice is the crop with the maximum cultivated areas covering every region of Thailand. The agricultural residues or biomass left after harvesting are husk, straw, and stalk. Rice husk shares 21% of the total rice production. Rice husk is normally used as a fuel in milling process, while some is sold to biomass power plant. Its cheap price leads to rising demand in other industries. Therefore, only 0.57% of rice husk is non-utilized. Straw shares 49% of the total rice production. Its use for electricity generation is only 0.12% while no use in other industries and about 50% is utilized for agricultural purpose. It is estimated that the 29% of rice straw is left, which can be converted to 57,210.10 TJ or 1,366.18 ktoe. 1.2 Sugarcane There are 6.3 million-rai cultivated areas of sugarcane in Year 2006/07. These areas are in the Central, the Northeast, and the North, while no cultivated areas of sugarcane in the South. Its wastes convertible to energy are bagasse, sugarcane tops and leaves. Bagasses are the residues from milling process. Currently, almost 100% of bagasse is used as a fuel necesssary for sugar production. The excess are sold to paper industry, particle board manufactures, or power plants. This implies all bagasse are used up. Sugarcane leaves and tops are agricultural wastes left on the farm after harvesting. Sugarcane leaves and tops are partly used as animal feed, fertilizer, and ground covering material, accounting for 10-30%, whereas the rest of 70-90% is left in the farm before being burnt and cut down. If there are good management and collection systems suitable for cultivated areas, leaves and tops can add 2,225.89 ktoe to biomass potential. 1.3 Cassava rhizome Cultivated areas of cassava are scattering. The key area is in Nakhon Ratchasima. Biomass from cassava is its rhizome, stalk, tops, and leaves. Almost 100% of rhizome is not utilized, but left in the plantation before burnt or ploughed up and over. The survey found that 0.9% of rhizome is used as fuel in the East. It is estimated that 66% of rhizome can be converted into fuels, accounting for 19,508.39
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