Capturing and recycling harmful emissions for a sustainable power system
Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas more powerful than carbon dioxide and is emitted as biogas from Thailand's factories when wastewater is stored in open lagoons. Under a typical system, wastewater from factories is treated in 8 cascading open anaerobic lagoons, allowing harmful greenhouse gases to enter the atmosphere.
on average each day
are created during the construction and operation phases of the biogas reactor system and of the cover lagoons
on average annually by providing an alternative energy source to the burning of fossil fuels
The proposed project activities entail the installation of four anaerobic wastewater treatment facilities based on Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) biogas reactor technology and three covered lagoons at the existing starch and sweetener plants and future operated ethanol plant, replacing the open anaerobic lagoon based system. The biogas reactors system will generate and recover biogas for energy generation purposes, avoiding methane emissions to the atmosphere. The captured methane will be used as fuel in existing heat generation and future electricity generation but this part cannot be counted as CO2 reduction because the baseline fuel at the moment is biomass. Surplus methane will be flared in an open flare.
Not only does this project contribute to a reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, but it also delivers a number of benefits in the form of sustainable development. New jobs and income opportunities have been provided to the region by contracting local firms for the construction, operation and maintenance of the plant. Furthermore, by capturing biogas, the odour and nuisance normally associated with open lagoon wastewater systems is avoided. The utilisation of biogas for energy generation can be regarded as a means to reduce dependency on imported energy products, which in turn improves the energy security status of Thailand.
