Energy Ministry eyes to produce more electricity from solid waste

NAKHON PATHOM, 5 December 2014 (NNT) – The Energy Ministry considers “Landfill- Gas-to-Energy Technology” as an effective means to address the solid waste accumulation problem in urban areas.

Permanent Secretary for Energy Areepong Bhoocha-oom said during his visit to a recently-awarded landfill-gas-to-energy power plant in Nakhon Pathom that the waste accumulation usually grows in accordance with the economic growth of the country.

He explained that 26.7 million tons of waste in 2013 has been disposed improperly. If the waste was disposed through proper landfill technology, a large amount of methane gas from the process should have been used for electricity generation.

The ministry has set a goal to generate 600 megawatts of electricity from 19.9 million tons of solid waste and also boost the proportion of renewable energy use to 25% by 2021.

At present, all garbage-to-energy plants have sold to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand a combined amount of around 65 megawatts of electricity; around 24.5 megawatts of which are from landfills.

The Nakhon Pathom landfill-gas-to-energy power plant that the Permanent Secretary visited on the day is the winner of ASEAN Energy Awards 2014. It is run by Sindicatum Sustainable Resources (Thailand) Company Limited.

-- NNT 2014-12-05

The Thais are eyeing those solid waste sources of methane gas. Those Thais know how to eye things up. We can expect a five point solution program any day now.

Whatever the view, it looks better with renewable energy, whether it be waste , solar or other , the main aim is to get away from the petroleum based products, renewable means you have the added advantage of controlling your own destiny instead of relying on other sources coupled with higher prices , the oil producing nations are now having to compete with one particular large nation that has renewable energy now feeding grid systems and driving industry , the demand for oil has slowed , petroleum prices one hopes will stay low from now on, whether it helps the motorist is another subject

"...produce more electricity from solid waste..."

My first reaction was that they were going burn all the politicians.

Too bad they can't produce energy from hot air .....emitted by politicians.

One possible source of power which Thais are unaware of is 'river power' (no referring to dams). Admittedly small scale, pontoon platforms could get tethered along riverfronts, and provide modest amounts of power for villages and wats. Many wats are alongside rivers. there are varying designs, but one which shows promise is a paddlewheel.

Another is wave power. Granted, Thailand doesn't have large waves, but small waves can provide a commensurate amount of power. Example, for a beach-side resort. There's a resort, a half mile south of Ao Nang in Krabi province, nestled in a seclude cove. It has a floating pier made of plastic cannisters. If you're there, go out on the pier and you can feel the power of even small waves. It wouldn't take a genius to figure a way to harness that power - probably enough to provide the power needs for the entire (200 rooms?) resort and support facilities.

The added advantage of 'river power' is running them in reverse during flood season and protecting Bangkok -

No seriously there is some power to be had alone the river much the same way wind farms are working without building damns.

Yesterday the PM suggested that Thailand should source more power from waste, today

"The Energy Ministry considers “Landfill- Gas-to-Energy Technology” as an effective means to address the solid waste accumulation problem in urban areas."

Who would have thunk it?

This is the first news item I have read in a very long time that makes sense, can be implemented, has rational thinking behind it, and is a needed change.

Outstanding!

(Sadly, whoever thought of it will probably get fired for failing to exhibit Thainess).