Researchers believe palm oil and jatropha can be future's alternative energy sources

A group of researchers from Chiang Mai University who has been awarded a research scholarship from the Energy Conservation Promotion Fund, yesterday held a seminar on palm oil plantations in the Northern region of Thailand.

Assoc.Prof.Phornchai Lueng-arphaphong (พรชัย เหลืองอาภาพงศ์), an expert and director of bio-energy said many academics attending the seminar agreed that palm oil and jatropha can be grown in the area but farmers should have enough knowledge about these energy plants and consider factors affecting the output such as soil, water, and weather before planting them. The researchers believe that the palm oil and jatropha can become sources of alternative energy.

The researchers have grown palm oil trees and jatropha at test fields at Tambon Sri Bua Ban (ศรีบัวบาน), Muang District, Lamphun Province, which will be open for the public to visit in the future.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 7 December 2006

I traveled on the ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui and spoke with the Captain and Cheif Engineer.They told me the ferry was fueled entirely with palm oil. This was a few years ago. They said it was experimental at that time, but they had worked the "bugs" out.They were happy with the ships perfomance.