Thailand should support use of crop waste for alternative energy

Sombat Teekasap, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries’ Renewable Energy Industry Club, urged the government of Thailand to beef up its support for crop by-products for use in alternative energy fuel. Sombat said, “Thailand should consider using different kinds of agricultural by-products for alternative energy, since only a few types such as cassava roots are currently used. Waste can be used for the production of energy. Currently Thailand uses food scrap or pig waste to produce biogas, but we separate the two in production, so the efficiency of biogas operation is still low. “He added that two types of products can be mixed. We need more efficient measures, such as using irrigation dams. Either the government needs to do this itself or provide the opportunity for the private sector to do it,” Sombat urged. Prasert Tapaneeyangkul, secretary general of the Cane and Sugar Board also looks to the government to provide guidance on how the country can produce energy from the country’s sugar cane. He said the Energy Ministry needs to provide clear guidelines on how much sugarcane is needed each year to produce energy so planters can plan in advance. (March 10, 2011)