VIENTIANE : Thai Biogas Energy Co (TBEC), Thailand's leading developer of biogas projects, expects to spend 400 million baht per year to develop three new projects in Southeast Asia.
Managing director Gustaf Godenhielm said the company plans to build at least three projects each year and to diversify feedstocks.
TBEC has already developed seven biogas projects, six in Thailand and one in Laos. Next it is expanding into Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar over the next several years to tap surging demand.
"Biogas not only protects the environment by using agricultural waste as feedstock, but also produces energy to replace fuels that generate greenhouse gases," said Mr Godenhielm.
TBEC aims to have a biogas capacity of nearly 300,000 cubic metres per day by the end of next year. That will replace fuel oil consumption of about 165,000 litres per day.
Its seven biogas projects can produce 170,000 cubic metres per day. Six use cassava waste as feedstock and the other uses palm oil.
In Thailand it plans to diversify to wastes from other agricultural produce.
TBEC started its first biogas project in Laos on Tuesday, which will use starch supplied from the Lao-Indochina Group Plc (LIG) as feedstock. The US$4-million project is financially supported by the European Development Finance Institutions and EEP Mekong.
With the capacity to produce 7 million cubic metres of biogas per year, the plant will cut 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year.
"The projects we build ensure efficient wastewater treatment, eliminate the pungent smell of open ponds, improve the living conditions of nearby people, protect water resources, protect the livelihood of locals, improve air quality, provide a clean fuel and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Mr Godenhielm.
Situated in Naxon village, Pak Ngum, the TBEC LIG biogas plant is a collaboration between the company and the Lao-Indochina Group.
"Together we have developed a large-scale biogas plant equipped with the most advanced technologies seen in Laos," he said.
It can accommodate investments that would allow it to produce electricity.
With leading energy capital group Private Energy Market Fund LP (PEMF) from Finland and Al Tayyar Energy (ATF) as major shareholders, the company stands ready to provide its services to private enterprises who see clean, renewable energy, sustainable development, and long-term value as top priorities.