At the invitation of the Thailand Ministry of Energy, a delegation of experts from DP CleanTech, led by Global Projects Director Mr. Patrik Kosnac, and Thai PolyComs (TPC) visited their Energy Policy and Planning Office to outline the latest technologies behind the various solutions for biomass combustion. The interest in the advanced technologies is timely, as the technology solutions that drove the early growth of the biomass industry in Thailand have become less efficient and economic over time and will not be the most appropriate technology to underpin the next phase of growth.
The wide ranging discussion covered both technical and economic issues relevant to the development of viable biomass to energy plants, as well as more general issues related to the advantages of biomass power for countries such as Thailand.
For Thailand, as well as many countries in Asia, economic and industrial development has much potential, but development is somewhat hindered by the lack of energy infrastructure. In addition, the need for a diversified energy portfolio and a means of reducing energy dependency is also of strategic and environmental importance. According to the Thai Bureau of Energy “2012-2030 Thailand Electricity Development Program Outline”, since 2010, actual electricity demand has surpassed previous predictions and has shown continuous growth.
Thailand is the biggest producer of biomass fuel in Southeast Asia, and biomass fuel output is 3rd only to China and Indonesia. Thailand was also an early adopter of biomass to power; and the relative benefits of biomass power are reflected in the strategic energy planning for Thailand.
- In 2011, the Thai cabinet passed “Alternative Energy Development Plan”, which specified that from 2012 to 2021, the percentage of alternative energy should rise from 7% - 20% in the breakdown of Thailand energy sources.
- In Thailand’s “Alternative Energy Development Plan”, biomass development is one of the priorities, alongside natural gas and solar.
Thailand biomass waste fuel is plentiful and varied, and includes:
- forest plantation
- agricultural waste
- wood manufacturing cutoffs
- cassava, bagasse for ethanol production
- palm and manioc wastes for biodiesel
- animal wastes
The early industry was based largely on smaller scale biomass to power for internal energy requirements for rice mills and sugar processing which has low technical complexity but also very low flexibility. With limited competition for waste biomass, and small scale installations, the use of less advanced technology was sufficient. However, the market has changed, as have the technologies. With agricultural advances the waste has become more plentiful and increasingly, a problem for disposal. With government support, the profit potential in creating energy surplus for sale to the grid is becoming more attractive. At the same time the technologies have advanced to be able to efficiently and simultaneously combust a wider variety of fuel types, and High Temperature, High Pressure solutions are indisputably more efficient for a wide variety of biomass fuels.
DP’s experience in the development of biomass to power in China and other, more mature countries has shown unequivocally that the use of technology that increases both the efficiency and flexibility is the key to ensuring that the industry is profitable and sustainable in the long term.
Over 10 years ago, DP CleanTech brought the world’s most advanced biomass combustion technology to China and built China’s 1st biomass power plant – Shanxian (130tph, 30MW). Since then, DP has worked with clients to further develop the technology and today, more than 50 power plants in China are using DP’s advanced HTHP biomass solution to produce green power every day. The key points for a successful plant have been shown through both data and experience to be:
- Choosing the most advanced HTHP combustion technology - HTHP + water cooled vibrating grate and associated features
- Understanding the characteristics of the design fuel and making appropriate modifications.
- Assuming that market conditions will vary, and therefore choosing technology that is flexible and highly efficient for different fuel types and allows simultaneous combustion of different fuel types.
- Focus on integrated, and end –to- end automation: From fuel feeding; air distribution to the boiler control system and flue gas system.
- Scheduled maintenance and equipment calibration
In the last 12 months, several key DP clients have invested further in the next phase of biomass development. During this time, as well as concluding strategic development agreements, DP has signed more than 7 contracts for the latest high efficiency DP technologies and support packages with clients such as EverBright and CECEC. These technologies include anti-corrosion designs and emission controls systems; supported by automation, maintenance and training packages.
The latest official Q2 2016 data for 21 biomass power plants in Anhui Province (China) is testimony to the superiority of DP’s HTHP technology. Based on this data, the average plant availability over 6 months is 3200 hours. However, all of the top 6 performing plants use DP solutions, and the average availability is 25% more efficient, at around 4000 hours for the half year, annualized at 8000 hours of operation.
| No. | Project Name | Power Generation (Kwh) |
Power Connected to the Grid (Kwh) |
Availability (Hour) |
Fuel Consumption (Tons) |
| 1 | Dangshan | 124,490,000 | 115,470,000 | 4149 | 190,500 |
| 2 | Linquan | 123,160,000 | 112,970,000 | 4105 | 133,700 |
| 3 | Mengcheng | 120,810,000 | 111,490,000 | 4027 | 178,700 |
| 4 | Shouxian | 119,700,000 | 109,440,000 | 3990 | 149,000 |
| 5 | Hanshan | 119,590,000 | 110,410,000 | 3986 | 146,400 |
| 6 | Guzhen | 111,540,000 | 100,450,000 | 3718 | 140,900 |
The Thai biomass industry can benefit directly from DP’s experience in China by moving directly to the new high efficiency technologies that have been developed for complex and corrosive fuels. This would enable Thailand to take full advantage of the huge potential and move swiftly into the next phase of development to become an industry leader.
DP CleanTech Group CEO, Mr. Simon Parker commented, “We believe that based on its unique advantages, biomass has already become the most reliable and mature renewable energy. Further, it has significant positive social impact to the local communities. Through various supportive policies, the Thai government is taking the lead to speed up biomass development towards the 2030 national goal and we look forward to playing a key role in this”.
