An Assessment of GHGs Reduction Potential from Bio-Electricity Generation: Agricultural Waste-to-Energy Project in Thailand as a Case Study

Abstract

Driven by concerns of energy security and global climate change, this study aimed to investigate the potential of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions reduction from bio-electricity project in Thailand. A cogeneration plant in which deploying biomass residues from sugar cane production was selected as a case study. By considering the ACM0006 method, namely “Consolidated methodology for electricity and heat generation from biomass”, the findings indicated that the utilization of about 1,320,000 tonnes per year of excess bagasse and 100,000 tonnes per year of rice husk residues could potentially lower the amount of GHGs emissions approximately 102,441.09 tCO₂e per year. Under this scheme, over 90% of total baseline emissions came from electricity generation by biomass residues. Meanwhile, biomass combustion was considered to be the main source of GHGs emissions compared to other activities. Lack of systematic data collection and cohesion in calculation methods were the key barriers to development of bio-energy project in Thailand.