Promotion and Potential Analysis of Biogas Plants to Produce Compressed Biomethane Gas for Transportation in Thailand

Abstract BackgroundThe implementation of activities agriculture resulted in a large amount of wastewater and organic waste. In the past, Thailand has been using these to produce biogas to replace fossil fuels in the country. At present, biogas production has a residual amount due to no use in farms/factories. So, it to be released into the atmosphere. The government has a policy of biogas by the upgrade to produced biomethane for fuel vehicles but it is still just a prototype system. Therefore, if the government has targeted of the development biomethane in commercial plants, it is necessary to analyze the financial feasibility to an incentive of investors and plan for energy effective support. Including, people can use gas at a reasonable price and create a comprehensive energy source in sustainable agriculture.ResultsThe research evaluates the commercial investment potential of compressed biomethane gas plants based on upgrading biogas by water scrubber technology. The results identified biogas plants must have a digester volume of 2,000 m3 or more to produce compressed biomethane gas. Locations of 10 plants with the potential to establish compressed biomethane gas plants in Thailand. The capacity of compressed biomethane gas plants at 3, 6, 12 and 24 tons/day with no subsidy, subsidy 20% and 30% from the government. The plant should have a capacity of 12 tons/day or more in on subsidy from the government that there will be a financial possibility. The government should be subsidy at 30% in the plants of capacity at 3 tons/day for small plants can operate their businesses, subsidy 20% in the plants of capacity at 6 tons/day. In the part of plants more 12 tons/day which the government should be added measures such as Measures for low-interest loans, tax relief measures, etc. In addition, 10 locations will be expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 78,333 tCO2e/year. ConclusionThis study can be used to support decision-making on commercial investment in clean technology to promote the use of resources in agriculture for efficient transportation and support energy-efficient plans to provide an alternative sustainable fuel source to reduce global warming.