Using animal wastes for power generation

FE Team | Published: March 16, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

A new private sector project has been taken in the remote northern part of Thailand for producing methane gas for power generation for rural people there. The project will use new and interesting source of raw materials for methane gas production needed for power generation.
Universal Absorbent & Chemical Plc, a private limited company, is going ahead with a 2.7 billion Baht (Thai currency) investment to set up biomass based power plants in 21 locations in northern Thailand where power grid network coverage is inadequate. The company has taken up this project in hand to supply power to these remote areas.
The power plants, each of around 150 MW in capacity will be fueled by using dry grass and animal wastes, not cow dung but wastes from pigs, goats, hens and ducks among others. These animals are regularly reared there by local farmers for sale to urban consumers.
Among these 21 power plants at various locations, three are expected to be commissioned this year. Each project is expected to cost between Baht 130 to 150 million. Around 37 per cent of the total finance will be provided by the company and the balance will come from various banks and other financial loans. The company is encouraging the production of grass at many rural locations in the northern region of the country on joint venture with local farmers and herd owners in order to ensure regular supply of grass and solid animal wastes.
This is an interesting idea that may also be replicated in rural areas of Bangladesh, particularly in areas where wild grass and vegetation is good and the land is not cultivated lying unproductive. The biomass source is not cow dung. In the same manner we must mobilise our solid human waste in urban areas and produce methane gas from it.
Unfortunately, till date, this viable possibility has not been financed to utilise this potential raw material for methane generation in any of our urban locations. Our government should think over this matter seriously before our decreasing natural resources are exhausted altogether.
Engr SA Mansoor
Dhaka
sam@dhakacom.com