Biodiesel production in Chiang Mai

Since 2004, the research and production of traditional biofuel fuels, typically biodiesel, has been implemented in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, initially achieving positive results.

Biodiesel - energy source in the future?

Thailand is one of the largest energy consumers in Southeast Asia. However, the country does not have much potential for oil, gas or coal, so it has to import most of the energy. Meanwhile, world oil prices are increasing, causing significant damage to the Thai economy.

Currently, Thailand imports about 100 million tons of petroleum annually with a total cost of more than US $ 30 billion. Meanwhile, due to the situation of world oil prices rising continuously, in Thailand sometimes gas prices up to 30 baht / liter and diesel is 28 baht / liter.

Biodiesel production facility in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.(Photo: ND)

Demand is high, while Thailand is not favored by oil and gas. According to experts, Thailand's oil reserves are very limited, even calculated, it can only be exploited within 15 years to be exhausted.

To better understand the use of alternative energy, we went to Chiang Mai, a northern Thai province famous for tourism, where there is a biodiesel production project in San Sai district (near the provincial capital). Chiang Mai, initiated by the Ministry of Energy of Thailand, Department of Alternative Energy Development (DAEDE) in mid-2004. DAEDE in collaboration with Chiang Mai City Government, and some units and companies to advance project execution.

Along with Chiang Mai province, Pathum Thani province was also selected by DAEDE to set up a biodiesel production station. The reason why Thai scientists choose diesel is one of the preferred fuels developed by many means of transport, machinery and equipment are using diesel. If biodiesel is developed, it will make an important contribution to stabilizing the economy, reducing the pressure to increase production costs.

Mr. Boonthong Ungtrakul, head of biodiesel production project in San Sai, Chiang Mai, said: "This experimental production plant has a capacity of 2,000 liters / batch, each station like this invests more than 4 million baht (near 110 thousand USD). The materials that his company uses are quite diverse including traditional oilseeds (palm, peanut, soybean), used cooking oil, jatropha seeds . The type of car selected for biodiesel testing is a taxi sold. download.

A quantity of diesel B100 (100% pure biodiesel) has a 50% reduction in emissions compared to traditional diesel. And the B20 diesel (20% pure biodiesel + 80% normal diesel) has a 20% reduction in emissions. According to Mr. Boonthong, if biodiesel of type B5 or above (5% of biodiesel is pure or more), the engine must be equipped with a fuel converter. Talking about the profitability of this facility, Mr. Boonthong also said that because it is in the research project of the Government, the establishment is funded, not yet calculated much to profit.

In the beginning, cars using biodiesel in Chiang Mai area, especially those in the hills and mountains, were unable to start up the machine because of unsecured quality, colder weather in the mountain so the oil could be compared, not sprayed into the engine to spark plugs, or encounter problems related to fuel incompatibility. These have made customers not really believe in a new fuel. Therefore, each month, this establishment only produced and consumed about 1,700 liters, which was really a difficult period for Mr. Boonthong and his colleagues.

In order for drivers to understand the effects of the new fuel, experts had to carry out a series of measures such as propaganda on the mass media. The establishment also established a group of students who were trained in the features and effects of biodiesel, equipped with uniform uniforms, then sent to gas stations in Chiang Mai to do direct propaganda for The driver when they come to refuel. Once you have a number of customers, the unit makes a list to improve services, survey customers, from there, these customers will introduce acquaintances and friends to use biodiesel. Of course, along with the propaganda method, the most important thing is the facility to improve product quality, improve biodiesel production process.

Only assessing the impact of biodiesel on the engine system, experts had to collect data, analyze and evaluate within six months from the official launch of the product from the beginning of January. -2005. As of June 2004 to June 2005, DAEDE's biodiesel production stations have supplied more than 490 thousand liters of diesel (type B2 and B5) for 1,164 vehicles, mainly test-run taxis. Thanks to the tireless efforts, up to now, the capacity of San Sai production station has reached 250 thousand liters of biodiesel a month. The number of biodiesel vehicles in Chiang Mai has reached thousands of vehicles, mainly taxi and pickup. The tank trucks of Bangchak oil company often go to pick up the units' products for preparation.

DAEDE assessed that biodiesel was initially successful thanks to relevant agencies doing well the propaganda, making people aware of the economic and environmental benefits of using biodiesel. Currently, alcohol-based gasoline (gasohol) and biodiesel are increasingly being sold widely at Thai gas stations.

Pointing to a somewhat compact biodiesel production line, Mr. Chidchai - a production station official introduced: all design and manufacturing are done by Thai people. The line is neatly placed on the trailer, the transportation is very convenient. Manufacturing technology is also not difficult because on the internet it is also searchable. This issue, DAEDE's base has some experience, is willing to share experiences, transfer technology with localities in Thailand, even in neighboring countries.

By the end of 2006, Thailand had nearly ten biodiesel production stations with a total capacity of about 160 thousand liters / day. In 2007, the Thai Ministry of Energy plans to build four more biodiesel plants, bringing the total capacity of factories to nearly 1.7 million liters / day, meeting the increasing diesel consumption demand. fast. The ministry also aims, by 2011, that biodiesel will reach 3% (equivalent to 2.4 million liters / day) of total diesel consumption nationwide and in 2012, this ratio will reach 10% (equivalent equivalent to 8.5 million liters / day).

Problem of material source

Jatropha, when dried, has 3 black seeds used to press pure biodiesel, which is light lemon yellow.(Photo: ND)

The development of biofuels is essential to reduce the amount of imported gasoline and reduce harmful emissions, contributing to environmental protection. However, to bring biofuels from research, trial production to commercial products, raw materials for large production are vital.

Talking to us, Mr. Boonthong said that raw materials for biofuel production have many types, but if any can process cooking oil (palm, canola, coconut, sesame .), the price is quite high. , biodiesel production is not very feasible. And the solution to collect leftover oil is also not feasible due to the limited number of small and uneconomical dispersions. Moreover, when purchasing this cooking oil, the establishment must check the water content, fatty acid before adding cooking oil to the production tank. The production of biodiesel from palm oil alone requires 2 million tons of palm oil in 2007, while the area of ​​palm oil cultivation in Thailand is limited.

There is only one type of jatropha, each with nine seeds as large as black beans, for every 4 kg of jatropha seeds, 1 liter of 100% pure biodiesel can be pressed. It is estimated that 1 kg of jatropha seeds, if pressed for burning oil, will produce 5,000 kcal of heat, while the same amount of other oilseeds will produce only 3,000 kcal. Jatropha seeds are attracting special attention from scientists because they cannot be used to press cooking oil, so production costs will be cheaper than other traditional oilseeds.

The Thai Federation of Industries (FTI) has asked the government to secure the purchase of jatropha seeds by farmers if they want to expand the area of ​​cultivated crops. So far, jatropha seeds have hardly been sold to domestic biodiesel producers, which farmers often sell to China, where demand for jatropha is very high. FTI said that if the government wants to boost the production of biodiesel, it must ensure purchasing prices to encourage them to plant and sell to domestic establishments. According to experts, want farmers to be profitable when farming jatropha, the price of this grain must remain at 5 to 7 baht / kg, not 4 baht / kg today.

If so, it is likely that the area of ​​planting jatropha in the whole country will increase to 2 million rai (320 thousand ha) compared to 1,600 ha currently. Although the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is encouraging farmers to expand their jatropha cultivation area, the Ministry of Agriculture is still hesitant, unclear in promoting the cultivation of this crop that they are trying to focus on. to develop oil palm plantation area. Phichai Tinsuntisook, Chairman of the Thai Federation of Industries (FTI) predicts that at least by early 2007, jatropha seeds will be marketed for sale to farmers.

Currently, the cost of producing one liter of biodiesel from jatropha seeds ranges from 20 to 25 baht / liter and tends to increase with gasoline prices, which is even close to the traditional diesel retail price at gas stations. However, FTI still requires the government to invest in developing jatropha to reduce petroleum imports, and more importantly, the development of this alternative fuel will make an important contribution to environmental protection.

Lessons and photos: Ha Thanh Giang and Vu Mai Hoang (Reporters of Nhan Dan Resident in Thailand)