Four major agro industries that have been commonly utilized biomass as fuel for
cogeneration in Thailand are sugar, rice, palm oil and wood industries. Despite the
current use of biomass as fuel in cogeneration, there is still much to be harnessed in the
agro industries giving a clear picture of potential of biomass for cogeneration . Total
installed capacity of cogeneration in these agro industries is over 700 MW. The
estimated surplus power generation capacity generated from biomass in sugar, rice,
palm oil mill and wood mill are 240, 486, 115 and 118 MW respectively.
In 1992 Electric Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has announced the
buy back electricity from small power Producer (SPP).
In 1998, thirty four SPPs firmed contract with 4000 MW of installed capacity
had proposed to EGAT. Only 2200 MW capacity were selected. Some of these SPP
generate power from biomass.
As of August 20th, 2003. fifty – nine SPPs with 2068.9 MW had synchronized
the power to the grid