Overview of livestock biogas technology development and implementation in Thailand

•Government subsidized, biogas development and implementation is presented.•Around 2300 biogas plants have been installed so far.•Over 150 million m3 of biogas produced from livestock waste per year.•Potential reduction of GHG emissions estimated at around 1400 Gg CO2 equivalent.

In this paper, the implementation of biogas technologies in animal farms in Thailand and the government policies used to promote these technologies are presented. The Thai government has created a goal of achieving 14% of all energy needs from renewable resources by 2022. As a renewable technology, biogas has the potential to reduce Thailand's dependence on fossil fuels which make up over 90% of Thailand's electricity generation. An unfortunate by-product from animal farm waste is the greenhouse gas, methane. The benefits from capturing and utilizing this gas include increased electric generation, less odor in the local community, less greenhouse gas emissions, more revenue for farmers and production of raw fertilizer material. Thailand has the potential to produce over one billion m3 of biogas per annum from its agricultural industry alone. Current utilization is only 36% of this potential. This paper will briefly discuss the technology used to capture and use biogas from animal farms in Thailand. The effect of government policies on this technology deployment shall be discussed. This paper demonstrates how technology and policy need to work together in order to best provide a practical solution for energy problems. In 2012, greenhouse gases worth 1400 Gg CO2 equivalent were saved from entering the atmosphere from animal farms in Thailand.