Potential alternatives of heat and power technology application using rice straw in Thailand

Rice straw could be used for heat and power with the current technologies available in Thailand. The cost of rice straw for power generation at 0.38–0.61 Baht/MJe (at rice straw price 930–1500 Baht/t) is not competitive with coal at 0.30 Baht/MJe but comparable with other biomass at 0.35–0.53 Baht/MJe. However, utilization of rice straw in industrial boilers is a more competitive and flexible option with two alternatives; (1) installing rice straw fired boilers instead of heavy oil fired or natural gas ones when selecting new boilers; and (2) fuel switching from coal to rice straw for existing boilers with cost saving of feedstock supply by 0.01 Baht/MJh. Based on its properties (Slagging index, Rs = 0.04; fouling index, Rf = 0.24), rice straw is not expected to have significant operating problems or different emissions compared with wheat straw and rice husk under similar operating conditions.