Phichit Greener

Phichit Provincial Bioenergy Platform

Rice Straw & Sugarcane Residue Utilization for Clean Power, PM2.5 Reduction, and Circular Bio-Economy

Project Overview

The Phichit Provincial Biomass Platform is a cluster-based, circular-economy infrastructure program designed to eliminate open burning of agricultural residues, reduce PM2.5 air pollution, generate renewable electricity, and create stable long-term income for farming communities.

The platform is based on verified data obtained from the Provincial Agricultural Office, identifying a total biomass availability of 342,968 tons per year, consisting primarily of rice straw and sugarcane leaves, which are currently underutilized and partially burned in the fields.

By mobilizing this biomass through an integrated system of biomass power plants, organic composting facilities, and decentralized biomass warehouses, the project converts an environmental liability into a bankable clean-energy and climate-impact asset.

The total power generation potential for the province is 21.43 MW, implemented through two geographically optimized district clusters, each with its own processing and energy infrastructure.

Cluster-Based Development Strategy

Phichit North Cluster

Districts Covered (6):
Wachirabarami, Sam Ngam, Pho Prathap Chang,
Mueang Phichit, Sak Lek, Wang Sai Phun

Available biomass: 174,339 tons/year
Power generation capacity: 10.89 MW
Community income from biomass supply: THB 52.30 million/year

This cluster aggregates rice straw and sugarcane residues from northern Phichit into a dedicated biomass power plant and a large-scale organic composting facility, eliminating field burning while creating predictable income streams for farmers and local logistics operators.

Phichit South Cluster

Districts Covered (6):
Bueng Narang, Pho Thale, Taphan Hin,
Bang Mun Nak, Thap Khlo, Dong Charoen

Available biomass: 168,629 tons/year
Power generation capacity: 10.53 MW
Community income from biomass supply: THB 50.58 million/year

The southern cluster mirrors the same infrastructure logic, ensuring operational redundancy, supply-chain resilience, and local ownership while minimizing long-distance biomass transport.

Environmental Impact and Climate Benefits

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction

The project delivers climate impact through two primary mechanisms:

Avoided open burning of agricultural residues
Displacement of fossil-fuel-based grid electricity

Based on conservative international benchmarks for rice straw and sugarcane residue burning:

Average GHG reduction: ~1.2–1.4 tCO₂e per ton of biomass avoided from burning

Estimated annual GHG reductions:

Phichit North Cluster:
~220,000–240,000 tCO₂e/year
Phichit South Cluster:
~210,000–230,000 tCO₂e/year

Total Provincial Impact:
~430,000–470,000 tCO₂e per year

These reductions are suitable for monetization under carbon credit frameworks, subject to registry selection and MRV design.

PM2.5 and Air Pollution Reduction

Open burning of rice straw and sugarcane leaves is one of the primary contributors to seasonal PM2.5 pollution in central and lower-north Thailand.

Using conservative emission-factor references:

PM2.5 avoided per ton of biomass: ~4–6 kg

Estimated PM2.5 reduction:

Phichit North Cluster:
~700–1,050 tons PM2.5/year
Phichit South Cluster:
~670–1,010 tons PM2.5/year

Total Provincial PM2.5 Reduction:
~1,370–2,060 tons per year

This directly supports national clean-air policy objectives and provincial public-health outcomes.

Integrated Infrastructure Components

1. Biomass Power Plants

One plant per cluster (2 plants total)
Fueled by rice straw and sugarcane residues
Designed for baseload renewable electricity generation
Long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) targeted

2. Organic Composting Facilities

One facility per cluster
Capacity: 200,000 tons of biomass input per year per facility
Produces high-quality organic compost for:
- Soil regeneration
- Organic and low-input agriculture
- Scope-3 emission reduction for agribusiness and food companies

These plants close the nutrient loop and anchor the circular-economy model beyond electricity alone.

3. Decentralized Biomass Warehouses

Built only where necessary, minimizing CAPEX
Located in remote areas 30–50 km from processing facilities
One warehouse per catchment area, not per district
Functions:
- Seasonal storage
- Moisture control
- Supply-chain buffering during harvest peaks

This design avoids over-infrastructure while ensuring year-round fuel security.

Economic and Social Impact

Total direct community income:
~THB 102.88 million/year (both clusters combined)
Creation of:
- Local logistics and baling enterprises
- Community-based biomass supply contracts
- Skilled and semi-skilled green jobs
Long-term benefits:
- Reduced health costs from air pollution
- Improved soil productivity through compost use
- Stable rural income independent of crop price volatility

Strategic Value

The Phichit Greener platform represents:

A replicable provincial biomass infrastructure model
Strong alignment with:
- Climate finance mandates
- PM2.5 mitigation policies
- Energy-as-a-Service and circular-economy strategies
Multiple revenue streams:
- Electricity sales
- Biomass supply contracts
- Organic fertilizer sales
- Carbon credits (subject to certification)

The modular, cluster-based approach enables scalable deployment across multiple provinces, positioning the platform as a cornerstone asset in Thailand’s transition toward clean air, clean energy, and climate-resilient agriculture.

Page updated

Report abuse