REVIEW OF THE POTENTIAL FOR CO-FIRING OF CASSAVA RHIZOME FOR GENERATING HEAT AND POWER IN CASSAVA BASED BIO-ETHANOL PLANT IN THAILAND

Abstract

Biomass is an important source of energy in Thailand and is currently the main renewable energy source, accounting for 40% of the renewable energy used. The Department of Alternative Energy and Eciency (DEDE), Ministry of Thailand, has been promoting the use of renewable energy in Thailand for the past decade. The new target for renewable energy usage in the country is set at 25% of the final energy demand in 2021. Thailand is the world’s fourth largest producer of cassava and this results in the production of significant amounts of cassava rhizome which is a waste product. Cassava rhizome has the potential to be co-fired with coal for the production of heat and power. With suitable co-firing ratios, little modification will be required in the co-firing technology. This review article is concerned with an investigation of the feasibility of co-firing cassava rhizome in a combined heat and power system for a cassava based bio-ethanol plant in Thailand. Enhanced use of cassava rhizome for heat and power production could potentially contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and costs, and would help the country to meet the 2021 renewable energy target. Keywords: cassava rhizome; biomass co-firing; bio-ethanol; Thailand