National Science Center Hosts Workshop on Sustainable Bagasse Fuel for Biomass Power Generation

Key summary

On October 9, 2026, the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC) of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), in collaboration with the Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency Promotion Department (AEDPD) and the Sugarcane and Sugar Board (SSB), organized a practical seminar titled 'Guidelines for Driving Bagasse Fuel Usage into Sustainable Biomass Electricity Production' at Room SD 601, Saranwit Building, Thailand Science Park, NSTDA, Pathum Thani Province. The event aimed to exchange information and experience among government agencies, experts, and biomass power plant operators while discussing ways to resolve technical and economic limitations to promote bagasse usage as fuel for electricity generation. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Temsadek Sirakarin, Director of MTEC, opened the session and outlined its objectives. Keynote speakers included Mr. Adisak Chusuk, Deputy Director-General of AEDPD, who presented on 'Opportunities and Guidelines for Leveraging Biomass Power Plant Potential to Support the Electricity System,' and Mr. Sittirong Raengyian, Deputy Secretary-General of SSB, who discussed 'Policy and Direction for Promoting Bagasse as Biomass Fuel.' Additionally, the Thai Boiler and Pressure Vessel Association provided insights into industrial boiler readiness and limitations regarding co-firing bagasse. The workshop featured one-on-one matching sessions between MTEC research teams and industry operators to collect research challenges, analyze problem-solving approaches in production processes, and present MTEC's R&D achievements on using bagasse as fuel in biomass power plants, including damage analysis services for power plants. The seminar sought to foster collaboration among government, research, and industry sectors to advance bagasse fuel usage at a ratio of not less than 30%, alongside appropriate utilization of existing biomass power plant potential. Key considerations included fuel supply and logistics, bagasse quality, costs, combustion efficiency, impacts on boilers and equipment, electricity purchase conditions, and government support mechanisms. Using bagasse as fuel also contributes to adding value to agricultural by-products, reducing open-field burning—a cause of PM2.5 pollution—and supporting the sustainable increase in renewable energy share for the country.