Methane Collection and Power Generation from Wastewater in Alcohol Factory in Thailand

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Reports of CDM/JI Feasibility Studies

Title of Feasibility Study (FS)Methane Collection and Power Generation from Wastewater in Alcohol Factory in Thailand
FYFY 2007
Main Implementing EntityKanematsu Corporation (KG)
FS Partner(s)Thai Beverage PLC (TB), Bionic Humus Co., Ltd. (BHC), Kansai Design Company, Ltd. (KDC), Toyo-Thai Corporation Limited (TTCL)
Location of Project ActivityThailand (Don Tum District, Nakhon Pathom Province)
Summary of FS ReportSummary (PDF372KB)
Description of Project ActivityThai Beverage PLC (hereinafter referred to as TB) owns 17 factories of beverage alcohol production from molasses as raw materials. Wastewater, after having been distilled, is treated in an anaerobic open-lagoon type wastewater treatment facility in the factory, one of these 17 factories, and this factory (hereinafter referred to as Nakhon Pathom Factory) is located in Don Tum District, Nakhon Pathom Province. The anaerobic wastewater treatment facilities have grown to an enormous size, and accordingly they at the factory are stranded because of difficulty in acquiring required land and also anxious about odor problem. It is the case that methane gas from the anaerobic open-lagoon is released in the atmosphere without being used. New anaerobic fermentation tank (ADI-BVF Reactor）are to be installed to remedy these situations and utilize methane gas so that methane gas can be collected by increasing innovatively its collection rate and be used as fuel for high-efficiency power generation for gas engine. At the same time, the project of installing flaring facilities for surplus methane gas and emergency operation shall be implemented to actualize energy saving and CO2 reduction.
Targeted GHGCO2, CH4
Category of Project ActivityBiomass Utilisation
CDM/JICDM
Duration of Project Activity/ Crediting PeriodDuration of the Project Activity: 10 years (2010-2019)/ Crediting Period: 10 years (2010-2019)
Baseline Methodology/ AdditionalityMore than one of the four barriers shall be verified as the reason why the project cannot be implemented. (1) Investment barrier, (2) Technology barrier, (3) Barrier of general customary practice, (4) Other barrier
Alternative baseline scenarios tested.
  • Scenario 1: Scenario of continuity of the current practice
  • Scenario 2: Aerobic treatment of wastewaters
  • Scenario 3: Proposed project
Although scenario 3 using the ADI-BVF reactor technology are faced with investment, technology, general customary practice and other barriers, it is confirmed that continuing the existing lagoon system is the base line; since there is no ADI-BVF reactor technology in the existing lagoon system, the project will be additional.
Estimation of GHG Emission Reductions
  • Baseline emissions：64,831t-CO2e
  • Project emissions：24,005t-CO2e
  • Emission reduction：40,826t-CO2e
  • Leakage：0t-CO2e
Monitoring MethodologyIt is necessary to monitor an item of Table 8 that is necessary for the calculation of the discharge.
    • D：Operating days the alcohol plant：330 day
    • Qd,ww：Volume of wastewater treated per day：450m3/d
    • Qy,ww：Volume of wastewater treated in the year：148,500m3
    • CODy,ww,untreated：COD of the wastewater entering：0.115t/m3
    • CODy,ww,treated：COD of the treated wastewater leaving：0.0345t/m3
    • EPcomsumed：Electricity consumed in the year：825MWh
    • EPBIO：Electricity produced by the biogas generator unit in the year：8,984MWh
    • Tflare：Temperature of the exhaust gas from flare：500℃
    • Tflare_time：Duration of sustenance of 500℃ in flare：Measured min/h
    • Sy,final：Quantity of sludge removed from the treatment system：Measured t
    • Tbiogas：Temperature of biogas combusted：Measured ℃/K
    • Pbiogas：Pressure of biogas combusted：Measured bar
    • DOCy,s,final：Degradable organic content of the final sludge in the year：0.09
    • MCFs,final：Methane correction factor for soil application of the final sludge：0
    • Vtotal：Biogas flow rate at digester outlet in the year：5,406,999m3
    • Vgene：Biogas flow rate at power generating unit inlet in the year：About 91% m3
    • Vflare：Biogas flow rate into flare in the year：About 9% m3
    • PCH4：Biogas CH4 content：65%
Environmental Impact AnalysisIEE is described according to a guideline for prior IEE of ONEP; it is local contribution that is regarded as important most. This has demands such as a road, the adoption of the local employer, the infrastructure of utility facilities and a cost impact is very big and gives big influence to project implementation. Therefore, conference, examination is separately necessary with doing a detailed explanation in the TB (owner) toward this project implementation.
Issues and Tasks for Project RealisationThis project makes a CER price 20US$/t-CO2, IRR (After-tax) is 10.6%.
1) The approval of the TB (owner)
    The following is shown as the solution plan.
    1. Change to the heat use equipment
    2. Cost reduction by the use of the machine of development of a BHC company our company of the H2S collection system
    3. The material (geo-membrane cover system) of anaerobic fermentation tank, a cost reduction by the local supply
    4. The use of the used article of the gas engine generating electricity equipment
    5. Use as a compost bin that it sludge
    6. The differentiation of the CER purchase price is necessary because it is finally made to compete with each other by the owner (TB) in Thailand. Therefore, it is made a goal that a CER unit price is increased to EU base.
2) Change in wastewater
3) The guarantee value of the COD removal rate
4) The execution of the meeting of stakeholder which relates to IEE