THAILAND SEES OPPORTUNITY IN BIOMASS

This is an example of how developing nations are going to benefit from the cap-and-trade solution to climate change. Some would call this an abuse of the offset program because Thai Mitr Phol Sugar Group might do this project even without earning money on the credits it will sell. Judgment: Maybe. Right now, it is necessary to risk abuses in order to motivate world behavior.

Making money from cleaner energy; Biomass power plants looking to seize million-dollar Kyoto opportunities
Watcharapong Thongrung, May 7, 2007 (The Nation)
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WHO
Thai Mitr Phol Sugar Group companies Dan Chang Bio-Energy and Phu Khieo Bio-Energy, Sirisak Tatong, managing director.

WHAT
Dan Chang Bio-Energy and Phu Khieo Bio-Energy of Thailand have received Natural Resources and Environment Ministry clean-power certificates and will apply for UNFCCC carbon credits.

WHEN
Thailand ratified the Kyoto Protocols in August, 2002.

WHERE
Thailand ranks behind its neighbors India, China, Malaysia and Vietnam in building clean power plants.

WHY
Biomass fuelled power plants transform potential CO2-producing biomass into energy, thereby earning credits both for saving CO2 emissions and avoiding the burning of fossil fuels (which generates more emissions). The credits can be sold to utilities and companies in more industrial countries seeking to offset their emissions.
Dan Chang (53 megawatts) and Phu Khieo (65 megawatts) produce clean electricity from bagasse, biomass leftover when sugar cane is crushed.
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QUOTES
Tatong: "Being certified means the companies can sell carbon credits to Annex-1 countries, which are mostly developed countries. These nations must follow Kyoto Protocol greenhouse-gas emission guidelines…Considering the current market price of carbon credit, the group's biomass power plants should generate an additional Bt40 million a year…"