UNIDO-GEF biomass gasification in Thailand

Last updated: 2 August 2023

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) implemented a project with funding from the Global Environment Facility to promote small-scale biomass gasification plants that generate electricity from agricultural and wood processing waste in rural Thailand. The project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of energy production and usage, while promoting community engagement in building and operating the plants. As part of the project, the Thai Ministry of Energy’s Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency led training sessions with around 200 participants between 2015 and 2016. As a result, the project resulted in the construction and commissioning of two 125 kW demonstration biomass gasification plants with the help of research partners in rural Thailand. UNIDO engaged with local partners at the Chiang Mai University’s Science and Technology Research Institute in northern Thailand to establish an information and learning centre for communities, financial institutions, project developers, public sector organisations, the private sector, students and the general public. From the start, community members have been active participants in the project to ensure that the community can fully benefit from the construction of the plants. 

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