Valorization of MSW-to-Energy in Thailand: Status, Challenges and Prospects

In order to effectively plan MSW management with energy recovery activities, it is important to understand and assess the current situation and highlight issues, problems, as well as the initiatives under taken. This study aims to review and assess the overall commercial WTE plants in Thailand and compare the same with other countries based on available literature, interviews and site visits. The status, challenges and prospects of WTE technologies such as landfill gas, anaerobic digestion, incineration, gasification and RDF are discussed. The existing WTE plants treat 2.54 Mt of MSW per year (9.5 % of total 26.8 Mt generated in 2013) and generate 66 MW of electricity as well as 78.26 ktoe of heat. It is estimated that about 8.17 Mt of MSW (30.5 %) will be treated which will generate 319 MW of electricity as well as 78.26 ktoe of heat when the plants presently under construction and planning stage start operation. RDF and incineration have been identified as suitable technologies for treating MSW in Thailand. RDF technology preserves resources in MSW through recycling and energy recovery. It has high potential for co-firing with other fuels in many industries as well as using in other WTE technologies such as incineration and gasification. Incineration treats and reduces large amount of MSW with high potential to generate electricity and requires minimal pre-treatment.