SPM Group is a big group of pig farms and a feed mill company, spread over four locations. The project involves the utilization of high-rate anaerobic wastewater treatment reactors (developed by the Energy Research and Development Institute at Chiang Mai University) at each of these sites. As well as reducing harmful methane emissions into the atmosphere, the project will also offer significant socio-economic benefits to the local area.
The project began operation this year, and is expected to continue for at least ten years. This will result in emissions reductions of 258,100 tCO
2 equivalent over that period, and 126,865 tCO
2 equivalent up to and including 2012. These reductions will be achieved through methane recovery from the existing lagoon-based waste water treatment system, and through the displacement of fossil fuels used to generate electricity for Thai’s national grid.
In addition the project also contributes to sustainable development, through:
• Creating employment opportunities in the area where the project is located both during its construction and operation phases
• Enabling the transfer of knowledge as ERDI will train site employees in the installation, operation and maintenance of the biogas system
• Contributing to local and regional economy since the cables, transformers, construction equipment, and subcontractors are procured locally;
• Diversifying the sources of electricity generation and support Thailand in meeting its growing energy demands
• Reducing the dependence on foreign sources of energy thereby strengthening Thailand’s energy security and self sufficiency
• Assisting Thailand in accelerating the commercialization of grid-connected renewable energy technologies and markets in the country
