Potential biodiesel production from palm oil, coconut oil and soybean oil for Thailand

Abstract

The government began subsidizing the use of B20 in large trucks on a voluntary basis beginning in 2016 and intends to implement the B10 requirement in 2018 for all diesel sales. However, policy makers in both the MOE and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) recently agreed that the mandatory biodiesel consumption plan for 2036 may be unattainable (given the strategy does not permit reliance on imports) and is therefore being reexamined. Despite an increase in harvested area, crude palm oil (CPO) production, the only feedstock used for biodiesel in Thailand, stagnated at 1.8-2.0 million from 2014-2016 due to unfavourable weather conditions. Thailand experiences a great economic and industrial development and is the second largest energy consumer in South East Asia. Being a net oil importer, Thai government has declared a renewable energy development programme in order to secure sustainable development and energy security. Thailand spends more than 10% of GDP for energy imports and transport sector accounts for 36% of total final energy consumption of which 50% is diesel. Diesel marks a huge impact on Thai economy.