BANGKOK, 28 Mar 2014, The Energy Regulatory Committee (ERC) has suggested that the government build more garbage-powered electricity generating plants as an alternative approach to trash disposal.
According to Mr. Kawin Tangsupanitch, Secretary General of the ERC, his office has proposed the approach before as part of the government’s policy on alternative energy; however, the idea currently does not attract enough attention from both the public and the private sectors thanks to the misconception about its effects on the environment and the surrounding communities.
The recent landfill fire in Samutprakan might spark public interests in the construction of garbage-powered electricity generating plants. Besides, the plants, which takes up lesser space than landfills, will be able to convert trash into usable energy through advanced trash disposal technology.
At present there are 18 of such power plants in Thailand, contributing a total of 43 megawatts of electricity, said Kawin, adding that contracts to build an addition 16 plants, with the combined capacity of producing 109 megawatts of electricity, have recently been signed between authorities and manufacturers.
