Sustainability Approach for Energy Production using Biomass at Household and Community Levels: A case study in Thailand

Abstract

Abstract - The aims of this study are to analyze economic, social and environmental impacts resulting from energy production using biomass at the household and community levels with a view to formulating sustainability approaches for energy production using biomass at the household and community levels. Gap analysis of the implementation of biomass energy production at the household and community levels based on the data collected through in-depth interviews with four representatives from the parties involved was carried out. In addition, contextual and weaknesses analysis of biomass energy production at the household and community levels based on the data collected through field-observation and in-depth interviews with the community leaders at six areas where biomass is used for heat and electricity production was conducted. The results of this study show that in economic aspect, the Social Return on Investment (SROI) for electricity production is less than 1 whereas that for biomass-derived heat production exceeds 1. In social dimension, there are involvement of the relevant units and participation of the people in the community. Regarding environmental impacts, less pollution is caused in the use of biomass for heat production as compared to the use for electricity production. Sustainability approaches for biomass energy production include improvement on the efficiency of the biomass energy production process and its related services, inculcation of awareness of social co-benefits resulted from biomass energy production and resource management for biomass energy production in a systematic way.