bioMET

Renewable Biomethane from Agricultural Biomass

Agricultural residues such as rice straw represent a largely underutilised biomass resource that can contribute to renewable gas systems. Through anaerobic digestion and biomethane upgrading technologies, agricultural biomass can be converted into renewable gas suitable for transport, industrial energy systems and future low-carbon infrastructure.

The bioMET module explores how rice straw and complementary organic substrates can support renewable biomethane production within circular biomass platforms.

Biomass Feedstock Integration

Rice straw can be combined with other organic substrates to improve biomethane production efficiency. Potential complementary feedstocks include cassava processing residues, livestock manure and agricultural organic wastes.

By integrating multiple biomass streams, regional circular biomass hubs can support stable renewable gas production while utilising agricultural residues that would otherwise remain underused.

Renewable Gas Systems

Upgraded biomethane can serve multiple energy applications including renewable transport fuels, industrial heat supply and integration into gas infrastructure.

Renewable gas systems may complement existing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind by providing dispatchable low-carbon energy.

Circular Nutrient Flows

The anaerobic digestion process produces digestate which can be returned to agricultural soils as organic fertiliser. This helps recycle nutrients back into farming systems and supports soil health and regenerative agricultural practices.

Collaboration Opportunities

The bioMET module seeks collaboration with technology providers and research partners working in areas such as biomethane upgrading systems, anaerobic digestion technologies and renewable gas infrastructure.

International cooperation can help accelerate feasibility development and technology deployment for circular biomass platforms.

bioMET – Renewable Gas Platform for Thailand

Turning Rice Straw and Agricultural Residues into Industrial-Scale Renewable Gas

bioMET is the renewable gas pillar of the bioTRANSCAPE platform.
It converts rice straw, cassava pulp, and agro-industrial residues into biomethane — a clean, dispatchable energy carrier that can directly replace fossil natural gas in industrial processes, transportation fuels, and emerging low-carbon energy systems.

By connecting Thailand’s agricultural landscapes with industrial energy demand, bioMET creates a new circular energy system that reduces emissions while unlocking new value for rural biomass resources.

bioMET plants are designed as modular biomethane production hubs, each processing approximately 200,000 tons of biomass per year.

The production system integrates:

• rice straw from agricultural landscapes
• cassava pulp from starch processing factories
• livestock manure and agro-industrial residues

Through advanced anaerobic digestion and gas upgrading technologies, bioMET plants produce pipeline-quality biomethane that can be used as:

• industrial process fuel
• transport fuel (bio-CNG / bio-LNG)
• renewable gas for low-carbon manufacturing

Each bioMET module typically produces:

15–18 million Nm³ biomethane per year

≈160 GWh renewable gas energy

This enables the replacement of fossil natural gas while supporting Thailand’s transition toward a low-carbon industrial economy.

Why Biomethane Matters for Thailand

A Strategic Renewable Gas Opportunity

Thailand’s industrial sector consumes large volumes of natural gas for heat and processing energy. Biomethane offers a direct pathway to decarbonize this demand without requiring major changes to existing industrial infrastructure.

Biomethane is chemically identical to natural gas and can therefore be used in existing industrial systems.

This makes biomethane one of the fastest and most practical decarbonization solutions for sectors that rely on high-temperature heat.

Key drivers include:

Carbon pricing
Thailand is preparing mechanisms such as carbon tax and carbon markets.

Scope 3 emission reduction
Global supply chains increasingly require low-carbon production.

CBAM compliance
Export industries must reduce carbon intensity to remain competitive in international markets.

Energy diversification
Renewable gas strengthens Thailand’s long-term energy security.

These factors are expected to create a growing demand for low-carbon gas fuels in Thailand’s industrial economy.

Industrial Demand for Renewable Gas

Decarbonizing Process Heat

Thailand’s industrial sector represents a major opportunity for biomethane adoption. Many industries already use natural gas for heat generation and can switch to biomethane with minimal infrastructure changes.

Potential industrial offtakers include sectors such as:

• cassava starch processing
• sugar and food processing
• animal feed manufacturing
• chemicals and materials production
• ceramics and glass manufacturing
• export-oriented food industries

These industries face increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions across their production chains.

Biomethane provides a practical solution by enabling companies to reduce the carbon intensity of industrial heat while maintaining reliable energy supply.

The transition from fossil natural gas to biomethane can therefore support both industrial decarbonization and export competitiveness.

Renewable Gas for Transportation

Bio-CNG and Bio-LNG for Heavy Transport

In addition to industrial use, biomethane can serve as a low-carbon fuel for heavy transport systems including trucking fleets and logistics corridors.

Upgraded biomethane can be compressed or liquefied to produce transport fuels:

bio-CNG

bio-LNG

These fuels can power:

• heavy trucks
• logistics fleets
• long-distance freight transport
• maritime applications

Energy companies and fuel distributors can integrate biomethane into LNG fueling infrastructure, enabling a transition toward renewable transport fuels.

This creates an additional demand pathway for renewable gas while supporting cleaner logistics systems.

Biomass Resources Supporting bioMET

Rice Straw and Cassava Processing Residues

Thailand’s agricultural economy produces large volumes of biomass residues that can serve as feedstock for biomethane production.

Rice straw is the largest agricultural residue in Thailand.

Annual rice production generates approximately: 35–40 million tons of rice straw

A portion of this resource can be collected and converted into renewable energy.

In addition, Thailand’s cassava starch industry processes approximately: ≈30 million tons cassava roots per year

This produces around: 9–10 million tons of cassava pulp annually

Cassava pulp provides an excellent complementary feedstock for biomethane production due to its high biodegradability and methane yield.

Together, rice straw and cassava processing residues create a strong feedstock foundation for bioMET development.

bioMET Cluster Development

Building Thailand’s Renewable Gas Infrastructure

The bioMET platform is designed as a distributed network of biomethane production clusters located within major agricultural landscapes.

Each bioMET cluster integrates local biomass supply with regional industrial energy demand.

Typical cluster characteristics include:

biomass processing capacity ≈200,000 tons per year

Feedstock radius: 30–50 km agricultural catchment

Clusters are strategically located in regions with:

• high rice straw density
• cassava processing industries
• proximity to industrial energy demand

This distributed infrastructure enables efficient biomass logistics while supplying renewable gas to nearby industrial markets.

Over time, the network of bioMET clusters can evolve into a national renewable gas platform for Thailand.

Circular Bioeconomy Benefits

Energy, Agriculture and Soil Regeneration

bioMET creates a circular bioeconomy system linking agricultural landscapes with energy production and soil restoration.

In addition to renewable gas, biomethane production generates valuable co-products.

Digestate from the anaerobic digestion process contains nutrients that can be returned to agricultural soils.

This enables the production of:

• organic soil amendments
• bio-fertilizers
• compost products

By returning nutrients to farmland, bioMET contributes to:

• soil regeneration
• reduced fertilizer dependency
• circular agricultural systems

This integrated approach strengthens the environmental benefits of the bioTRANSCAPE platform.

Economics of Biomethane

Scalable Renewable Gas Infrastructure

bioMET plants are designed as modular renewable gas infrastructure capable of producing large volumes of biomethane from agricultural biomass. The modular design allows projects to be deployed across multiple regions while maintaining standardized technology and operational efficiency.

Each bioMET module processes approximately: 200,000 tons of biomass per year

Typical feedstock composition includes:

• rice straw from agricultural landscapes
• cassava pulp from starch processing industries
• livestock manure and agro-industrial residues

A standard module typically produces:

15–18 million Nm³ of biomethane annually: ≈160 GWh renewable energy

Estimated investment per module: €40–50 million

This scale enables biomethane to be produced at competitive costs compared with fossil natural gas when environmental benefits and carbon reduction incentives are considered.

Typical production cost range: 7–9 USD per MMBtu

Potential market price for low-carbon biomethane supplied to industrial customers: 12–16 USD per MMBtu

This creates a viable economic model for renewable gas infrastructure while supporting industrial decarbonization.

Typical project payback periods are estimated at: 6–8 years

depending on feedstock logistics, energy demand, and carbon market conditions.

Thailand Renewable Gas Roadmap

A 20-Year Development Vision

bioMET is envisioned as a long-term renewable gas infrastructure platform that connects Thailand’s agricultural landscapes with industrial energy demand. By deploying biomethane production clusters across major rice-growing regions, Thailand can establish a distributed renewable gas network supporting industrial decarbonization and energy security.

Thailand’s agricultural sector generates large volumes of biomass residues suitable for biomethane production.

Rice cultivation alone produces approximately:

35–40 million tons of rice straw per year

In addition, the cassava processing industry generates around:

9–10 million tons of cassava pulp annually

These resources provide a strong feedstock base for renewable gas development.

The bioMET platform envisions a phased deployment strategy.

Phase 1 – Pilot Deployment (Years 1–5)

Initial biomethane plants are developed in regions with strong biomass availability and nearby industrial demand.

Potential pilot regions include:

• Nakhon Ratchasima
• Kalasin
• Nakhon Sawan
• Sa Kaeo
• Buriram

These first plants establish operational experience and demonstrate the viability of renewable gas production.

Phase 2 – Regional Expansion (Years 5–10)

Additional biomethane clusters are deployed across agricultural regions with strong biomass resources.

Expansion regions may include:

• Chaiyaphum
• Surin
• Maha Sarakham
• Roi Et
• Ubon Ratchathani

At this stage, a regional network of biomethane plants begins to emerge.

Phase 3 – Industrial Integration (Years 10–15)

Renewable gas production expands into areas closer to major industrial demand centers, including regions connected to Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor.

Potential regions include:

• Chachoengsao
• Prachin Buri
• Saraburi
• Suphan Buri
• Phichit

Biomethane from these clusters can supply industrial customers through local distribution networks or compressed gas transport.

Phase 4 – National Renewable Gas Network (Years 15–20)

The long-term vision includes a distributed network of approximately:

20 biomethane production clusters

Each producing:

≈160 GWh renewable gas per year

Total renewable gas production could reach:

≈3 TWh annually

This infrastructure would support Thailand’s transition toward a low-carbon industrial energy system while strengthening rural biomass economies.

bioMET and the Future Energy System

Connecting Agriculture, Energy and Industry

The bioMET platform represents a new generation of energy infrastructure that integrates agricultural biomass resources with industrial energy demand. By transforming residues such as rice straw and cassava pulp into renewable gas, bioMET creates a circular energy system supporting both rural economies and industrial decarbonization.

The bioMET platform connects three key systems:

Agricultural landscapes
Rice straw and crop residues become valuable energy resources instead of waste.

Renewable gas infrastructure
Biomethane production clusters convert biomass into clean fuel.

Industrial energy demand
Manufacturing sectors can transition from fossil natural gas to renewable gas.

This integrated system supports:

• lower greenhouse gas emissions
• improved agricultural resource efficiency
• new income opportunities in rural regions
• a resilient and diversified energy system for Thailand

Through the bioREaaS platform, biomethane can become a foundational component of Thailand’s future renewable energy landscape.

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