Chulalongkorn, Saraburi Develops Thailand’s First Cane Leaf Pellets & Briquettes
The Biomass Fuel and Energy Center of Chulalongkorn University, Saraburi provides academic and research services focused on converting biomass waste into alternative fuel sources to reduce fossil fuel dependence. Since 2011, with government funding, the center has conducted extensive research on various types of biomass. One challenge they address is “light biomass,” including cane leaves and rice straw. Transporting this type of biomass for alternative energy production often incurs high transportation costs, making it economically unfeasible for end users.
Specifically, “cane leaves” are a type of light biomass being studied at Chulalongkorn University’s Saraburi Research Center to determine suitable processing methods that could turn them into valuable products. This approach aims to support farmers in avoiding the common practice of burning cane fields. The center’s findings led to the realization that all types of light biomass need to be converted into denser forms to optimize their usability. As a result, they have experimented with producing dense solid fuel in the form of “pellets.”
After Chulalongkorn University’s research center successfully developed pelletized cane leaves, they further explored “briquetting,” funded by the Program Management Unit Competitiveness (PMUC) and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF). About 4-5 years ago, studies on briquetted cane leaves showed that compacting them into briquettes increases density, making transportation more efficient. Transport capacity doubles, while costs decrease nearly threefold. Additionally, these briquettes have low moisture content, can be stored for extended periods, and are easy to feed into combustion chambers without creating dust. They can also be burned to produce “biochar”, which qualifies for carbon credits—a valuable outcome of this transformation process.
Currently, Sapthaworn Biomass Co., Ltd. has applied this research to address the cane harvesting issues associated with field burning. Most farmers lack access to mechanical harvesters and rely on manual labor, often leading to the necessity of burning the fields. Sapthaworn Biomass Co. Ltd., a major cane producer with thousands of rai in Phetchaboon province, owns harvesters and therefore avoids field burning. They sell leftover cane leaves to biomass power plants and buy additional leaves from affiliated farmers. However, transporting loose bundles of cane leaves has proven inefficient. A 25-ton truck can carry only 17-18 tons of loose leaves, resulting in high transportation costs. Consequently, the company is exploring methods to process the leaves before delivering them to biomass plants, making transportation more efficient and expanding their usability as fuel for other industries.
The company received advice from the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) to review research conducted by the Biomass Fuel and Energy Center at Chulalongkorn University in Saraburi. There, they discovered research on processing cane leaves into “pellets and briquettes.” Sapthaworn Biomass Co., Ltd. became the first company in Thailand to adopt this research for product development in this format. While using cane leaves for power generation is not new, traditional methods involved grinding the leaves before using them as fuel. In contrast, the company’s pellet and briquette approach offers convenient transport, long storage life, low moisture content, and high density, making them versatile as fuel for various applications.
The machinery used for processing cane leaves into pellets and briquettes was developed by Sapthaworn Biomass Co., Ltd. in partnership with T.M.C. Industrial Public Company Limited. The collaboration began due to T.M.C.’s expertise in hydraulic machinery manufacturing, primarily for the automotive sector. Leveraging this expertise, T.M.C. aimed to expand into agricultural machinery to help address environmental issues in Thailand, particularly the burning of agricultural waste like cane leaves, corn stalks, and oil palm fronds.
T.M.C. Industrial Public Company Limited conducted research to identify academic studies on agricultural machinery capable of adding value to agricultural waste through advanced innovations. They discovered that the Biomass Fuel and Energy Center at Chulalongkorn University in Saraburi has been engaged in this field for years, with a dedicated center focused on agricultural research for developing various fuel forms. T.M.C. then sought academic collaboration with the university, requesting Chulalongkorn to transfer research knowledge to support the development of diverse agricultural machinery.
At the same time, the Director of Chulalongkorn University’s Saraburi Research Center introduced T.M.C. Industrial executives to the leadership at Sapthaworn Biomass, a company seeking locally manufactured, eco-friendly agricultural machinery to process cane leaves into pellets and briquettes. This introduction marked the beginning of a collaborative partnership between the two companies: T.M.C. brought expertise in machinery manufacturing, while Sapthaworn Biomass provided the raw material—cane leaves—that needed processing.
The collaboration between these two companies, facilitated by Chulalongkorn University’s Saraburi Research Center, serves as a pioneering model for converting agricultural waste into value-added products, offering a tangible solution to reduce burning and lower PM2.5 pollution. This approach could inspire similar facilities nationwide, as cane leaves—an abundant agricultural byproduct—can be repurposed for alternative energy, improving environmental quality. This initiative benefits not only farmers but all stakeholders, including the nation, by lessening annual pollution management costs. Beyond cane, this model can be adapted to other agricultural residues, like rice, corn stalks, and leaves, allowing them to be sold to processing plants. This aligns with the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Model, which the government should actively support to strengthen sustainable practices across the industry.
