KKU Partners with OCSB to Transform Sugarcane Leaf Waste into “Bio-Oil” Green Energy
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Khon Kaen University (KKU), in collaboration with the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB), organized an “Upskill & Reskill” training activity titled “Biofuel Production for Agricultural Machinery,” aiming to pilot the conversion of agricultural waste materials such as sugarcane leaves and tops into bio-oil as a concrete solution to energy costs and the national environmental crisis. The event was presided over by Mr. Sittirong Reng-ngiap, Deputy Secretary-General of the Cane and Sugar Board, and attended by Ms. Phakawan Maneerat, Director of the Bio-Industry Division, and Mr. Jirawat Terdpitakpong, Director of the Office of Cane and Sugar Industry Promotion Center Region 3, along with center officials. Associate Professor Dr. Supasit Konyai, Deputy Director of Academic Affairs at the Office of Academic Service and a faculty member of the Faculty of Engineering at KKU, served as the keynote speaker to provide knowledge on smart agricultural innovation and demonstrate the practical application of technology within the sugarcane industry.
Facing Dual Crises of Rising Energy Costs and PM 2.5 Smog
The agricultural sector and sugarcane industry are currently grappling with significant challenges, including fine particulate matter partially caused by sugarcane leaf burning and the continuous increase in fossil fuel prices. Recognizing these issues, KKU has researched and developed “Bio-oil” production innovation to harness the potential of sugarcane leaves and tops—which account for up to 16.79 million tons of waste per year—by processing them into clean energy, preventing the wasteful loss of biomass while creating economic value for farmers.
Highlighting Innovation with 4 Prototype Machines to Elevate Thai Agriculture Comprehensively
As a result of continuous research and development, KKU has developed four innovative prototype machines designed to meet the needs of the sugarcane production cycle from upstream to downstream:
- Bio-oil Production Prototype (2022): Utilizes the pyrolysis process to convert sugarcane leaves into bio-oil with a maximum yield of 44.7%, while producing biogas and soil conditioner (biochar) as byproducts;
- Automatic Sugarcane Leaf Baler Prototype (2024): Enhances the efficiency of collecting sugarcane leaves from agricultural plots, reducing reliance on manual labor and saving costs;
- Automatic Liquid Fertilizer and Chemical Sprayer System Prototype (2025): Employs automated technology for controlled operation, increasing precision and reducing farmers’ risk of direct chemical exposure, thereby improving quality of life and safety; and
- Liquid Fuel Distillation Prototype (2025): Builds on previous success by fractionally distilling bio-oil to obtain high-quality products, including bio-diesel and bio-gasoline with properties equivalent to commercial fuels.
Meeting SDGs and Driving the Circular Economy:
The success of this innovation represents a true advancement of the Circular Economy, as farmers can effectively mix bio-oil with diesel at a ratio of 10–14% for use in agricultural machinery without causing engine knocking.
Furthermore, this initiative fully aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of KKU, particularly in providing access to clean energy (SDG 7), promoting innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), ensuring sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12), and taking climate action (SDG 13). This represents a transformation of “waste” into “value” while restoring clean air to a smoke-free society.
