Southeast Asia set for biomass boom

09 Oct 2013

Asia is a key supplier of biomass feedstock to markets such as Europe or the United States but within the region, new opportunities and investments in biomass are emerging, particularly in Southeast Asia, Eco-Business.com reported.

Of the Asian countries, China, Japan and Korea currently lead the region in biomass projects due to a combination of a high level of technological capability and government targets on renewable energy sources.

Further south, however, Southeast Asia is fast becoming an attractive market for developing biomass as an energy source, given that it produces nearly 230 million tonnes of feedstock annually.

Such biomass from crop residues, municipal solid waste and forest residues such as wood is available in abundance and investors are beginning to recognise the potential to harness this source for energy.

“Asia is home to one-third of the world’s attainable biomass,” says Jerome Le Borgne, Southeast Asia, Africa and Pacific Sales Director, DP Cleantech.

“A lot of resources, particularly residues from forests, wood processing and agriculture, are available but not being used, with the exception of the feedstock generated by the palm oil and sugar industries.”

“There is an urgent need to utilize these wastes for commercial electricity and heat production to reduce the reliance on conventional energy sources, and to cater to the needs of the industries as well as urban and rural communities”, adds Le Borgne.

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