The Thailand PTG 1×24MW Biomass Power Plant Project: Green, Low-Carbon Development in a Carbon-Neutral World
Challenge
Thailand's 70% dependence on natural gas has led to power shortages and environmental pollution, prompting the country to vigorously develop clean renewable energy. Southern Thailand faces acute power scarcity while generating abundant agricultural and forestry waste. Biomass power generation can effectively address open-field burning of agricultural waste and reduce pollution, but there are few reference codes for biomass power plant system design and equipment selection. As the first central SOE to undertake infrastructure projects in Pattani Province, Datang Environment also faced communication challenges arising from religious, cultural, and customary differences, making both technical complexity and cross-cultural management demanding.
Solution
Responding to the Belt and Road Initiative, Datang Environment used biomass power plant construction as an entry point, executing three EPC projects in Thailand — NPP5A, PP9, and PTG — all successfully connected to the grid.
The PTG project, with 24 MW installed capacity in Pattani Province, southern Thailand, uses a China-produced 100 t/h high-temperature, high-pressure stepped reciprocating grate boiler and a 24MW pure condensing steam turbine generator. Fuel consists primarily of wood chips, palm fronds, and empty fruit bunches — all agricultural waste that would otherwise be openly burned.
This project applied air-cooled reciprocating grate technology to large-scale biomass power boilers for the first time. Compared with traditional circulating fluidized bed boilers, it reduces construction costs while improving operational stability and fuel flexibility. The project employs electrostatic precipitation, in-furnace denitrification, and comprehensive noise treatment, achieving SOx emissions below 48 ppm, NOx below 129 ppm, particulate matter below 75 mg/Nm³, and boundary noise below 75 dB — well within Thai environmental standards.
The project team engaged local Muslim communities with an inclusive and respectful attitude, ensuring that construction schedules accommodated prayer times and religious observances. Safe and and well-managed construction practices were rigorously implemented. The team also systematically transferred power plant operation, commissioning, and construction experience to local workers, building indigenous technical capacity for long-term independence.
Impact & Value
The PTG project achieves 8,000 annual operating hours, generating 192 GWh per year. It saves 76,800 tons of standard coal and reduces 191,500 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. The plant processes approximately 240,000 tons of agricultural and forestry waste per year, with combustion ash repurposed as organic fertilizer — truly "turning waste into wealth" while eliminating the pollution caused by open-field burning.
During construction, the project created over 200 local jobs. After commissioning, it established 75 permanent positions in plant operation and maintenance, while stimulating surrounding service and logging industries, providing employment security for hundreds of impoverished families in one of Thailand's less-developed regions.
Public surveys show 100% of respondents support the project, 100% consider the site selection appropriate, 96% believe it improves living standards, and 88% strongly support it — an exceptionally positive community response for an industrial project. The project was covered by over 20 media outlets and the project owner sent a formal letter of appreciation.
The project effectively expanded China Datang's visibility and influence in Southeast Asia, becoming a model of China-Thailand economic cooperation and a shining Chinese calling card along the Belt and Road. It demonstrates that Chinese enterprises can deliver world-class infrastructure while respecting local culture and creating lasting community value.