**6. Lao, P. D. R.**

for high pressure modern power plants to cope with future demand. It is estimated that the residue of palm oil consisting of empty fruit bunch, fiber, shell, wet shell, palm kernel, fronds and trunks has a potential for annual power generation of *5000 GWh* [31]. The transi‐ tion of energy scenario from fossil fuels to biomass has been underway using existing tech‐ nologies. In order to make it practically effective requires substantial investments in infrastructure, conversion technologies and in research and development (R&D) for palm oil

The other feedstocks for biofuel in addition to palm oil, forest biomass and rice bran are crops waste (rubber truck, coconut, sugarcane), waste of food crop products (cassava, sjatro‐

grain harvest. The Government of Indonesia is in the process of preparing additional land for growing high-yield feedstocks to meet the country's biofuel production goals of 5.57 mil‐

The U.S. Department of commerce claimed that biomass installed capacity for energy source in Indonesia is *445MW* which is only 1% of the total resource potential of 49,810MW. The country has targeted 810MW with a conversion efficiency of about 30% of biomass power by

Research conducted at BPPT-LSDE in Indonesia reported on a plan to construct 1500 litre per day capacity biodiesel using palm oil waste. The domestic manufacturing capacity of bi‐ omass gasifier is improved and capable of producing 15−100 *kWe*for rice mill and wood mill power supply as well as for rural electrification. The Indonesian Government has been fo‐ cusing its policy on bioenergy diversification and introduced a huge plantation of Jatropha curcas as an additional biodiesel source which is non-edible and has well known potential to

Jupesta [35] studied technological changes in the biofuel production system in Indonesia us‐ ing mathematical modelling consisting of two scenarios: the base scenario and the technolo‐ gy scenario. The base scenario assumes the conditions and data set in the Indonesian Government's Mix Energy policy that relies on an increase in biofuel production by increas‐ ing the land allocation for biofuel while the technology scenario concentrates technical change consisting of growth in yield and a cost reduction in addition to the growth in land allocation. The author reported that the highest contribution is likely to come from palm oil that accounts for 93% and 64% of the technology scenario and the base scenario, respective‐ ly. The excess production for export increases in both scenarios. But the technology scenario

The substantial amount of bagasse in sugar mills can provide fuel for electricity-generating projects in Indonesia that will most probably be considered for the Clean Energy Develop‐ ment Mechanism (CDM) scheme. A recent study concluded that this source has a potential of 260, 253 *MWh* that could generate a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction of 240, 774(large scale) or 198, 177 *tCO*2(small scale) annually. The present low efficiency co‐ generation for those values lead to the earning of about US\$1.36 or 1.12 million respectively.

2025 with an increase of 83% but still it is far less than the potential contribution [33].

tonnes per year, respectively [32]. The crops waste are residues left in field after

tonnes per year and

pha, sorghum,, soybeans, peanuts, maize, paddy) account for 12.77×10<sup>6</sup>

lion kiloliters of biodiesel and 3.77 million kiloliters of bioethanol [33].

biomass.

26 Sustainable Energy - Recent Studies

87.45×10<sup>6</sup>

be converted into biodiesel [34].

gives more competitive results.

Wood and charcoal were the most dominated traditional energy resources for the period 1996 to 2002 that account for about 75% of the total national energy consumption. Wood is mainly used for cooking and space heating and in rural areas still accounts for up to 90% of the energy consumption. An increase of 4.8% in the total energy use with reference to period 1996-2002 is noted. The Government is keen to develop bioenergy for which more than 2 million hectares of ideal land has been initially identified for biofuels feedstock plantations which is a major step to produce enough biofuels by 2020. Protected area management sys‐ tem is enforced in Lao PDR and a recent study on improvement and implementation of pro‐ tected area management with positive interaction between people and the natural environment was conducted using a simple simulation model, the "Area Production Model" aiming at evaluating different options for land use and primary production. The findings of this research reveal that the integrated land-use planning approach was found to be well adapted to the needs of the protected area management system [38]. The Ministry of Plan‐ ning and Investment signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2008 with private companies to construct two biodiesel factories with a production capacity of 50,000 tones each by 2010 [39]. A production of the Biodiesel (B100) was reported on July 7, 2011 at a rate of 40,000 Litres/month (*www.linkedin.com/groups/Green-Energy-in-Cambodia-Lao-3991528)*. A rural Renewable Energy Initiative in the great Mekong Subregion reports that Lao produces 223,300 tones of sugarcane and 55,500 tones of cassava in the year 2007 indicating that Gov‐ ernment policy towards the development of bioenergy is progressing.

A study on "Application of biofuel supply chains for rural development and Lao energy se‐ curity measurements" was conducted in March 2008 which claims that bioethanol could substitute for 20% of gasoline use in 2030 with the production of commercially viable Jatro‐ pha biofuel in four different phases starting from 2008 to 2030 over a total land of 1.1 million hectares [40]. Bush [41] discussed that bioenergy holds enormous potential of 18907 *MWh year* <sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> ,equivalent to 1922 *million l year* <sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> of diesel fuel in Laos, with an abun‐ dance of biomass from agricultural residues (rice husk and livestock manure) and forestry residues (firewood, sawdust, off cuts and woodchips). The author did not elaborate on the conversion efficiency and the heating values which were assumed for these calculations.

by the commercial sector are still under research and development (R & D). They concluded that with the use of palm biomass Malaysia can become a major renewable energy contribu‐ tor in the world and become a role model to other countries having huge biomass feedstock.

Potential and Use of Bioenergy in The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Countries – A Review

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/51917

29

The Government introduced the "National Biofuel Policy" in 2006 to reduce the huge de‐ mand for transport fuel that concentrates on five strategic thrusts: biofuel for transport, bio‐ fuel for industry, biofuel technologies, biofuel export and biofuel for a cleaner environment. Early 2006 saw the launch of B5 (Envodiesel) blended diesel with 5% locally refined, bleach‐ ed and deodorized (RBD) palm olein however this product was abandoned in 2008 when engine manufacturers decided to stop the use of Envodiesel as it clogs the engine in the long run. Therefore, B5 (Envodiesel) palm oil methyl esters with 5% blend of diesel that meets the European Union (EU) standards was targeted for export. For marketing any biodiesel re‐ quires certification from the engine manufacturers as fuel as was done in Brazil that uses vast agricultural resources and opted for a different fuel system known as flex-fuel engine to adapt to biothanol (E85). The flex-fuel engines can burn any proportion of blend in the com‐ bustion chamber through electronic sensors which sense as soon as fuel is injected and ad‐ just ignition time. However, for biodiesel not a single modified vehicle patent has been developed so far. The researchers suggested that Malaysian car manufacturers look into the improvement in a diesel engine that includes modifications on fuel supply system so that biodiesel developed in Malaysia can also be used in the country [46]. Goh and Lee [47] stat‐ ed that a palm based biofuel refinery could provide an alternative for Malaysia as a reliable energy supply. With the full use of palm biomass 35.5% of national energy consumption can

A renewable energy feed-in-tariffs (FiT) to support generation of green electricity in the country was introduced by the Malaysian Government under the 10th Malaysian plan which includes all renewable energy technologies, differentiates tariffs by technology, and drives the tariffs based cost of the generation. In the proposal it is also suggested that the FiT pro‐ gramme would add 2% to the average electricity price in the country. Under such a system, electricity generated from renewable energy resources is paid a premium price for delivery to the grid and an exemption for a rise in electricity costs in available for low-income con‐ sumers [48]. Chua et al. [49] reported on the feed-in-tariff (FiT) outlook in Malaysia and claimed that this process can lead to a stable investment environment that can generate the development of renewable energy deployment in the country. They quoted the examples of Germany, Spain and Thailand who adopted this process successfully and created more em‐ ployment, a great investment market and security as it is renewable and helps in reduction of GHG emission. Biomass and biogas including solid waste are expected to be continued as the main sources of renewable energy for the next 20 years. A Municipal solid waste (MSW) of approximately 17,000 tonnes per day throughout the country has been handled by the lo‐ cal authorities and waste management consortia. The largest source of MSW are domestic waste (49%) followed by industrial waste(24%), commercial/institutional (16%), construction (9%) and municipal (2%). It is expected that approximately 9 mil tonnes of MSW will be pro‐ duced a year by 2020 and the potential of renewable energy generation through waste dis‐ posal in Malaysia is extremely high. There are 150 landfill sites in operation that are

be secured using a land area of only 8% of current palm cultivation.

A vigorous growth of bamboo is reported in the northern part of Laos that traditionally can be used for construction and handicraft to food and feed. A recent study attributed to bam‐ boo a high potential as a biomass resource for biofuels or fiber, giving a rough review on the potential of three varieties of Japanese origin grown in USA [42]. Northern Laos is consid‐ ered to be one of the most under-researched regions of the globe and requires further scien‐ tific research to investigate bamboo's properties as a biofuel crop.

Lao has only one registered CDM project and another is at its validation stage. The country has a huge potential of CDM projects in forestry but it still has long way to go for capitaliz‐ ing on the CDM opportunities [3].
