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KWTE is a company in Thailand that produces methane gas from the effluent stream of SWI, a cassava processing factory. Since SWI’s discharge consists of soluble and particular organic matter, it is suitable for anaerobic digestion. The factory uses the biogas produced by anaerobic digestion to directly replace the heavy oil previously used to power its boilers. The remaining gas is converted to electricity to replace a portion of the grid-supplied power that the factor consumes.   

The Need

Before switching to biogas, SWI consumed over US$2 million in electricity and US$1.6 million in heavy fuel oil per year, while discharging 6000 cubic meters of concentrated waste per day.  By using biogas to power its activities, the company is decreasing carbon dioxide emissions, saving money and solving its waste problem.

E+Co Value Added

E+Co’s loan was used to construct a pilot plant, where the anaerobic digestion would occur.  The organization also assisted in preparing the investment documents to raise $90,000 to complete the pilot plant and $3 million for construction of the full scale power plant. This project has significant environmental benefits in Thailand, and E+Co’s investment was critical to completing the activities necessary to generate funding to complete the project.  In 2007, KWTE was sold and E+Co received a 42% return on its initial equity investment.