Biodiesel in Thailand: Koh Tao

In the summer and fall of 2006 several CU Biodiesel directors went to Southern Thailand to work with local and foreign businesses to promote biodiesel use. This biodiesel project is part of a series of projects aimed at promoting sustainable development and practices in an isolated and fragile island ecosystem. CU Biodiesel members are working alongside local and foreign residents, as well as a non-profit organization and international university in order to bring environmental awareness and action to an area that has been developed rapidly and with little planning. The goals of this project are to

• Decrease human impacts on terrestrial and marine ecosystems through recycling and alternative energy use

• Educate the public on and promote sustainable development and environmental awareness

• Decrease dependence on unstable foreign oil sources while promoting and strengthening the local economy

Background

Koh Tao (Turtle Island) is a small island in the Gulf of Thailand which draws thousands of visitors every year for its beautiful beaches, dense jungles, panoramic mountain views, active lifestyles, and above all, breathtaking coral reefs. (map of Koh Tao) Tourism is the main source of income for the 21 square kilometer island, and most all business on Koh Tao are completely reliant upon the constant turnover of foreign visitors for survival. On a visit to Koh Tao, one is impressed by the amount of modern business and industries nestled next to completely pristine environments.

It was not until the 1980’s that divers and backpackers discovered Koh Tao, and it has been only in the last ten years that much of the development on Koh Tao has taken place. This development has occurred at an incredible pace and without much planning or oversight. Everywhere on the island new construction can be seen and one need only stay a short time to see entire virgin landscapes transformed into busy shops and restaurants. The economic boom that Koh Tao is currently experiencing may come at a great cost to its environments and their native inhabitants. Because the economy of Koh Tao is based on its beautiful landscapes and coral reefs, environmental destruction will mean economic collapse for the island. Already, local residents and longtime inhabitants have began noticing marked decreases in the health of terrestrial ecosystems, coral reefs, and marine animal populations. It was because of this that an international non-governmental organization, the Coastal Preservation and Devolpment Foundation (CPAD) began monitoring the island and acting to promote changes to halt what could be environmental devastation and economic collapse. Members from CU Biodiesel joined up with CPAD to work on promoting sustainability in many forms to stop this destruction before it is too late.

Memebers of CU Biodiesel felt that Koh Tao was an important location for the implementation of biodiesel for many reasons. First, all of the power supplied to Koh Tao is generated from diesel fuel. There is one main generator for the island that is operated by the local government, but it is expensive and notoriously unreliable. Many people and business on the island do not have access to this power source and are forced to operate their own diesel generators. Second, fresh water on the island comes mostly from ground water sources through the use of diesel powered well pumps. These pumps can be seen all over the island and are for the most part old and not well maintained, leaking fuel and oil into the ecosystems. A major source of income on Koh Tao is the long-tail boat industry. Long-tail boats are used as taxis to get from one part of the island to another, for snorkeling and sight-seeing trips around the island, and transportation to and from larger boats. These long-tail boats are for the most part diesel powered and reliant upon a fragile market that is greatly influenced by fuel costs. Dive shops are the most prominent and largest businesses on Koh Tao. A medium to large sized dive shop on Koh Tao uses about 8,000 liters (2,113 gallons) of diesel fuel per month to power boats, generators, and compressors. All of the diesel fuel used on Koh Tao must be shipped across the Gulf of Thailand by boat, adding to the inherent inefficiencies of fossil fuel use. All of these factors together amount to a massive amount of diesel fuel consumption every year, and many environmental problems that come with burning and improper storage of diesel fuel. In addition to the environmental damages caused by diesel fuel, the fragile economy of Koh Tao must be balanced on costly and unstable fuel prices.

Methods

CU Biodiesel and CPAD determined that waste vegetable oil recycling and biodiesel production were a vital step in slowing environmental degradation on Koh Tao. CU Biodiesel members worked with CPAD to organize waste vegetable oil collection with local restaurants and resorts to keep waste oil out of the reefs and water ways. This was the first step taken and important both for keeping the waste oil out of the ecosystems, and paving the way for biodiesel production. Collection containers are now in most of the large restaurants and resorts on Koh Tao and more establishments joining every week (Click here to see a list of participants). The next step was to demonstrate the ability of biodiesel and to educate the public on its use and benefits. Members produced small batches of biodiesel from a variety of feedstocks in order to spark interest and demonstrate use. Members also used this time to gain important connections and network with potential users. Biodiesel was first used in a water well pump owned by a long-tail captain, with positive results. Next, members produced 5 liters of fuel, 1 liter at a time due to the lack of a reactor and an almost non-existent budget. This biodiesel was used in a long-tail boat to demonstrate its ability as a replacement for petroleum diesel, once again with positive results. The goal of this demonstration was to spark enough interest to facilitate the funding of a biodiesel processor. The captain was greatly impressed by the fuels performance, but had goals for its use outside that of the CPAD and CU Biodiesel members. But, this demonstration was a success in that it proved to others that the fuel was safe for use and, more importantly, an improvement on petroleum diesel use.

At the same time, biodiesel members worked with a group of students from Mohidol International University on a variety of ecological projects ranging from waste disposal and roadside clean-ups to helping implement education programs in the local school. Members also hosted a biodiesel workshop with the students who then took a very large interest in biodiesel and oil recycling. Since that time more students from MUIC have come to Koh Tao and another workshop has been held. Workshops have also been held for local dive shops that focused not only on biodiesel, but also on solar ovens, recycling, and other general sustainable practices. We hope to continue these workshops as long as our members remain on Koh Tao as we have had very positive feedback and results. From these workshops we are now working with two local dive resorts, New Heaven and Black Tip, to build two processors on the island. The cost of the processors is covered by the dive shops and after construction they will be responsible for the use and maintenance of the processors. These processors will utilize the waste vegetable oil collected on Koh Tao while at the same time supplementing fossil fuel use and promoting biodiesel use on the island.

We will be returning to Koh Tao in the summer of 2007 to build a new reactor on Koh Tao that will run based upon co-op models from the US and Europe. This reactor will attempt to supplement fuel usage on the island, recycle used vegetable oil, and test the feasibility of biofuels in this unique environment. Contact cscott@cubiodiesel.org for more information or with funding and research opportunities.

Progress Thus Far

• Started construction on one reactor at New Heaven Restaurant utilizing waste vegetable oil collected on the island. This reactor will supplement fuel usage for New Heaven restaurant, Dive Shop, and Taxi service. It will also act as a pilot for larger, community based reactors to be constructed on the island with the CPAD Foundation.

• Started an oil collection program with the CPAD Foundation and local restaurants and resorts, to keep the oil out of the terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and pave the way for biodiesel implementation.

• Hosted two info sessions with the Asia Divers Instructor Development Class, 1 in September and 1 in October, to educate about the potential of biodiesel and spark interest in production.

• Hosted a ‘Making Biodiesel’ workshop at Asia Divers for instructors going to the Philippines and Indonesia to set-up dive shops. These instructors are now trying to implement biodiesel in their new homes and CU Biodiesel will be involved in consulting and designing a large part of these processors.

• Hosted a ‘Making Biodiesel’ workshop for Tah Toh Lagoon Dive Shop.

• Hosted a ‘Making Biodiesel/Renewable Energies’ workshop for members of Buddha View Dive Resort and the second group of students from Mohidol International University. Also worked with the students to implement environmental projects on Koh Tao.p>

• Conducted a short lecture and participated in an underwater trash clean-up with Black Tip Water Sports to celebrate their anniversary.

• Hosted a ‘Making Biodiesel’ workshop for Black Tip Water Sports, who is now in the design/materials collection phase of building a reactor.

• Hosted a ‘Making Biodiesel/Renewable Energies’ workshop for the first group of students from Mohidol International University and worked with the students to implement environmental and community awareness projects on Koh Tao.

• Participated in a trash clean-up/beatification project in Chalok Baan Kao.

• Distributed information in Thai and English to local restaurants in order to educate them on the positive aspects of biodiesel use and production.

• Proved biodiesel’s ability by testing on one diesel powered water pump and one long tail boat, both with positive results. Also, used biodiesel in table lamps, cooking stoves, and fire-dancing "pois"

• Spread the word about biodiesel and sparked interest by networking with local community members.

• Participated in a trash clean-up/beatification project in Chalok Baan Kao.

The Processor on Koh Tao is currently not running (as of November 2007) but members will be returning to Koh Tao in January of 2008 to rebuild the processor and create a Co-op on the island.

Waste Vegetable Oil Recycled to Date

555.25 Liters