The research is led by AIT, Thailand and Loughborough University, UK. The objectives of the research are to design and develop waste management practices and a business model for the community to promote turning food waste into energy with the help of online monitoring and control systems. Globally, approximately 1.6 billion tons a year of food waste is produced by human consumption. In Thailand, more than 9.3 million tons of food waste is produced per year. Food waste produces a large quantity of methane which has the potential to cause 23 times more global warming than carbon dioxide. The research was tested at AIT where the food waste was able to power more than 1,000 light bulbs for 12 hours and could also be used as a digestate for bio-fertiliser. Decentralised Anaerobic Digestion can turn the food waste into biogas at the rate of 100 m3 per day which is equal to 73 kg of charcoal, and is able to be controlled remotely and monitored at real time, either from the UK or Thailand. This is the first time that researchers under the Newton Fund project launched the innovation after receiving funding from the Institutional Links project in 2015.
Chanya Tangsuk, Head of Higher Education and Science states: "Research and innovation not only help solve environmental problems we are facing but also help improve social welfare. We are delighted to see this research achievement under the Newton Fund using expertise from the United Kingdom and Thailand".
Parinand Varnasavang, Policy Specialist, National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office states: "STI supports the Newton Fund to foster links between Thailand and the UK. The project benefits the community as a whole, contributing to sustainable development".
About British Council
The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government.
We have been in Thailand since 1952 and currently established six offices in Thailand; five in Bangkok and one Chiang Mai. We are committed to developing relationships between UK and Thailand and creating opportunity through our work English, education, examinations, the arts and society.
For more information, please visit www.britishcouncil.or.th
About Newton Fund
The Newton Fund builds scientific and innovation partnerships with emerging power countries to support their economic development and social welfare, and to develop their research and innovation capacity for long-term sustainable growth. It has a total UK Government investment of GBP735 million up until 2021, with matched resources from the partner countries.
British Council Thailand is one of the delivery partners of Newton Fund working with leading science agencies in Thailand, including The National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI), which supported Institutional Links programme.
About the "Decentralised Anaerobic Digestion for Energy and Resource Recovery" research
by AIT Thailand and Loughborough University, UK http://biogas-from-waste.lboro.ac.uk/