TISTR in deal to make gas from wood

       Thai and Japanese scientists are looking at collaborating to produce an alternative energy source to fossil fuels by creating gas from wood.
       The Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR)signed a deal on Monday with Japanese energy firm Kansai Corporation to develop the "gasification" technology which produces gas from wood chips.
       Wood chips emit methane when heated to between 400 and 1,200C,said Wirachai Soontornrangsi, the TISTR researcher heading the project.
       "If we can operate a gasification plant on a commercial scale, we will have another renewable source of fuel for vehicles and electricity-generatin g systems," Mr Wirachai said.
       "It could help the country save bi g money on oil purchases."
       Thailand has plenty of materials,such as wood chips and biomass, that can be used to create methane via such a process, but it lacked technical skills.
       The TISTR has studied the technology for four years and now aims to produce methane commercially.
       Kansai's chief engineer, Hiroyuki Monobe, said the company had researched and developed gasification technology for many years.
       The technology uses a catalyst to produce the high temperatures required to create the methane, which produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other energy sources.
       "We have good technology but lac k the materials," Mr Monobe said."The Thai-Japanese cooperation is a perfect match for the gasification project, which is a promising source of energy to replace fossil fuels."