Project News

A workshop on higher blending of biodiesel (H-FAME) for automotive utilization in ASEAN has successfully finished its 2 day agenda. It was co-organized by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), under the auspicious patronage of the Science and Technology Agency (JST) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in collaboration with partners from the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), namely the Thailand Institute of Scientific Technological Research (TISTR) and King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), with support from the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), the Isuzu Group and the Thai Oil Group.

On Thursday 17 September 2015, about 30 participants, including foreign delegates, researchers, and private sector representatives, visited the H-FAME (partially hydrogenated fatty acid methyl ester) reactor at TISTR to experience this innovative technology close-up.

On Friday 18 September 2015, about 120 participants from 8 countries, including government officers, researchers, and private sector representatives, attended a technical workshop with interactive information sharing and fruitful discussions, held at Centara Grand Ladprao, Bangkok.

The successful result of the recent on-road test conducted by the project, using palm H-FAME B20 blended fuel in an unmodified common-rail vehicle over 50,000km without any problem, was also shared at the workshop.

Aligned with the recently revised Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP: 2015-2036), which was approved by the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) headed by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday 17 September 2015, H-FAME, for the first time, was included as a potential fuel to increase the percentage blending of biodiesel. With information sharing from ASEAN countries, especially Indonesia and Malaysia, it is clear that a higher blend of biodiesel (more than the level of 7% that is currently accepted by automotive companies) has been successfully developed for near future implementation. Recent cooperative efforts between governments and the private sector from both the biodiesel and automotive industries have shined the light into necessary adjustments, if any, for acceptable high blending of biodiesel into diesel. This workshop has helped formulate strategies among ASEAN countries for a higher blend of biodiesel in the future.

Visit to H-FAME plant

Director-General of DEDE, Isuzu truck used for on-road test

Project partners

Panel discussion

Q&A