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Farm Uses Biogas-fueled Gensets for Cost-efficient Power
Customer: Nong Rai Farm
Location: Rayong, Thailand
Scope of engine use: Cat® G3406, G3306
Cat Dealer: Metro Machinery Co., Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand
A Cat® G3406 Gas Generator Set (105 kW), a Cat® G3306 Gas Generator Set (70 kW)
Granja Nong Rai partners with the CP Group, one of the largest food suppliers in Thailand, operates a feeder operation for more than 30,000 hogs in Rayong, Thailand.
The installation of the Caterpillar electric power system had two goals: to reduce the costs of electricity and to use the existing biogas sources at the Nong Rai farm.
Power Need
Nong Rai Farm was seeking a means of tapping its biogas resources to fuel electrical generators for on-site power. The farm partners with the CP Group, one of the largest food suppliers in Thailand, operates a feeder operation for more than 30,000 hogs in Rayong, Thailand. Nong Rai Farm consumes approximately 200 kW of power for blowers, drying systems, and other auxiliary needs associated with its operations. The manure produced by its hogs is piped into a digester pond, where it generates biogas that is used to fuel the generator sets. The generators produce power sufficient for all of Nong Rai Farm's electric power requirements.
Nong Rai Farm selected Caterpillar generator sets because of the anticipated long-term benefits of using their high-quality and reliable generator sets over other, low-cost gas generators, often modified from automotive engines. While Nong Rai Farms recognized that the initial investment in Caterpillar biogas-fueled generator sets would higher, it was confident that the long-range savings associated with a reliable, durable platform would be significant. As the generator sets would be running continuously, it was important to work with a supplier that could provide guidance on engine care and also have parts available in a timely manner when necessary. Caterpillar was chosen because of its reputation for quality power generating equipment and extensive field validation of similar units operating on methane gas. Another consideration was its capability to provide local service and technical support for the installation through its factory-trained design and maintenance personnel at Metro Machinery Co., Ltd, in Bangkok. In addition, the dealership possessed the experience and expertise necessary for both commissioning and maintaining power projects utilizing ag-biogas.
Solution
Metro Machinery Co., Ltd., installed two biogas-fueled Caterpillar generator sets at Nong Rai Farm. These gas generator sets are capable of producing a total of nearly 200 kW. In addition, control panels and automatic transfer switches were installed to ensure that the power generated is distributed reliably and efficiently. This project exemplifies sustainable development. It involves the capture of a waste gas, circumventing the harmful effects on the environment associated with methane migration. Furthermore, any energy created by the methane conversion in the generator set offsets the emissions that would be created if power was supplied by a standard coal-fired facility.
Results
Installation of the Caterpillar power system was designed to cut costs for electricity as well as utilize existing on-site biogas resources at Nong Rai Farm; it has met both of these goals. The Nong Rai Farm installation was completed in mid-2005 and has been operating successfully since it came online. Not only is the Nong Rai Farm power plant meeting all of the farm's electric power needs, it is saving the farm approximately 2.8 million baht annually that would have otherwise been spent purchasing electricity from the local power grid.
