Fuelwood use and the energy transition in the highlands of northern Thailand

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

OSTI ID:510584

Shinawatra, Benchaphun ^[1]; Krummel, J R ^[2]

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1. Chiang Mai Univ. (Thailand). College of Agriculture
2. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)

The continued use of fuelwood in the highlands of northern Thailand provided an environment to evaluate the opportunities, constraints, and trends of renewable energy use within a rapidly developing economy. In this study, we conducted detailed surveys and measurements of the fuelwood system in seven rural villages (368 households) in Wat Chan and Kae Noi, which are located northeast and north, respectively, of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Surveys and measurements addressed patterns in the following: the demand for and use of fuelwood; labor; traditional technologies and newer energy sources and technologies; social and cultural aspects of fuelwood collection and use; and household perceptions of the sustainability of fuelwood. Communities in the two study areas differed in the species of trees preferred, the household members involved in collection, and the access and use of alternative sources of energy. However, all households depended on fuelwood to supply a majority of their energy requirements. Average household consumption of fuelwood per year was 5,140 kg, but larger households used significantly less fuelwood per member than did smaller households. It may be expected.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Rockefeller Foundation, New York, NY (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 510584
• Report Number(s): ANL/EA/PP--86879; ON: DE97007881
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
COMBUSTION
DEMAND
FUEL CONSUMPTION
THAILAND
TREES
WOOD FUELS