Today, energy has been so integrated into human activities that humans tend to use energy from the time they wake up till the time they go into bed. Energy is thus extremely important. However, energy from fossil sources (combustible geologic deposits of organic materials) has dwindled in number and its price has climbed up. The oil price has also been volatile at times when coupled with other factors, insecurity problems in the Middle East – which is the world's main petroleum production base – erupt. At the same time, economic growth in countries across the world continues to drive up the energy demand.
In the face of such situation, the governments of many countries have dedicated their research-and-development efforts to alternative energy and have promoted its use. The purposes are to ensure energy security and to prevent economic slowdown, which may happen if the soaring oil price seriously affects the production and transportation cost.
Because gasohol and biodiesel are derived from agricultura produce like sugarcane, cassava and crude palm oil, they have received widespread attention all over the world. With not just an ability to ensure energy security, the gasohol and biodiesel can also reduce a country's dependence on imported oil and trade deficit thus saving foreign currency for the country. Moreover, the use of gasohol and biodiesel responds to HM the King Bhumibol Adulyadej's initiative about self-reliance and his "Sufficiency Economy" philosophy.
As a country with dedicated attention to alternative energy, Thailand has developed clear strategies, implementation plans and guidelines about how to promote the use of alternative energy. Also, it has designated 2006 as "Year of Alternative Energy" with extensive campaigns encouraging people to embrace the alternative. In recognition for His Majesty’s initiatives about alternative energy, the designation also aims to honor His Majesty on the auspicious occasion of the 60th Anniversary of His Accession to the Throne. For more than 20 years, His Majesty has conducted researches to develop the production of alcohol fuel from sugarcane and production of biodiesel from used vegetable oils and palm oil in his Suan Chitralada project. This project is intended to reduce the problems from crop oversupply and energy shortage in the future.
People have become increasingly familiar with alternative energy today. As for alternative fuel, they can be divided into two categories based on their sources. The first one is fuel from non-renewable sources like coal, natural gas, nuclear, oil shale and tar sand. The second category is fuel from renewable sources such as sunlight, wind, biomass, water and hydrogen. As these alternatives are inconsistently scattered in natural sources, investments to acquire such alternative fuel for the electricity generating is higher than for petroleum, coal, etc.
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