1. Renewable Energy for conviviality: some experiences from Thailand
Chris Greacen
Palang Thai
Eco-Village Training
20 December 2007
Mu Ban Dek, Kanchanburi

2. Palang Thai พลังไท We teach hands-on energy technology
พลัง (palang): n 1. Power. 2. Empowerment.
ไท (thai): adj. 1. Independence. 2. Self-reliance
We teach hands-on energy technology
We draft policies
We critique wasteful & dangerous mega-projects
1:20 Palang Thai is a husband & wife non-profit. The name Palang Thai is kind of a play on words. Palang has two meanings in Thai language – “power” in the sense of energy, but also “empowerment” in the sense of empowerment of groups of people. “Thai” also has two connotations. It sounds like the “thai” in Thailand, but spelled this way in Thai script it actually means “independence” or “self-reliance”. In practice, we work to ensure that changes that are happening in the region’s energy industry support rather than erode social and environmental justice.
We teach hands-on technical skills to local people to build, operate, and repair clean energy alternatives
We draft policies so that small green energy options can compete on a level playing field with conventional fossil fuel options
We scrutinize the economic appraisal of mega projects.

3. Conviviality Con: “with” Vivre: “life”
There is enough for our needs. There is not enough for our greed.
Renewable energy is not enough… we need to address consumption

4. Conviviality Con: “with” Vivre: “life”
As individuals, as communities, as a species… how can we live in harmony with nature/divine?
There is enough for our needs. There is not enough for our greed.
Renewable energy is not enough… we need to address consumption

5. Conviviality Con: “with” Vivre: “life”
As individuals, as communities, as a species… how can we live in harmony with nature/divine?
"Nature has enough for our need, but not enough for our greed." -- Ghandi

6. Renewable energy is not enough… we need to address consumption
Conviviality
Con: “with”
Vivre: “life”
As individuals, as communities, as a species… how can we live in harmony with nature/divine?
"Nature has enough for our need, but not enough for our greed.“
Renewable energy is not enough… we need to address consumption

7. What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable: harnesses energy flows in nature in ways that do not deplete those flows.
Fossil: use it, and it is gone…

9. Global Warming กรีนแลนด์ บริเวณขั้วโลกเหนือ Ice melting areas
Albedo Effect
กรีนแลนด์ บริเวณขั้วโลกเหนือ
Power sector accounts for 38% of global CO2 emissions
Ice melting areas
Source of picture: bbc.co.uk

10. Natural gas
Used to make 71% of Thailand’s electricity (among highest in world)
Cleaner than other fossil fuels (especially SOx) but still big CO2 emissions
Limited domestic supply.
Human rights issues in pipeline from Burma (Yadana)
Used to make 71% of Thailand’s electricity (among highest in world)
Source: Eamrungroj, S. (2006). Natural Gas Market and Transmission Pipelines Updates. Thai Power 2006, Sukhothai Hotel, Bangkok.
Limited domestic supply. To meet just 40% of new capacity requirements (year ), PTT forecasts that Thailand will need:
LNG regassification terminal
Increased imports from Burma/Cambodia Source: Lucarelli, B. (2006). Thailand's Power Sector Outlook, Challenges and Prospects - Private Investor's Perspective. Thai Power 2006, Sukhothai Hotel, Bangkok.
LNG terminal

11. Natural gas Severe price volatility – linked to crude oil price.
Now around $0.05 to $0.07 / kWh

12. Coal Used to make 14% of Thailand’s electricity
History of respiratory illnesses from coal smoke – Mae Mot, Lampang
Acid rain
Worst fuel for global warming
Limited domestic supply
Cheaper (now) than natural gas ($0.04 to $0.06/kWh)
Strong environmental opposition

13. Big hydro Used to make 6% of Thailand’s electricity
Consensus: no more big dams will be built in Thailand
Limited sites left in Thailand
Strong environmental opposition
Environmental issues
Inundation
Fish killed
Global warming
Changes in temperature / sediment loading / flow regime
Can be cheap
If reasonably close to load centers

14. Nuclear In 2007 PDP starting year 2020 Cost uncertain
$0.02 to $0.12/kWh
Environment & security issues
Generates materials that can be used to make weapons
Thailand has spotty nuclear safety record already
Waste dangerous for thousands of years.

15. Typical electricity source in remote areas: diesel
Diesel is expensive – 15 baht/kWh or more. Here’s a typical (dirty) diesel in a village application.

16. Can we imagine something different?

17. Renewables worldwide
Source: Martinot 2007.
About 20% of all power sector investment is now in renewables

18. 0.037% of Thailand area  100% peak load (22,586 MW)
Solar
TESCO Lotus, Rama I,
460 kWp, Cost: 75,165,000 baht
13.7 km
13.7 km
0.037% of Thailand area  100% peak load (22,586 MW)
I’ll start with the most expensive technology – since it’s still quite interesting.
The solar market world-wide is growing at an amazing pace – about 60% per year. It used to be that it was mostly off-grid systems (blue), but in the past few years the on-grid market has taken over. All of these installations are offsetting pollution from centralized power plants.
Does Thailand have good solar resource? Just for fun, it’s easy to calculate how much of Thailand’s area covered in solar panels would power the whole country. A solar array 14 km x 14 km could power all of Thailand’s peak electricity demands -- only 0.037% of Thailand’s land area. The peak happens during the middle of the hottest weekday of the year.
(you’d have to figure out how to power the country at night).
Of course, it makes more sense to put panels on tops of roofs… Here’s an example just a few km from us – on top of the Tesco Lotus at Rama I.
World-wide
2006: 6,000 MWp cumulative
2007: >9,000 MWp cumulative
The fastest growing energy technology in the world is grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV), growing by 60% per year from 2000–2004.

19. Solar 3 kW = 660,000 baht Thai population: 65,069,000
There is more than enough rooftops in the country to power Thailand’s peak load. Here’s a photo of a typical 3 kW solar electric system sold in Thailand. If one of these was installed on 58% of Thai households, it could produce enough electricity to meet Thailand’s peak load. They’re expensive, though.
Thai population: 65,069,000
Person per household: 5
Households: 13,014,000
System size: 3 kW
If 58% of households  100% of peak load
VSPP subsidy: 8 baht / kWh

20. Thai solar home systems
The Thai government last year started a massive solar home system program, providing a solar panel and battery for each unelectrified household in the country. There’s over 203,000 systems, installed at a cost to tax payers of about $200 million. These systems have had some sustainabilty problems because equipement that was used was not that good. But it represents an admirable effort nonetheless.
203,000 solar home systems
Sustainability challenge

21. Ruggedized solar electric systems built by Karen medics in 3-5 day hands-on trainings
9 trainings ( )
>100 medics trained
37 clinics
There are also a handful of primitive medical clinics. One small part of the medical challenges in the area is that there is no electricity. We provide ruggedized solar electric systems that provide lights for nighttime procedures, as well as power to charge radio batteries. We also provide 3-5 day trainings on how to build, manage and repair the systems.

22. (0.25) Here medics are setting a solar electric system up in a remote clinic. Patients treated in a clinic with solar electricity we provided.

23. Solar for computer training centers in seven Karen refugee camps
1 kW PV hybrid with diesel generator
Each powers 12 computers
Solar now powers computer training centers in seven refugee camps.

24. Wind Thai wind potential: 1600 MW (?)
Hundreds of watts to 5 MW per turbine
Now over 18,000 MW in Germany
Denmark gets >17% electricity from wind
At windy site, US 5 cents/kWh (1.65 baht/kWh)
In Thailand: 6 baht/kWh (?)
VSPP subsidy: 2.5 baht/kWh (3.5?)
1 MW = 35,000,000 baht
Wind energy potential from Thai Ministry of Energy.
Cost internationally – US 5 cents/kWh

25. 28,530 MW = Thailand’s peak load in 2007
Installed in Thailand: 1 MW
Second fastest growing power source world wide. Grew by 28% per year, led by Germany, with over 18 GW installed as of 2005.

26. Wind energy – human scale
8,200 baht
17.7 baht/kWh
Thai wind pioneers build wind power themselves.

27. Wind for water pumping – salt farms

29. 5 m
1 m
4.5 m
6 m

30. 0.5 m

31. 2 m
0.3 m

32. Rice husk fired power plant
9.8 MW
Roi Et province
VSPP: Subsidy 0.3 baht/kWh

33. Korat Waste to Energy - biogas
Uses waste water from cassava to make methane
Produces gas for all factory heat (30 MW thermal) + 3 MW of electricity
3 x 1 MW gas generators
Adder 0.3 baht/kWh

34. Biogas from Pig Farms Reduces air and water pollution
Produces fertilizer
Produces electricity
8 x 70 kW generator
Ratchaburi
Subsidy: 0.3 baht/kwh
Biogas from Pig Farms

35. Rice husk gasifier
Rice mill in Nakorn Sawan
400 kW

36. Gasifier electricity from wood

37. Biodiesel

38. Efficient Charcoal

39. Micro-hydro technology
Micro-hydropower harnesses energy from falling water. Typically some water is diverted from a stream using a weir. Water is then transported by a channel or pipes to a powerhouse downstream where the pressurized water spins a turbine, generating electricity.
Source: Inversin, A. R. (1986). Micro-Hydropower Sourcebook.

40. Micro-hydro technology
Centrifugal
pump
Pelton
Turgo
Crossflow
Kaplan
There are many different types of turbines, and their use depends on the height drop and flow at the site. For small projects, it is also possible to use a centrifugal pump running backwards.
Installed cost is roughly baht 30,000 to 100,000 per kW.

41. Sell electricity to PEA – 400,000 baht/year VSPP subsidy: 0.8 baht/kWh
Thai Potential:
1000s of projects MW (?)
Micro-hydropower is suitable for both grid-connected and off-grid electricity. This 40 kW installation in Mae Kam Pong village in Chiang Mai province is producing electricity that is providing electricity to the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). Eventually revenues from electricity sales will go to the village micro-hydropower cooperative. The project produces about 400,000 baht per year worth of electricity.
Mae Kam Pong, Chiang Mai
DEDE + community
40 kW
4 million baht cost
Sell electricity to PEA – 400,000 baht/year
VSPP subsidy: 0.8 baht/kWh

42. Weir: 2 meters high, 15 meter wide Head: 55 meters Households: 190
This installation in Mae Kam Pong is not connected to the national grid. It provides electricity directly to about 190 village households. This installation is one of 60 built as a joint project between villagers and the DEDE.
20 kW (one pelton, one crossflow)
Weir: 2 meters high, 15 meters wide
Headrace: 300 mm concrete, 470 meters long
Penstock: 300 mm steel, 100 meters long
Head: 55 meters
Max flow: 120 liters/sec
Distribution system: 12 km
Transmission voltage: 3.5 kV
190 households
3.99 million baht. Finished in year 2526 (1983). 99,725 baht per kW
Mae Kam Pong, Chiang Mai
20 kW
Weir: 2 meters high, 15 meter wide
Head: 55 meters
Households: 190
Cost: 3.99 million baht
Constructed in year: 2526 (1983)

43. Huai Krating, Tak Power: 3 kW Head: 35 meter Flow: 20 liters/second
Thai Potential:
10,000s of projects – 10s MW (?)
Huai Krating, Tak
Power: 3 kW
Head: 35 meter
Flow: 20 liters/second
Cost: <200,000 baht
(turbine - 24,500 baht)
Constructed: 2548 (2005)
This is a much smaller installation – a 3 kW installation that uses a centrifugal pump running backwards as a turbine. The installation is at Huai Kra Thing village, Mae Ramat Amphur, in Tak Province. The pump’s motor is run backwards as a generator. This kind of installation requires some custom electronics, but works quite well. An advantage is that repairs to pumps are easy – Thai mechanics are familiar with pumps.
Huai Krating, Tak Province, Thailand
Power: 3 kW
Head: 35 meter
Flow: 20 liters/second
Cost: 200,000 baht

44. Kre Khi village, Tak Province 1 kW for school, clinic, church
Cost: <150,000
(turbine 10,000)
Head: 10 meters
Flow: 15 lit/sec
This is an even smaller installation – generating about 1 kW for a school, clinic, and community center in Kre Khi village, Tha Song Yang amphur, Tak Province. It uses a Chinese turgo, which is available for about 10,000 baht. It uses about 15 liters/second of water, and has a head of about 10 meters.

45. Mae Klang Luang, Chaing Mai 200 watts 5,000 baht (turbine: 3,000 baht)
Installed: 2550 (2007)
Head: 1.7 meters
This tiny installation generates 200 watts, and powers lights in a youth training center in Baan Klang Luang village, Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai. The turbine, purchased from Vietnam, cost 4,000 baht. It is powered by water falling about 1.7 meters.
3000 baht in Vietnam
2000 baht in Laos
200 watt

46. Hydraulic ram pump

47. Hydraulic ram pump

48. Solar cooking

49. Biogas for cooking

50. Solar water heating
A 160 liter solar water heating system (sufficient for 5-6 people) is available for 15,000 baht.

51. Thank you For more information, please contact chris@palangthai.org
This presentation available at:

52. 1) Remove bias in Thailand’s load forecasting

53. Demand growth has been linear over the past 20 years…
The R-square with a linear fit is extremely good –

54. … but “official forecasts” assume exponential growth

55. … so they always overestimate actual demand, building power plants that aren’t needed…
The red line is the actual peak. All the other lines are forecasts.

56. Power Development Plan
(Planned installed capacity = peak demand + 15% reserve)

57. 2) Consider clean, decentralized options on level playing field

58. Fuel mix in power generation
GWh
Import
Nuke RE
Gas
Coal
Lignite
Hydro

59. Saving electricity is cheaper than generating it
Demand Side Management (saving electricity)
1.5
Actual 10-year DSM average cost!!!
Source: The World Bank (1993)