Renewable Energy for conviviality: some experiences from Thailand

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 Thaiพลังไท 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

3. Conviviality Con: “with” Vivre: “life”

4. Conviviality Con: “with” Vivre: “life” As individuals, as communities, as a species… how can we live in harmony with nature/divine?

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. 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. Ice melting areas Global Warming Albedo Effect กรีนแลนด์ บริเวณขั้วโลกเหนือ 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) 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

16. Can we imagine something different?

17. Renewables worldwide • About 20% of all power sector investment is now in renewables

18. 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) 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 • 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 203,000 solar home systems Sustainability challenge

21. Ruggedized solar electric systems built by Karen medics in 3-5 day hands-on trainings • 8 trainings (2003-2007) www.bget.org • >100 medics trained • 37 clinics

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

24. Wind • 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 Thai wind potential: 1600 MW (?)

25. 28,530 MW = Thailand’s peak load in 2007 • 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 http://natee2007.thaiza.com 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 • VSPP: Subsidy 0.3 baht/kWh

34. 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. Gasifierelectricity from wood

37. Biodiesel

38. Efficient Charcoal

39. Micro-hydro technology Source: Inversin, A. R. (1986). Micro-Hydropower Sourcebook.

40. Micro-hydro technology Centrifugal pump Pelton Turgo Crossflow Kaplan

41. Thai Potential: 1000s of projects - 700 MW (?) 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. Mae Kam Pong, Chiang Mai 2 @ 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. 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)

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

45. Mae Klang Luang, Chaing Mai 200 watts 5,000 baht (turbine: 4,000 baht) Installed: 2550 (2007) Head: 1.7 meters

46. Hydraulic ram pump www.agr.gc.ca

47. Hydraulic ram pump

48. Solar cooking

49. Biogas for cooking www.bget.org

50. Solar water heating