Electricity in Thailand: current arrangements, impacts, alternatives

1. Electricity in Thailand:current arrangements, impacts, alternatives 27 June, 2007 ERI Chom Greacen Chris Greacen www.palangthai.org

2. Will our electricity future look like this?

3. …or this?

4. … or this?

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Thailand seen from altitude of 450 kilometers Khao Laem dam reservoir Sri Nakharin dam reservoir Burma

11. Thailand seen from 54 kilometers Sri Nakharin dam reservoir

12. Khao Laem dam resettlement • "We had to spend all of our compensation for living, and it wasn't enough, actually. The condition of the land here and my previous land is very different...I miss the fertile resources. Our ancestors did rice farming for ages. But now I cannot grow rice and have to buy it, which is also very expensive ... If I could ask the officials for one thing, I would like to ask, 'Please can I return to where I was?'" • Panya Kwanprasertwaree, a Karen elder who was forced to move because of the dam

13. 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 250,000 years.

14. Thai Electricity demand is projected to grow

15. What should be done to make sure that there is enough electricity? Industry response… • Natural gas interests say: • “Use more gas!” • “It’s clean(er).” • Coal interests say: • “Use more coal” for fuel diversity • “Clean” coal • “It’s cheaper” • Hydropower interests say: • “New dams in Lao and Burma!” • Asian Development Bank GMS grid • “Big hydro for poverty reduction!” • “It’s cheap” • Nuclear advocates say: • It’s cheap! (contested) • No green house gases!

16. What should be done to make sure that there is enough electricity? ADB/World Bank response… ADB’s Indicative Master Plan on Power Interconnect-ion in the GMS

17. Civil society response… • Fix governance problems • Transparency, accountability, public participation • Remove conflict of interest • Set up empowered, competent regulatory authority • More realistic demand projections • Consider a full range of alternatives in power development plan including: • Energy savings • Renewable energy • Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

18. Fix governance problems: Transparency, accountability, public participation

19. Fix governance problems: Remove conflict of interest • Example: transmission shouldn’t be controlled by the same business that owns generation.

20. Fix governance problems: regulatory authority • Independent • Able to think for itself • Competent in working for public interest • Public wants reliable, affordable energy without environmental impacts • Empowered • Has authority to enforce the rules

21. 13 out of 14 official base case forecasts predicted demand that failed to materialize

22. Demand growth has been close to linear over the past 20 years…

23. … but “official forecasts” assume exponential growth

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

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

26. Options that need to be included

27. Options that need to be included • Saving energy

28. Options that need to be included • Saving energy • Renewable energy

29. Options that need to be included • Saving energy • Renewable energy • Combined heat and power (CHP)

30. Centralized utility(EGAT) Decentralized utility(A better way) Central Generation Central Generation Wind RemoteLoads Genset Fuel Cell Battery PV Customer Efficiency Customers 30

31. Saving electricity is cheaper than generating it… Demand Side Management (saving electricity) Source: The World Bank (1993)

32. Saving Energy : big potential in Thailand • 2000 to 3000 MW: “Achievable and cost effective Demand Side Management (DSM)” in 1991 (Utility study)

33. Saving energy in the house: Using overhangs, trees to keep house cool South ที่มา : Australian Greenhouse Office (2003)

34. Saving Energy in a typical pumping system

35. Source: Presentation by Ministry of Energy at Energy Strategy Workshop chaired by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. 28 August 2003

36. Rice husk fired power plant • 9.8 MW • Roi Et province • Subsidy 0.3 baht/kWh

37. 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 • Subsidy 0.3 baht/kWh

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

39. Community micro-hydro • Mae Kam Pong village, Chiang Mai • 1x40 kW; 2x20 kW • Community cooperative • Subsidy 0.4 to 0.8 baht/kWh

40. Wind energy • Power Potential “1,600 MW” • Wind speeds still not well characterized • Projects in planning phase 5 to 30 MW in southern gulf provinces • Subsidy 2.5 baht/kWh

41. Grid-Connected Solar Electricity • Subsidy 8 baht/kWh • 68 projects on-line generating >1 MW • Several big projects planned > 7 MW additional Tesco Lotus 460 kW grid-connected PV Rama I, Bangkok 8 kW grid-connected Honda Automobile Co., Bangkok

42. Off-grid handouts • 230,000 solar home systems • >900 solar battery charging stations • >60 community micro-hydropower systems

44. Renewable energy accounts for very little of Thailands’ total electricity production Source: (EPPO) 2007

45. Combined Heat and Power (CHP)… also called “cogeneration”

46. CHP potential in Thailand • 8610 MW cogen installed as of 2001 • At least 3,000 MW of additional cogen had applied and have not been accepted.

47. Summary of alternatives • Energy saving 2000 to 3000 MW • Renewables > 3000 MW • Cogeneration > 3000 MW • Total peak load in Thailand (2007): around 22,600 MW

48. Civil society response… • Fix governance problems • Transparency, accountability, public participation • Remove conflict of interest • Set up empowered, competent regulatory authority • More realistic demand projections • Consider a full range of alternatives in power development plan including: • Energy savings • Renewable energy • Combined Heat and Power

49. Let’s work together… • Are you interested in looking at clean energy options in your country? • Are you motivated, self-reliant, willing to ask tough questions? • Mekong Energy and Climate Network (MECN) forming 2008…

50. Your comments and questions are welcome! Palang Thai Tel. 02-672-0364 chom@palangthai.org chris@palangthai.org sheila@palangthai.org nee@palangthai.org www.palangthai.org