Chris & Chom Sangarasri Greacen No more surgeries by flashlight solar power for jungle clinics in Burma and other tales of green energy from South East Asia. Green Empowerment Palang Thai Chris & Chom Sangarasri Greacen Lopez Library 12 May, 2005

Palang Thai พลังไท พลัง (palang): n 1. Power. 2. Empowerment. ไท (thai): adj. 1. Independence. 2. Self-reliance We are a small Thailand-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering grassroots communities and small entrepreneurs to use environmentally responsible energy in ways that support sustainable development and participatory democracy. Geograhic area: Mekong region (Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam)

Palang Thai พลังไท Public interest energy policy analysis Critical appraisal of large electricity infrastructure plans Political economy of energy sector Grid connected renewable energy Thai net metering project Community energy Burma sustainable energy project (including medical clinics for IDPs) Thai village micro-hydro

Green Empowerment Portland Oregon-based non-governmental organizations (NGO) Works with local and international NGOs and rural communities to implement community-based renewable energy Provides training, technical, organizational, public relations, and fundraising support Works in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Philippines

Outline “No more surgeries by flashlight”: solar electricity for Karen clinics on Burma side of border (2003-present) Micro-hydro for Karen villages in Thailand (2002-present) Border Green Energy Team (2005-)

“No more surgeries by flashlight”: solar electricity for Karen clinics on Burma side of border

1 minute political history of contemporary Burma Independence in 1947 15 years of elected parliament and democracy hampered by ethnic unrest, lack of unity and economic troubles 1962 Burmese military coup staged by General Ne Win. Ne Win creates policy to wipe out the ethnic opposition groups that were in conflict with the central government, and were struggling to assert their own identities and cultures. 1970s Ne Win introduces the 'Four Cuts' program: Cut off food, information, recruits and financial support to armed ethnic opposition groups. The policy has mostly affected the villagers that live in the ethnic border areas. Burma became independent from the British in 1947. This was followed by 15 years of elected parliament and democracy that were hampered by ethnic unrest, lack of unity and economic troubles. In 1962 the Burmese military took power in a coup staged by General Ne Win. Ne Win created the Burma Socialist Programme Party and a policy to wipe out the ethnic opposition groups that were in conflict with the central government, and were struggling to assert their own identities and cultures. In the 1970s Ne Win went even further and introduced the 'Four Cuts' program - an attempt to cut off food, information, recruits and financial support to armed ethnic opposition groups. The policy has mostly affected the villagers that live in the ethnic border areas. Source: dev.witness.org/

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Burma Driven from their homes by the actions of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC – Burma’s military government) yet still living within the borders of Burma. SPDC inflicts forced relocations, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, rape, village destruction, forced labor and portering. Victims are generally ethnic minorities (Karen, Karenni, Shan, etc.) Up to 2 million IDPs in Burma Little access to heath care, education, peace of mind Burma became independent from the British in 1947. This was followed by 15 years of elected parliament and democracy that were hampered by ethnic unrest, lack of unity and economic troubles. In 1962 the Burmese military took power in a coup staged by General Ne Win. Ne Win created the Burma Socialist Programme Party and a policy to wipe out the ethnic opposition groups that were in conflict with the central government, and were struggling to assert their own identities and cultures. In the 1970s Ne Win went even further and introduced the 'Four Cuts' program - an attempt to cut off food, information, recruits and financial support to armed ethnic opposition groups. The policy has mostly affected the villagers that live in the ethnic border areas. Source: dev.witness.org/

-- IDP interviewed in documentary, "No Place to Go" They came and destroyed our rice paddies and properties, and in the rainy season they killed one of my nieces on the hill. They came to ask us to be porters, and if you don't want to do it, you have to run away and they destroy your things. -- IDP interviewed in documentary, "No Place to Go" Mergui – Tavoy District, Burma Members of the Karen ethnic minority living in the vicinity of this road project are not only forced to provide labor for its construction but also to finance it. Over the past five years, Burmese military authorities have extorted an estimated 50,000,000 Kyat (50,000 $US) from Karen civilians in Township “X” for the road’s construction, thus earning the project the ignominious title “the 50,000,000 Kyat road” among the local population.

Ler Per Heh (IDP location site) was burned down by the DKBA combined with SPDC troops. (Source: KNU Department of Information, 2003) . http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs/HRDU2003-04/Photos%20of%20Forced%20Relocation.htm

                                                                Ler Per Heh mobile clinic after having burned down. (Source: KNU Department of Information, 2003)

Ler Per Heh school after burned down. (Source: DOI 2003)

The SPDC soldiers entered and destroyed everything and burned down the village. They burned down all the houses in the village and ate all the chickens, pigs and goats. -- Internally displaced man interviewed in "No Place to Go"

These villagers are hiding from SPDC military troops in the jungle.                                                           These villagers are hiding from SPDC military troops in the jungle.    (Source: Burma Issues, 2003)

                                                              The villagers crossing the Moei River into Thailand. (Source: Burma Issues, 2003

It's getting more and more difficult It's getting more and more difficult. Last year, we were living somewhere else and this year we are living here... I just want to live in my own place and have my own lands... I used to have my own home and live my own life with my family. --- Old man interviewed in "No Place to Go"

Treatment of a land mine victim. (Source: Free Burma Rangers, 2003) Medical care is a huge problem. The only service for many is provided by brave backpack medics who travel from village to village with medicines in their backpacks. These medics are trained by a group of US doctors coordinated throuhg an organization called Global Health Access Program (GHAP) (www.ghap.org). Sometimes there are simple jungle clinics. We have been working with these to provide solar lighting

Ruggedized solar electric systems built by medics in 3-5 day hands-on trainings

Thus far… 3 trainings (2003, 2004, 2005) 18 clinics 40 medics trained

Micro-hydro for Karen villages in Thailand

Micro-hydroelectricity This diagram shows the main components of stand-alone micro-hydroelectric systems of the type used in remote villages in Thailand. A small weir diverts water to a power canal or pipe. After traveling horizontally some distance, the water enters a forebay where sediment settles, and then falls down a steep, high pressure penstock pipe to drive a turbine located in the powerhouse. Water returns to the river via the tailrace. Because these projects are quite small and typically have little or no reservoir, environmental impact is much less than for conventional hydroelectric projects. Source: Inversin, A. R. (1986). Micro-Hydropower Sourcebook.

Kre Khi village micro-hydro 2003

20 liters/second 8 meters head 110 meter of 6” pipe

Kre Khi village Microhydro Estimated power: 500 Watts Head: 8 meters Flow: 20 liters/second Total Installed cost: $2500

E Wi Jo village micro-hydro 2004

E Wi Jo village microhydro Estimated power: 750 Watts Head: 20 meters Flow: 20 liters/second Total installed cost: <$2000

Border Green Energy Team 2005 onward

Thai government solar home program 14:00 Sa Ke Kla village

Thai government solar home program 205,000 solar home systems installed by 2006 Budget at least US$200,000,000 (taxpayer funded) No program to address sustainability No trainings for villagers on how to use solar home systems No information provided to villagers about equipment warranty Nowhere to turn to if there are problems

Problems observed (n=105 systems, 3-5 months after installation 7% failure) Manufacturing defect Missing connector in module junction box (1 system) Diode with wrong polarity in module j-box (1 system) Controller/inverter early failure (2 systems) Installation defect PV installed in shaded location (several systems) Controller installed under leaky roof (1 systems) User error Bypass broken controller (several systems) Bypassed wrong -- reverse polarity burns diode (1 system) Inverter destroyed by paralleling output of 2 inverters (2 systems) Difficulty making warranty claim Villagers do not know who to contact when system breaks under warranty

Solar electric training 17-23 Feb, 2005 Mae Sa Pau village, Tak Province

Training: solar site selection

Training: operations and maintenance

Retrofit/repair broken PEA SHS

Repair broken DEDE battery charging station

Border Green Energy Team Hire & train local technicians Teach Thai villagers how to keep solar electric systems from failing early Battery recycling program System repair Warranty service Use Thai solar home systems as hands-on classroom Thai technicians refugee vocational students medics from inside Burma Community systems microhydro solar clinics, schools, community centers both sides of the border.

Border Green Energy Team Green Empowerment International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) Karen Health and Welfare Department Karen Network Palang Thai Taipei Oversees Peace Service ZOA refugee vocational training

We’re able to do this through generosity of our donors… Individual Donors Contributions directly to Palang Thai Contributions to Green Empowerment (501.c3) Foundations Heinrich Boll Foundation (German Green Party) The Ashden Trust for Renewable Energy Switzer Environmental Foundation (USA) Bangkok American Women’s Club

Thank you! For more information contact: Tel. (+011) 662-674-2533 chris@palangthai.org www.palangthai.org Download presentation slides& documents at: http://www.palangthai.org/docs/index

Source: EGAT (2003). Power Development Plan Renewables account for very little of Thailands’ installed generating capacity 0.6% grid-connected renewables Big hydro lignite Fuel oil Natural gas TOTAL: 26,000 MW Source: EGAT (2003). Power Development Plan

Estimated renewable energy potential in Thailand Resource Technical potential (MW) Commerical Potential (MW) Year 2011 Government targets (MW) Biomass Solar PV Wind Micro- & Mini- hydro 7,000 >5,000 1,600 700 >4,500 ? 350? 1140 250 100 350 Total >14,000 >4,800 1840 Biomass commercially viable 3727 MW (from Black & Veatch 2000 and NEPO/DANCED 1998) as well as interviews with power plant managers. Biogas additional 300+50+30+15 = 385. Source: Technical potential and Targets from Thai Ministry of Energy. (2003).“Energy Strategy for Competitiveness” http://www.eppo.go.th/admin/moe-workshop1/index.html. Commercial potential from from Black & Veatch 2000 and NEPO/DANCED 1998 as well as interviews with power plant managers.

Biogas from Pig Farms Reduces air and water pollution Produces fertilizer Produces electricity Biogas from Pig Farms

Biogas from Pig Farms 5000 pigs  $31 / day elec.

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 Earns high market returns Developer estimates 300 MW from waste water + 800 MW from wet cake

Korat Waste to Energy - biogas 3 x 1 MW Jenbacher gas generators

Community micro-hydro Mae Kam Pong village, Chiang Mai 40 kW Community cooperative Expected gross revenues: $750/month

40 kW micro-hydro generator at Mae Kam Pong