Chris Greacen “Energy is a human right”: Renewable energy on the Thai/Burma border Energy and Development Workshop Monterey Institute of International Studies Irvine Auditorium, McCone Hall May 7, 2010

Outline Thailand –Micro-hydropower –Solar home systems maintenance & repair –Refugee camp renewable energy trainings Burma –Solar electricity for medical clinics, etc., in Karen-controlled Burma

Started 2005 provides hands-on appropriate technology support … to village innovators in ethnic minority areas on both sides of the Thai/Burma border Conflict area Little/no rural electrification Joint effort: Karen Network for Culture & Environment (Thailand) TOPS (Taiwan), Palang Thai (Thailand), Green Empowerment (USA) Sun EPI (USA)

“Energy is a human right.” Our goal: Improve access to clean energy to improve quality of life

Thailand Projects

Micro-hydroelectricity Source: Inversin, A. R. (1986). Micro-Hydropower Sourcebook.

Inversin, A. R. (1986). Micro-Hydropower Sourcebook

Village & YearTurbineGeneratorElectronic Load ControlCapacity Kre Khi village 2003Chinese turgoPermanent magnet (PM) None500 W E Wi Jo 2004CrossflowSynchronousNone1 kW Mae Sa Pau 2005Chinese turgoPMNone (Nepali ELC)1 kW Huai Krating 2006Pump as turbineInductionNepali ELC3 kW Mor Hti Tha 2007Chinese turgoPMNone1.5 kW Mae Klang Luang 2007Vietnamese propeller PMVietnam ELC200 W Mae Wei 2008Pump as turbineInductionThai ELC3 kW Mae Klang Luang 2008Chinese turgoPMNone1.5 kW Surin 2008Chinese turgoPMThai ELC1.5 kW Surin 2008Vietnamese propeller PMThai ELC200 W Betong 2008PeltonInductionThai ELC1 kW Kre Khi rebuild 2009Pump as turbineInductionThai ELC1 Kw E Wi Jo rebuild 2010Pump as turbineInductionThai ELC3 kW Mae Rim monasteryChinese turgoPMNepali ELC2 Kw Our community micro-hydro projects in Thailand

Kre Khi village, Tak province About 500 W for school, clinic, Buddhist temple

E Wi Jo, Tak province 3 kW Pump-as-turbine

Micro-hydro Video: Mae Wei Village, Feb. 2008

Mae Klang Luang, Chaing Mai 200 watts $120 (turbine: $90) Installed: 2007 Head: 1.7 meters

Border Green Energy Team Needed: maintenance & repair trainings for > 14,000 Thai solar home systems

Thai government solar home program 203,000 solar home systems US$200 million No maintenance plan 23% failure rate within 20 months

Thai SHS in Tak province Rated 120 peak Watt single crystalline PV module Rated 150 W, 50 Hz, 230 V Inverter / 10 A Charge controller 12 V, 125 Ah deep cycle lead-acid battery Two 10 W tube fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts AC outlet for TV or other appliances

Ministry of Interior PEA Installation company End users $ $ SHS Existing linkages warranty Tax payers $

Ministry of Interior PEA Installation company End users $ $ SHS Missing linkages warranty What happens when systems fail? There is no feedback loop from the end users to installation company, PEA, government or taxpayers Tax payers $

Warranty awareness Self-help: local technicians + user training Ministry of Interior PEA Installation company End users $ $ SHS Missing linkages warranty Tax payers $ Feedback on status of systems, failure modes, successful interventions

Thailand SHS Training

BGET SHS trainings in Tak province

Trainings already performed in ten Tambons TambonDistrictDate of training# of SHS# of technicians Mae TanTha Song YangOctober Mae SongTha Song YangOctober 20051,72829 Mae Wa LuangTha Song YangNovember Mae LaTha Song YangDecember Mae Cha Rao, Phra Tart Mae RamatDecember Tha Song Yang February Sam MeunMae RamatMarch Mae U SuTha Song YangMay 20061,06519 Mae TuenMae RamatJune 20061,44328 TOTAL8, BGET SHS trainings in Tak province

Border Green Energy Team Refugee camp trainings

History of ESP Started 2003 by Saw Loh Doh, first Principal ZOA Refugee Care supported since 2005 Provide essential engineering skills for Karen youth Encourage self-reliance

Solar PV Micro-hydro Hydraulic ram pump Solar cooking Biogas

Hydraulic Ram Pumping

Biogas from Animal Manure

Solar/diesel hybrid systems for computer training centers in 7 refugee camps

ESP students apply engineering skills to implement community development work…

Border Green Energy Team Solar electricity for >50 medical clinics for internally displaced inside Burma

Up to 2 million “Internally Displaced People” (IDP) in Burma

Ruggedized solar electric systems built by medics in 3-5 day hands-on trainings 10 trainings ( ) >90 medics trained >50 clinics 5 vaccine refrigerators

Clinic Conditions

Solar Equipment & Training

Solar Systems for FBR Training Facility: Medical and Human Rights/Leadership

Walt Ratterman BGET co-founder +++

Chris Greacen Salinee Tavaranan (BGET director)

BGET’s Next Steps… 3 rd year Appropriate Tech classes for ESP Thai SHS repair pilot projects Demonstration/Learning Center Orphanage Project