Chris & Chom Sangarasri Greacen Lopez Library 12 May, 2005 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

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

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 Green Empowerment

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 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.

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

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"

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"

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"

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

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

Micro-hydro for Karen villages in Thailand

Micro-hydroelectricity 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 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) Download presentation slides& documents at:

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

ResourceTechnical potential (MW) Commerical Potential (MW) Year 2011 Government targets (MW) Biomass Solar PV Wind Micro- & Mini- hydro 7,000 >5,000 1, >4,500 ? 350? Total>14,000>4, Estimated renewable energy potential in Thailand Source: Technical potential and Targets from Thai Ministry of Energy. (2003).“Energy Strategy for Competitiveness” 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

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 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