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 Thai พลังไท –We teach hands-on energy technology –We draft policies –We critique wasteful & dangerous mega- projects พลัง (palang): n 1. Power. 2. Empowerment. ไท (thai): adj. 1. Independence. 2. Self-reliance

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. Global Warming Source of picture: bbc.co.uk กรีนแลนด์ บริเวณขั้ว โลกเหนือ Ice melting areas Albedo Effect

10. Natural gas Used to make 71% of Thailand’s electricity (among highest in world) Cleaner than other fossil fuels (especially SO x ) but still big CO 2 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. 13.7 km Solar 0.037% of Thailand area  100% peak load (22,586 MW) TESCO Lotus, Rama I, 460 kWp, Cost: 75,165,000 baht 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.  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 Solar 3 kW = 660,000 baht

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.orgwww.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 17.7 baht/kWh 8,200 baht http://natee2007.thaiza.com Thai wind pioneers build wind power themselves.

27. Wind for water pumping – salt farms

29. 1 m 5 m 6 m 4.5 m

30. 0.5 m

31. 0.3 m 2 m

32. Rice husk fired power plant  9.8 MW  Roi Et province  VSPP: Subsidy 0.3 baht/kWh

33.  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 Korat Waste to Energy - biogas

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

35. Rice husk gasifier Rice mill in Nakorn Sawan 400 kW

36. Gasifier electricity from wood

37. Biodiesel

38. Efficient Charcoal

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

40. Micro-hydro technology PeltonTurgoCrossflowKaplan Centrifugal pump

41. 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 Thai Potential: 1000s of projects - 700 MW (?)

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. Huai Krating, Tak Power: 3 kW Head: 35 meter Flow: 20 liters/second Cost: <200,000 baht (turbine - 24,500 baht) Constructed: 2548 (2005) Thai Potential: 10,000s of projects – 10s MW (?)

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

51. Thank you For more information, please contact chris@palangthai.org chris@palangthai.org This presentation available at: www.palangthai.org/docs

52. 1) Remove bias in Thailand’s load forecasting

53. Demand growth has been linear over the past 20 years…

54. … but “official forecasts” assume exponential growth

55. … so they always overestimate actual demand, building power plants that aren’t needed…

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

57. 2) Consider clean, decentralized options on level playing field

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

59. Saving electricity is cheaper than generating it Source: The World Bank (1993) Demand Side Management (saving electricity) Actual 10-year DSM average cost!!! 1.5