Mostly microhydro mostly in Thailand Chris Greacen SEI

(Mostly) micro-hydro (mostly) in Thailand Chris Greacen SEI micro-hydro Guemes Island 23 Oct 2008

Outline • Ph. D. topic -- government/village microhydropower in Thailand • Very Small Power Producer (VSPP) • Pico-hydros in Thailand

Villagers: ‘our power plant’

Local manufacture

Average cost: micro-hydro vs. grid for 25 years of electricity to a remote household Source: Microhydro data from construction costs of existing microhydro projects from Panya Consultants Co. (1993). Kroonggaan Padtana Fai Faa Palang Naam Radap Muu Baan (Village Scale Microhydro Development Projects). Bangkok, Thailand, Department of Energy Development and Promotion Grid costs from Price Waterhouse Coopers (2000). Review of Electric Power Tariffs National Energy Policy Office of Thailand -- Final Report -- Annexes H-R. Bangkok, Thailand.

Number of villages served micro-hydro vs. the grid (as claimed) Source: PEA Annual Report 2000; DEDP “mini and microhydopower”

Thailand topography and micro-hydro site locations

How well do micro-hydro installations work in the field in Thailand? Of 59 systems installed, less than half still in operation

Voltage at Mae Kam Pong village microhydro from 25 June to 23 September 2001

Mae Kam Pong Microhydro Unit #2 Voltage and Current (15 minute intervals) 6 Sept to 8 Sept 2001

Hourly load curve, by year from 1985 to 2000. Graph based on an appliance usage survey of 35 families in Mae Kam Pong village, April and June 2001.

Contribution to evening maximum peak demand by appliance, for the years 1985 – 2001.

Small is beautiful pitiful: Community Micro-hydroelectricity and the Politics of Rural Electrification in Thailand Chris Sangarasri Greacen ERG – UC Berkeley Ph. D. colloquium presentation – 4 Dec, 2002 Thanks to… Ph. D. Dissertation Committee: Dan Kammen, Dick Norgaard, Jeff Romm Switzer Network Mentors: Jim Williams and Margaret Torn EPA-STAR Fellowship, Switzer Environmental Fellowship

Summary from the village level: “it still doesn’t add up” + Local integrated development benefits Cost effective rural electricity = + Rarely implemented Resolvable technical and managerial challenges ? Existing installations replaced by grid

1966: USAID plan dismisses decentralized micro-hydroelectricity “The view has been advanced by some that the construction and operation of hydroelectric plants. . . is necessary in order to demonstrate the interest of the Government in the welfare of the people, particularly in the so-called "sensitive areas" where the very low income status of the population makes them susceptible to the propaganda of Asian Communism. Others believe that … the funds available can be put to better use by building transmission and rural distribution facilities to bring power from large, centrally located generation stations which are …less exposed to damage or destruction by subversive or enemy action. The team endorses the later option. ” USAID (1966). Thailand Electric Power Supply, US Agency for International Development, United States Operations Mission.

Very Small Power Producer (VSPP) Regulations in Thailand • VSPP forces grid monopoly to accommodate small, distributed generation • Streamlined interconnection • Production is valued at the retail rate (net metering)… 80% of retail rate for net excess. • In Thailand – Cabinet approval 14 May 2002 – 1 MW net export per project – All renewables • 2006 expanded – 1 MW 10 MW net export. – Feed-in tariffs

Mae Kam Pong, Chiang Mai DEDE + community 40 k. W About $130, 000 cost Sell electricity to PEA – $13, 000/year

Biomass Biogas Rice husk fired power plant Potential: 7000 MW Source: Thai Ministry of Energy 2003 • 9. 8 MW • Roi Et province • Average VSPP tariff for biomass: 2. 9 baht/k. Wh (incl. subsidy 0. 3 baht/k. Wh)

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/k. Wh

Reduces air and water pollution Biogas from Pig Farms Produces fertilizer Produces electricity 8 x 70 k. W generator Ratchaburi Subsidy: 0. 3 baht/kwh

Bangkok Solar 1 MW PV • Project size: 1 MW • Uses self-manufactured a-Si

VSPP summary June 2008

Pico-hydro projects in Thailand Village & Year Turbine Generator Regulation Capacity Kre Khi village 2003 Chinese turgo Permanent magnet None 500 W E Wi Jo village 2004 Crossflow Synchronous None 1 k. W Mae Sa Pau village 2005 Chinese turgo Permanent magnet None (Nepali ELC) 1 k. W Huai Krating 2006 Pump as turbine Induction Nepali ELC 3 k. W Mor Hti Tha 2007 Chinese turgo Permanent magnet None 1. 5 k. W Mae Klang Luang 2007 Vietnamese propeller Permanent magnet Vietnam ELC 200 W Mae Wei 2008 Pump as turbine Induction Thai ELC 3 k. W Mae Klang Luang 2008 Chinese turgo Permanent magnet None 1. 5 k. W Surin 2008 Chinese turgo Permanent magnet Thai ELC 1. 5 k. W Surin 2008 Vietnamese propeller Permanent magnet Thai ELC 200 W Betong 2008 Pelton Induction Thai ELC 1 k. W

Kre Khi village, T ak province About 1 k. W Chinese Perman ent Magnet turgo 8 meters head

E Wi Jo 2004

2 k. VA synchronous generator Crossflow (undershot! lousy ‘nozzle’)

E Wi Jo village microhydro Estimated power: 0. 750 k. W Head: 20 meters Flow: 20 liters/second Total installed cost: baht 100, 000

Huai Krating Microhydro 2005 3 k. W pump as turbine 35 meters head Pump and motor cost: $750 Controller cost: $500 or so

Huai Krating: ‘pump as turbine’ off-grid induction “C-2 C”

Mor Ti Tah Microhydro 2007 Chinese Turgo 35 meters head No regulation Turbine cost: $200

Mae Klang Luang, Chiang Mai 2007 • Vietnamese propeller • 200 watts • Cost: $90 (including controller) • (show video)

Laos – low head hydro orgy

Mae Klang Luang 2008 • >500 W • 3 inch PVC pipe • Turbine cost: $160 • (show video)

Betong, Yala. Pelton • Nepali pelton & nozzle • Locally fabricated box • Locally procured 3 phase induction motor

Mae Wei – ‘pump as turbine’ off-grid induction

Mbangamao mill, Tanzania • pump as turbine – mechanical mill

Thai government solar home program 203, 000 solar home systems Sustainability challenge >20% failure rate within first year in Tak

Solar for computer training centers in refugee camps • 1 k. W PV hybrid with diesel generator • Each powers 12 computers • 7 systems