Renewable Energy for conviviality: some experiences from Thailand Chris Greacen Palang Thai Eco-Village Training 20 December 2007 Mu Ban Dek, Kanchanburi Palang Thai We teach hands-on energy technology We draft policies We critique wasteful & dangerous mega- projects (palang): n 1. Power. 2. Empowerment. (thai): adj. 1. Independence. 2. Self-reliance Conviviality Con: with Vivre: life Conviviality Con: with Vivre: life As individuals, as communities, as a species how can we live in harmony with nature/divine? 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 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 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 Global Warming Source of picture: bbc.co.uk Ice melting areas Albedo Effect Natural gas Used to make 71% of Thailands 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 Natural gas Severe price volatility linked to crude oil price. Now around $0.05 to $0.07 / kWh Coal Used to make 14% of Thailands 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 Big hydro Used to make 6% of Thailands 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 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. Typical electricity source in remote areas: diesel Can we imagine something different? Renewables worldwide About 20% of all power sector investment is now in renewables 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 20002004. 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 Thai solar home systems 203,000 solar home systems Sustainability challenge Ruggedized solar electric systems built by Karen medics in 3-5 day hands-on trainings 8 trainings ( )>100 medics trained 37 clinics Solar for computer training centers in seven Karen refugee camps 1 kW PV hybrid with diesel generator Each powers 12 computers 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 (?) 28,530 MW = Thailands 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. Wind energy human scale 17.7 baht/kWh 8,200 bahtThai wind pioneers build wind power themselves. Wind for water pumping salt farms 1 m 5 m 6 m 4.5 m 0.5 m 0.3 m 2 m Rice husk fired power plant 9.8 MW Roi Et province VSPP: Subsidy 0.3 baht/kWh 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 Biogas from Pig Farms Reduces air and water pollution Produces fertilizer Produces electricity 8 x 70 kW generator Ratchaburi Subsidy: 0.3 baht/kwh Rice husk gasifier Rice mill in Nakorn Sawan 400 kW Gasifier electricity from wood Biodiesel Efficient Charcoal Micro-hydro technology Source: Inversin, A. R. (1986). Micro-Hydropower Sourcebook. Micro-hydro technology PeltonTurgoCrossflowKaplan Centrifugal pump 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 MW (?) Mae Kam Pong, Chiang Mai 20 kW Weir: 2 meters high, 15 meter wide Head: 55 meters Households: 190 Cost: 3.99 million baht Constructed in year: 2526 (1983) Huai Krating, Tak Power: 3 kW Head: 35 meter Flow: 20 liters/second Cost: