News Clipping Archive - Page 1119 of 1320

Coal

Thailand Boosts Imports of Russian Coal In January-May

8 July 2019

–

Thailand

Argus, citing market participants, reported that Thailand’s imports of Russian coal almost tripled on the year in January-May to 498,000 tonne from 164,000 tonne And Russian shipments to Thailand are expected to keep rising because of competitive prices. Russia became the third-largest coal supplier to Thailand this year, with its share of imports rising by almost three percentage points to 5pc in January-May.

A source at a large Russian mining company, said that “In 2019, we plan to increase coal shipments to southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand, as we find more opportunities in this region with growing consumption. Most of the Russian coal trades into Thailand are on a spot basis, and for local buyers price remains the key factor.”

Thai consumers buy Russian coal fines and lower-calorific value brown coal, which can partly replace declining domestic lignite supply. Russia mainly ships brown coal with a CV of less than 5,000 kcal per kg and bituminous thermal coal with a CV of about 5,500 kcal per kg to Thailand.

Source : ARGUS

Energy Cooperation

Brunei Senior Officials Visit Dubai’s DEWA

8 July 2019

–

Brunei Darussalam

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has received a high-level delegation from the Brunei Ministry of Energy, Manpower, and Industry (MEMI) at DEWA’s Sustainable Building in Al Quoz.

Dato Seri Setia Dr Mat Suny Hussein, Minister of Energy, Manpower, and Industry, led the delegation.

The meeting with Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA discussed ways and means of working together and exchanging experiences and practices to enhance Dubai’s position as a global hub for trade, finance, tourism, and green economy.

At the beginning of the meeting, Al Tayer welcomed Hussein and the visiting delegation, emphasising the importance of enhancing joint cooperation. Al Tayer also talked about DEWA and Brunei’s companies sharing best expertise, experiences and best practices in energy, water, and sustainability, to further develop these areas and mutually benefit from shared experiences.

Al Tayer presented DEWA’s latest projects and local and international achievements, and its active role in promoting sustainable development in Dubai. He also briefed the visiting delegation on DEWA’s projects, initiatives, and plans, to achieve the vision of the wise leadership to transform Dubai into a global centre for clean energy and green economy as well as the global directives for the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. DEWA contributes to achieving this vision by creating a future model for utilities in the production, transmission, and distribution of electricity and water.

DEWA is securing its energy supply by diversifying the energy mix to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050. To achieve this, DEWA launched several renewable programmes and initiatives, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world. Using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, it will have a capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030 with investments totalling AED 50 billion. Upon completion, the solar park will reduce over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually and provide thousands of jobs in clean energy and green economy.

Al Tayer said that DEWA adopted the IPP model in the solar park’s projects to promote public-private partnerships. Through this model, DEWA achieved the lowest international prices for electricity on four separate occasions.

The 13MW first phase became operational in 2013 using photovoltaic solar panels. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase of the solar park was operational in March 2017. The 800MW photovoltaic third phase will be operational by 2020. The 950MW fourth phase of the solar park is the largest single-site Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project in the world. Based on IPP, it combines photovoltaic and CSP technologies. It will use 700MW of CSP; 600MW from a parabolic basin complex and 100MW from a solar power tower; and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels. The project will have the largest global thermal storage capacity of 15 hours; allowing for energy availability round the clock. DEWA issued a tender for the fifth phase of the solar park for 900MW of electricity using photovoltaic solar panels, based on IPP, which will be commissioned in stages as of Q2 2021.

The Research and Development (R&D) Centre of the solar park is centred on four major operational areas: electricity generation from clean energy and solar power, integration of smart grids, energy efficiency, and water. The R&D Centre’s projects and programmes consist of internal labs to study and test system reliability, and external field testing of new technologies and equipment, including performance and reliability of solar photovoltaic panels and removing dust. DEWA’s R&D Centre includes a lab built using 3D printing technology and is the first building in the UAE to be fully-printed on-site and the first such 3D-printed laboratory building in the world.

Al Tayer also discussed the solar-powered hydrogen electrolysis plant at DEWA’s outdoor testing facilities at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai that is being developed by DEWA, Expo 2020 Dubai, and Siemens. The key elements of this facility comprise the production of green hydrogen using electricity produced from solar panels, hydrogen storages, and a multitude of other services that include re-electrification (storage and network services), transportation, and other industrial services.

Al Tayer and the visiting delegation also toured the sustainable building’s various sections, including the green spaces on its roof and the solar photovoltaic panels that are used to supply the building with solar power. DEWA’s Sustainable Building in Al Quoz is the largest government building in the world to receive a Platinum Rating for green buildings from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The building uses 66% less energy and 48% less water and features an on-site 660 kilowatt (kW) solar power plant.

The Minister praised DEWA’s efforts and expressed his country’s interest in participating in DEWA’s leading projects in clean and renewable energy and water, praising the bilateral relations between the two countries and DEWA’s efforts in achieving sustainable development in the Emirate.

Others

Curtin Malaysia’s GEEC to enhance teaching, research in renewable energy

8 July 2019

–

Myanmar

MIRI: The Faculty of Engineering and Science of Curtin University Malaysia has opened its ‘Green Electric Energy Centre’ (GEEC) slated for enhancing the teaching and research in renewable energy and also adding to its range of laboratory facilities.

The GEEC is equipped with state-of-the-art data loggers to obtain and store energy data harvested from fixed-axis and dual-axis tracking solar panels outdoors, and also a control system connected to an indoor benchtop wind turbine simulator and an outdoor wind turbine.

The wind turbine simulator can be used for laboratory-scale simulations to study the feasibility of full-scale projects, simulating different wind speeds and environmental conditions. Students and researchers can then evaluate data and graphs generated from the simulations at a number of workstations in the laboratory.

The centre is also equipped with a wind power generator, which in addition to demonstrating how wind power is harvested and distributed, it also powers up all the lights in the laboratory.

Present at the recent opening event were Curtin Malaysia pro vice-chancellor, president and chief executive Prof Jim Mienczakowski, chief operating officer Pieter Willem Pottas, acting dean for the Faculty of Engineering and Science, Associate Prof Vincent Lee, and also dean for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Associate Prof Lenin Gopal.

According to Mienczakowski, the GEEC is an excellent facility and also a timely one, in light of global trends towards the development of green energy and the focus on sustainable development in engineering and science.

He said since the establishment of Curtin Malaysia 20 years ago, its Faculty of Engineering and Science had grown significantly and built a strong reputation, not only for its strong suite of course offerings but also for its emerging and distinctive research profile.

“We have made remarkable progress in a number of key areas, particularly in our leadership in innovative learning and research and development in emerging technologies. This centre will certainly help us build on those strengths,” he said.

Mienczakowski pointed out that in order to deliver world-ranked courses to an equivalent standard as those available at Curtin’s main campus in Perth, Australia, Curtin Malaysia must have the suitable facilities.

Meanwhile, Lenin said the GEEC would be rapidly expanded to its full potential in the coming months to include a micro-hydropower station and the installation of additional equipment such as solar photovoltaic emulators funded by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), and more solar panels.

“This centre complements our range of teaching and research facilities, including our new Engineering Research Laboratory currently being constructed, very well. It offers our electrical engineering students, in particular, a greater, more technology-rich environment and learning experience,” he said.

Other innovative teaching and research facilities at the Faculty of Engineering and Science include its Keysight Reference Laboratory developed in collaboration with Keysight Technologies; the Schlumberger Petrel GIS Laboratory in partnership with Schlumberger; and the Digital Maker Hub with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDeC).

These are in addition to the faculty’s wide range of over 20 laboratories related to the various engineering and science disciplines, including applied geology, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil and construction engineering, electrical and computer engineering, software engineering and cyber security.

All these facilities enable Curtin Malaysia to continue forging a reputation for producing work-ready graduates, allowing its campus community to embrace new technologies as well as new ways of learning, and shaping its focus on high-impact research.

Curtin Malaysia is also geared towards assuming a key role in helping to develop Sarawak’s bio-economy through the operation of the newly-completed RM60-million pilot plant facility at the campus – funded by the Sarawak government; and enhancing research through the Curtin Malaysia Graduate School, Curtin Malaysia Research Institute (CMRI), Curtin Highway Research Institute (CHIRI) and other research centres.

Electricity/Power Grid

Sarawak Energy set to export electricity to Sabah by 2022

8 July 2019

–

Malaysia

KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) expects to export electricity to Sabah by 2022 and Brunei Darussalam sooner under the Trans-Borneo Grid project.

Group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili said SEB is awaiting the approval of the Sabah government for the final draft of a power purchase agreement (PPA).

The PPA will pave the way for the export of 50MW initially from Lawas in northern Sarawak to Sipitang in Sabah.

“But we can export more when required,” Sharbini added at SEB’s annual media business update here yesterday.

He said SEB can only export power to Sabah upon completion of its “Northern Agenda” to connect both Limbang and Lawas to the state grid. The project, which is currently underway, will replace SEB’s diesel plants in northern Sarawak.

Under the Northern Agenda, SEB will beef up power supply, reduce power interruptions and enhance supply reliability in Miri.

According to Sharbini, a RM1bil allocation to upgrade Miri’s power supply system has been carried out since 2016.

He said a border SEB substation in Miri is ready to export electricity to neighbouring Brunei and that the PPA could be signed when Brunei is ready. Initially, SEB may export 30MW to the oil-rich sultanate.

Last week, Sharbini met with Brunei’s Energy Minister to discuss the Borneo Grid project.

“We (SEB) want to drive the Borneo Grid project. That is our ambition,” he said.

SEB has been exporting power to west Kalimantan, Indonesia since 2016 under an agreement with Perusahaan Listrik Negara Persero (Indonesian utility body) and the current export has reached 230MW.

Sharbini said SEB’s installed capacity is expected to increase to 5,450MW next year from 4,705MW in 2015. The additional power-generation capacity will come from the 600MW Balingian coal-fired plant to be commissioned later this year and the proposed combined cycle gas plant under construction in Tanjong Kidurong, Bintulu.

SEB owns the 2,400MW Bakun hydro-electric dam and 944MW Murum dam, which are both in full operation to supply power to the energy-intensive industries in Samalaju Industrial Park under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score).

Hydro power currently makes up about 75% of SEB’s generation mix, followed by gas and coal.

SEB is currently constructing the 1,285MW Baleh dam in the Kapit Division which is expected to come on stream by 2025 when its generation capacity would be raised to 7,115MW.

“In the past nine years, the average power demand from Score’s customers has increased by three times while our generation capacity has increased by 3.5 times,” said Sharbini.

Executive vice-president for strategic and corporate development Ting Ching Zung said SEB is currently in negotiations with several potential investors planning to set up manufacturing facilities in Samalaju Industrial Park. They would require 240MW to 440MW to power their plants.

One of the investors from China plans to set up an integrated steel mill there via its Malaysian unit, Wenan Steel Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

“Right now, we (SEB and Wenan Steel) have agreed on the commercial terms of the PPA. The steel mill requires between 30MW and 40MW of power under phase 1,” said Ting, who expects the proposed steel mill project to take three years to build.

“We are also in discussions with two (potential) new customers for power requirements of between 100MW and 200MW each for their ferroalloy smelting projects.”

Currently, there are three ferroalloy smelting plants in Samalaju Industrial Park.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2019/07/08/sarawak-energy–set-to-export-electricity-to-sabah-by-2022/#gicueatzelxDu2Cz.99

Electricity/Power Grid

TNB in the spotlight on looming market reforms

8 July 2019

–

Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: The potential opening up of the power sector’s retail space will give consumers more options to buy their electricity from, but it is likely to have limited earnings impact on Tenaga Nasional Bhd

image: https://cdn.thestar.com.my/Themes/img/chart.png

(TNB).

TNB, which has come under the spotlight due to looming regulatory changes, is currently Peninsular Malaysia’s only retail electricity provider.

According to UOB Kay Hian, the liberalisation of the retail market would not hurt TNB, as it earns around 2% (0.96 sen/kWh of base electricity tariff of 39.45 sen/kWh) of revenue from the retail market.

“The incentive-based regulation (IBR) model is based on returns of regulated assets. The retail segment is asset-light and as such, TNB earns minimal profits as Peninsular Malaysia’s only retail electricity provider,” it said in a recent report.

Last Friday, it was reported that the government was conducting a study on whether to allow new energy suppliers to come into the market, with the results to be made known soon. The government is studying whether the move would make tariff rates more competitive for consumers.

The transformation of the local electricity industry is expected to come through the implementation of the Malaysia Electricity Supply Industry (MESI) 2.0 that aims to increase the industry’s efficiency, as well as decentralise the electricity supply industry, among others.

It is expected to be launched later this month.

UOB Kay Hian said it understands that the aim of opening up the retail market is “to give consumers the opportunity to choose a greener route, for example, by buying electricity from environmentally-friendly players like Cypark Resources Bhd

image: https://cdn.thestar.com.my/Themes/img/chart.png

, which owns 30MW of renewable energy in Peninsular Malaysia.”

Besides the retail segment, there is the wholesale segment.

However, analysts believe that the regulators will have to wait for the expiry of power purchase agreements (PPAs) and service-level agreements (SLAs) to be able to build a robust wholesale market.

More than half of Peninsular Malaysia’s generation capacity (or 23,881MW) has long-dated PPAs expiring in 2030-40, noted UOB Kay Hian.

Drawing from the Singapore experience, AmResearch noted that the power producers there compete to generate and sell electricity in the wholesale electricity market (WEM) every half hour.

“The WEM is like a power exchange. Retailers buy electricity in bulk from the wholesale electricity market to sell to the customers.”

Secondly, looking at the Singapore model, the research firm said that power pooling would result in power producers competing to sell electricity at the lowest rates to gain market share. This would result in lower operating profit margins.

“We believe that fuel costs would still be passed through, but operating profit margins would be thin. YTL Power International Bhd

image: https://cdn.thestar.com.my/Themes/img/chart.png

’s power unit in Singapore recorded a pre-tax loss of RM149.1mil in the first nine months of financial year 2019 (FY19) (ex-impairment),” it said in its report on Friday.

That said, the research firm believes that TNB will be a strong competitor if the retail segment is opened up due to its size and balance sheet.

AmResearch reckons that if the independent power producers or IPPs are selling electricity directly to the consumers, then they would need to pay a fee to TNB for the transmission and distribution activities.

Currently, out of TNB’s base tariff rate of 39.45 sen/kWh, about 11.58 sen/kWh is for transmission, distribution, customer service and grid system operations.

Another point AmResearch brought up in its report is the possibility that the imbalance cost pass-through mechanism might not be relevant if the retail segment is opened up.

“There may not be a need for the Electricity Industry Fund to subsidise rates for the domestic segment.

“This is because under the open system, retail electricity rates would fluctuate based on cost, demand and supply.”

One other reform that could feature in the upcoming MESI 2.0 is the separation of the single buyer role from TNB. This is seen as positive for TNB as it eliminates the fuel risk from the equation. The government will likely take over this role, said some analysts.

According to TA Research, the segregation of the single buyer role would free up the company’s working capital requirements significantly.

“Thus, this would provide a boost to TNB’s free cash flow and result in dividend upside potential.”

As single buyer, the company is responsible for coal procurement, which amounted to RM11.7bil in FY18, TA Research pointed out.

To facilitate the reforms, MyPower Corp was reactivated in September last year with the task to design and drive its implementation within three years. The current Regulatory Period 2 framework will end in 2021.

Shares in TNB closed 54 sen or 3.82% lower to RM13.60 last Friday.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2019/07/08/tnb-in-the-spotlight-on-looming-market-reforms/#P8jomsIJv7QJCCXq.99

Others

‘Tesla of Thailand’ powers vision of electric paradise

8 July 2019

–

Thailand

Thailand could be on the verge of an electric vehicle (EV) revolution. After decades of promising ubiquitous plug-in stations and quiet roads full of whirring, non-petrol-powered cars, the futuristic fantasy could soon be a reality.

Dubbed the “Tesla of Thailand”, SET-listed Energy Absolute (EA) will kick off the first phase of its 100-billion-baht lithium-ion battery production line in mid-2020, the largest of its kind in Thailand, anticipating a “tidal wave of new business growth”.

The company, led by one of Thailand’s richest men, aims to change the way Thais drive by building a more efficient battery that makes the switch to EVs practical and affordable.

EA has entered into a binding agreement to install “public charging points” for all battery-powered EV models at 7-Eleven convenience stores, Caltex petrol stations, Robinson department stores and Bridgestone service shops.

The cost to replenish a battery is tentatively estimated at seven baht per kilowatt-hour for electricity.

The long-touted EV future could finally arrive in as little as a few years.

“It’s time to bring drastic change to the auto industry and bring EV prices down further to 500,000-600,000 baht next year to promote what I believe in 2020 will be the year for the take-up of EVs,” said electricity billionaire Somphote Ahunai, founder and chief executive of Energy Absolute and No.10 on Forbes Thailand’s 50 Richest list with an estimated net worth of US$2.8 billion (85.8 billion baht).

“We’re ready to catch the next big wave of growth through innovation, as well as banking on a future served primarily by energy storage and EVs,” he said.

Mr Somphote said his company is steering the business towards lucrative battery and EV opportunities and away from the solar and wind energy that he believes will become overly competitive.

EA is on the verge of integrating all verticals of the EV life cycle: electricity generation, battery production, car manufacturing and charging-point installation.

If successful, the implications of EA’s ambitions are enormous for Thailand, a country with a large automotive industry but no internationally recognised car brand of its own. An EV, more affordable than a Tesla and with a better battery, would not just be a regional hit, but a global phenomenon.

BATTERY-POWERED BUSINESS

EA is scheduled to start production of the 5-billion-baht first phase of the battery lithium-ion gigafactory in July 2020 in Chachoengsao province, with one gigawatt-hour (GWh) of energy storage capacity annually.

The company aims to increase the capacity to 50GWh in the second phase by 2022, making the plant larger than Japanese electronics maker Panasonic’s 35GWh factory for US-based Tesla in the state of Nevada.

EA acquired a 77% stake in Taiwan-based Amita Technologies for 3 billion baht to take advantage of the firm’s lithium-ion technology.

Under the partnership, Amita will provide automated production technology for STOBA (self-terminated oligomers with hyper-branched architecture) — a new kind of hyper-branched polymer that can suppress electron and ion conduction if something goes wrong. STOBA, which is commercialised in Taiwan, can have a higher capacity, greater safety and a longer life cycle.

Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) will provide technical assistance regarding STOBA and energy storage technologies.

Mr Somphote (left) and Mr Amorn want to bring drastic change to the auto industry.

Mr Somphote said his company is looking to build an energy storage production facility overseas by partnering with local operators in Indonesia, the first overseas country where EA plans to expand.

“EA expects revenue from batteries to account for half of its total in the next five years,” said Amorn Sapthaweekul, Energy Absolute’s deputy chief executive.

According to industry analysts, EA is expected to post a net profit of 5 billion baht this year on revenue of 14.5 billion baht, while in 2018 the company posted a net profit of 4 billion baht on revenue of 12 billion baht.

Analysts see EA recording a net profit of 6.2 billion baht on revenue of 24 billion baht once the company’s wind energy business is running at full capacity.

“We expect average annual revenue growth of 15% with profit growth of 30% annually,” Mr Amorn said.

CHARGING NETWORK

Tapping into the evolving EV business, EA is spending 800 million baht to increase the number of charging points to 1,000 by the end of this year, following a binding agreement signed with four partners today. The company has 500 stations in Bangkok and other major cities.

“We want to set up at least one charging point every five kilometres in Bangkok and the surrounding metropolitan area to assure EV users,” Mr Somphote said.

The company supplies both fast-charging and slow-charging services. A fast charge takes 10-15 minutes to replenish an EV battery to 80%, enabling the vehicle to travel 200-250km. But this method degrades the battery faster. A slow charge, typically done overnight, takes 6-8 hours but is better for the long-term health of the battery.

EA also provides an app that lets users find the nearest EA charging station.

“We expect to serve 30,000-40,000 cars per day through our charging network,” Mr Amorn said.

HEATING UP

EA is scheduled to start its EV assembly line at its 200-million-baht plant in Chachoengsao province in December, with capacity to assemble 10,000-15,000 units a year.

The company says it can deliver the first batch of EV orders for 4,562 Mine MPVs in the first quarter of next year.

“We expect to sell 10,000 EV units next year,” Mr Somphote said.

EA launched prototypes of the first EVs in 2018 with three models — Mine City, Mine MPV and Mine Sport — all of which use EA batteries.

After years of being derided as a joke by car manufacturers and the public, Mr Somphote said interest in his EVs has risen sharply as governments around the world move to ban petrol and diesel cars in favour of cleaner and greener EVs.

“We have seen a tremendous rise in availability, especially in China,” he said. “EVs are likely to take off in the Thai market next year, and prices should come to be on par with conventional cars over the next few years.”

In the past, most manufacturers were reluctant to make EVs as they sought to cash in on existing conventional car models. Nowadays, many are awakening to the EV trend. This can be seen by the uptick in EV vehicles rolled out by various manufacturers.

Mr Somphote said the state should support Thai companies in the EV sector because Thai-based manufacturers can produce 100% of the components for EVs.

“Thailand has been lagging in terms of foreign direct investment for a long time now,” he said.

BEYOND THE ROAD

The company is scheduled to launch two battery-powered ferries for commercial service in the fourth quarter this year.

EA plans to assemble 47 boats, 20-25 of which will be ready for operation in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The company will become a public transport operator, running a route between Nonthaburi and Wat Rajsingkorn on the Chao Phraya River, similar to the one plied by Chao Phraya Express Boat.

The air-conditioned electric ferry will have capacity for 200 passengers and comes with batteries comprising 800 kilowatt-hours and two electric motors at 180kWh.

The company will charge 15-32 baht per trip, similar to other operators’ rates.

EARLY RETIREMENT

Mr Somphote, 52, plans to start winding down for retirement at 57, taking up a slower pace of life and spending more time relaxing. His low-key demeanour contrasts with that of his contemporary, Tesla’s braggadocious chief executive Elon Musk.

When Mr Somphote was 38, he actually planned to retire then. At the time, he thought the 2 billion baht he earned from managing funds overseas was sufficient to send his children to study abroad and take it easy for the rest of his life. But he stuck with his father’s words that if he didn’t go to work he would not be a good example for his children. So he went back to work, just not as an employee.

“I started off with savings of just 5,000 baht when I left my full-time job as a salaryman,” he said. “My first paycheck then was 20,000 baht. I could have never imagined reaching this point in life. What I am doing now is just pursuing my dreams for the sake of country.”

Mr Somphote acknowledged that after he formulated EA, it ended up being more challenging than he thought. “It’s not that I couldn’t do it, but it took a lot of nerves to pull it off.”

He is building a second generation to replace him as retirement nears. Employees who got their start at the company, still in their 30s and 40s, are the ones he is moulding for success.

Electricity/Power Grid

Solar energy to be prioritised to ease power cuts

8 July 2019

–

Cambodia

Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), the national electric utility, is aiming for a considerable increase in the amount of renewable energy produced in the country within the next few years, a senior official said Friday.

For in depth analysis of Cambodian Business, visit Capital Cambodia
.

Cambodia mostly generates energy from coal-fired power plants and hydropower dams. Solar energy made up less than one percent of total energy output last year.

However, the country’s energy mix will change drastically in upcoming years, said EDC’s director-general Keo Rattanak.

“We will be able to produce at least 20 percent of our energy from solar systems in the next few years,” Mr Rattanak said during a forum on energy in Phnom Penh organised by the American Chamber of Commerce.

The goal is to diversify energy production, now largely dominated by hydroelectricity, which accounted for about 48 percent of all power consumed last year. Through this diversification strategy, the government hopes to put an end to the power shortages that have affected the country, Mr Rattanak said.

At the forum, titled ‘Energy Vision’, Mr Rattanak provided an overview of the current state of Cambodia’s electricity demands and a long-term outlook of the energy supply.

Mr Rattanak discussed alternatives to meeting growing energy demands and the challenges of building and updating the electricity transmission and distribution system in the country.

He pointed out that Cambodia’s energy output is due to increase by at least 320 megawatts, with several solar parks scheduled to come online between 2020 and 2022.

According to a recent study by the Asian Development Bank, Cambodia has about 10,000 MW of hydropower potential, 8,100 MW for solar and about 6,500 MW for wind.

In March, France-based Blue Circle finished a feasibility study for a project to build wind turbines in the Kingdom, showing that the country could generate up to 500 MW from wind turbines.

When asked whether Cambodia is willing to consider wind energy projects, Mr Rattanak said the Kingdom welcomes investments in any “green energy”, but said that building the infrastructure needed to harness wind presents technical problems that need to be studied.

Mr Rattanak also listed a number of energy projects that will come online in the near future, including a coal-fired power plant in Sihanoukville that will produce 135 MW.

Since power cuts began in March across the country, the government has approved several energy investments – a hydropower dam in Pursat province and several solar farms across the country – and increased energy imports from neighbouring countries.

Heng Vann Hean, sales manager at TTC Energy Cambodia, told Khmer Times after the forum that his company is now biding on a solar farm project recently approved by the government.

He said the government is now prioritising renewable energies, particularly solar energy, because it has great potential and could help end the country’s energy woes.

Last year, Cambodia consumed 2,650 MW, a 15 percent increase compared to a year earlier. 442 MW were imported from Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.

Renewables

Thailand’s ‘Green Island’ is 100% powered on alternative energy sources

8 July 2019

–

Thailand

For those wishing to escape from a hectic life, spend a peaceful getaway in the embrace of serene nature, and take lungfuls of pure air at a place unknown to most tourists, Pha Luai Island is an ideal destination.

With a population of only 180 households and situated in Surat Thani province’s Ang Thong Islands Marine National Park, just a stone’s throw from Samui Island, Pha Luai Island is officially recognised as Thailand’s first and only ‘Green Island’, which depends 100% on alternative energy sources.

By trekking around the island, a visitor will learn that every household’s facilities are powered by clean energy. Electricity generated at a solar farm is used for interior lighting, maintenance of water sources, development of the traffic system, building construction, and general upkeep and restoration of the island’s environment.

None of these achievements would have been possible without the locals’ awareness of the value of clean energy, which has improved their quality of life.

The local islanders, therefore, commit themselves to developing their birthplace into an ecotourism attraction and further modifying it into a future learning centre for energy efficiency promotion.

About “The Seasons”

“The Seasons Episode 9: Green Island” is part of the 12- episode travel documentary series that reveal the untold stories of the unique way of life of the Thai people and the amazing scenery of natural attractions in different regions. There are four episodes for each of the three seasons that Thailand has in a year: rainy, cool and summer.

“The Seasons” follows the TAT Newsroom’s inaugural seven-part travel documentary series, titled ‘Insight Thainess’, to promote Thai values through the country’s unique way of life.

News Clipping

BATTERY-POWERED BUSINESS

CHARGING NETWORK

HEATING UP

BEYOND THE ROAD

EARLY RETIREMENT

User Dashboard

Back To ACE

User Dashboard