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Others

Nissan and Delta pioneer Thailand’s first partnership to enable EV home charging

21 May 2019

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The deal supports Thailand’s electrification goal of 1.2 million units on the road by 2036 and will provide Nissan Leaf owners in Thailand international-standard charging facilities with Delta’s quality standard of service, certified by Nissan.

“Nissan Motor Thailand is committed to helping drive an electric-vehicle Nissan Leaf vehicle ecosystem in Thailand for the benefit of our customers, and Thai people, by supporting a greener future through electric mobility,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, president of Nissan Motor Thailand.

“To ensure this, we are honored to welcome Delta, one of the world’s leading power supply producers and thermal management solutions providers, on board to join us and drive Thailand toward an all-electric vehicle future.

“We believe an even more exciting future lies ahead through the goal of electrifying Thailand. That has already started through deals like the one here today with Delta and our recent ground-breaking collaboration with Thailand’s Metropolitan Electricity Authority that brings home charging options to ensure the proper infrastructure is in place for Nissan Leaf customers,” he said.

The partnership is supported by a Frost & Sullivan report which found that, for Thai consumers, having convenient and flexible charging options was one of the top three motivating factors to purchase an EV in Thailand.

As such, this deal gives access to Delta’s comprehensive EV charging and site management solutions already available to EV drivers in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia.

In addition, the exclusive partnership comes as the Nissan Leaf, the best-selling EV globally with more than 400,000 vehicles sold worldwide, started shipping to Thai customers this month.

“We leverage our core competencies in power conversion and management to develop and install world-class charging solutions for the global EV community, and now in Thailand. Owners of the all-new Nissan Leaf in Thailand can now confidently take to the roads supported by our safe and efficient charging solutions and localised service,” said Hsieh Shen-yen, president of Delta Electronics Thailand.

The agreement directly seeks to help pioneer green transportation in Thailand by giving consumers more options, allowing easier EV adoption.

For home and workplace charging, the Delta AC EV charger (7.36kW) will be available, and public charging stations will be serviced by Delta DC Quick EV chargers (50kW).

Nissan is also making the Delta AC and DC EV chargers available at 32 certified showrooms nationwide, while Delta will also provide onsite survey, installation and after-sales services.

“This is an important first step in Thailand, for Nissan to build electrification infrastructure to support lowering carbon emissions. We are confident that this joint effort will meet the requirements of our valued customers as they look to buy a full-battery EV, and create confidence and peace of mind about the many charging options available to them,” Nissan Motor Thailand’s president explained.

“Delta is excited to collaborate with Nissan Motor Thailand and to encourage EV adoption, that leads the country’s vehicle electrification. We believe in forging the most effective partnerships for a sustainable future that benefits every stakeholder and delivers on our brand promise of ‘Smarter. Greener. Together.’,” Delta Electronics Thailand’s head added.

The all-new Nissan Leaf, which launched at the “Thailand International Motor Expo 2018” for delivery in May this year, is the best-selling electric vehicle in the world with 25-per-cent global market share and the icon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s vision to transform the way people drive and live.

The new e-powertrain gives the new Nissan Leaf 110kW of power output and 320nm of torque, improving acceleration and driver enjoyment.

Delta’s EV chargers come with a three-year warranty, nationwide technical support and free charging-box replacement under warranty.

Others

Power tariffs should have been increased more: MoIT

21 May 2019

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Vietnam

EVN engineers repair power lines. EVN ensured all procedures in calculating power bills to customers after the rise. — Photo courtesy of EVN

HÀ NỘI — Electricity retail prices should have been raised by 9.26 per cent instead of 8.36 per cent if Việt Nam Electricity (EVN) had correctly calculated the VNĐ3.26 trillion foreign exchange rate difference in 2018 into its power production costs.

The information was released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) in a report to Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

Electricity tariffs were raised by 8.36 per cent to VNĐ1,864 (8.03 US cents) on March 20. However, many households have complained about sudden increases in their electricity bills, which doubled or tripled in April compared with previous months.

In response, the PM has instructed the MoIT to check on the increase as well as its impacts on CPI.

In the report, the ministry said the power tariff increase had been submitted to the Government for approval.

It said increasing input prices of coal and gas, along with the foreign exchange rate difference, made electricity production costs increase by VNĐ20 trillion. Of which, coal added more than VNĐ7.33 trillion while oil and gas added VNĐ7.39 trillion.

The ministry also said the current different pricing scheme for households and businesses was also being applied around the world. However, the scheme would be recalculated to ensure fairness among households.

The MoIT also added that EVN had followed the correct procedures in calculating power bills.

The group received and answered more than 71,500 requirements from customers relating to electricity bills in April.

At the 7th session of the 14th National Assembly (NA) which opened in Hà Nội on Monday, the NA asked the Government to report on recent increase of electricity and petrol prices and their effects on CPI and socio-economic development.

Deputy PM Trương Hoà Bình said authorities had been investigating and clarifying the increases to ensure transparency.

EVN’s chairman Dương Quang Thành said the group was building a pilot plan for the competitive electricity retail market it would submit to the MoIT for approval in July.

Thành said they had been working to privatise three power generation corporations and developing a National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC). They would also privatise its retail power service for the electricity retail market by 2021.

“EVN completed its plan to turn NLDC into a one member limited company and will submit it to the PM for approval,” he said.

He added that EVN would complete a plan to separate power distribution and retail toward the establishment of a competitive electricity retail market.

In addition, it would invest in power market infrastructure to accelerate the market’s development.

Power consumption surges

Last Saturday, power production topped 36,000MW for the first time, according to EVN’s National Load Dispatch Center (NLDC). Consumption on the same day reached a record-high 756.9 million kWh.

EVN said consumption could go up to 800 million kWh per day during May and June as the weather gets hotter.

Summer heat intensifies while water shortage constrains power production

Last month, Việt Nam broke its national high temperature record as the mercury hit 43.4 degrees Celsius in Hà Tĩnh Province, according to French meteorological agency Meteo France. Weather experts have warned that Việt Nam should brace for more heat waves this summer.

Meanwhile, electricity production is facing challenges as reservoirs in the central and southern regions are low on water.

Despite these challenges, EVN has guaranteed that it will supply enough electricity this year. — VNS

Renewables

Malaysia – renewables replacing nuclear, but coal still on the cards

20 May 2019

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Malaysia

And renewables, particularly wind and solar, will also rise by 2.8 GW, according to a new report which explores the make-up of the country’s energy mix to 2030.

However, the study by analytics company GlobalData points out that rise of renewables will come at the expense of nuclear, which has seen new build plans stall because of strong public opposition.

As a net importer of electricity, Malaysia is primarily dependent on thermal resources for electricity generation and, although it possesses substantial fuel reserves, it faces the risk of declining energy security.

Last year, gas-fired power dominated Malaysia’s power portfolio, with a share of 43 per cent of total installed capacity. Coal and oil followed with 30.4 and 5.9 per cent respectively, while hydropower held a 17.2 per cent. But other renewables together accounted for less than 4 per cent of the total capacity.

The government had planned to adopt nuclear power to help wean itself off fossil fuel imports and, in turn, cut greenhouse gas emissions. It got so far as setting up a Nuclear Power Development Steering Committee and deployed three working groups to co-ordinate a nuclear plan. But the initiative was shelved following widespread public opposition.

GlobalData power analyst Harshavardhan Reddy Nagatham said that “progressive economic reforms and a continuous increase in industrial activity are expected to boost economic progress in Malaysia, driving the country’s GDP at a compound annual growth rate of 4.8 per cent during the forecast period. In addition, increasing population will result in a significant increase in electricity consumption.”

Malaysia plays host to 2019’s Asian Utility Week, from 3-4 September in Kuala Lumpur, which is colocated with POWERGEN Asia. Don’t miss it.

Energy Economy

9 investors seek clearance from Philippines for energy exploration

20 May 2019

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Philippines

MANILA, May 20 (Xinhua) — Nine local and foreign investors are seeking clearance from the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines for their targeted nomination service areas in petroleum blocks under the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCECP), the DOE said on Monday.

To date, the DOE said 17 requests for the issuance of area clearance for various areas in the Sulu Sea, Quezon province, Albay province, and Mindoro province have been received by the DOE from these nine companies.

Three companies have successfully acquired area clearances and submitted their respective letters of intent (LOIs) to formalize their area nominations for approval by the DOE, it added.

Furthermore, the DOE said six companies have viewed and four companies have purchased technical data sets that include seismic lines and well listings.

“Interested parties must comply with the legal, financial and technical requirements, which include the proposed work program and economic development plan for the contract area,” the DOE said.

At present, the DOE said there are 22 active petroleum service contracts in the Philippines.

The Philippines is home to the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project, the largest and most successful natural gas industrial project in Philippine history.

Following its successful kickoff in Singapore last month, the DOE said it is gearing up to continue its 2019 PCECP international roadshow at the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Annual Convention and Exhibition (ACE) in San Antonio, Texas, in the United States on May 19-22.

This will be followed by roadshows in North America, South America, and the Middle East, the DOE said.

“As we support and strengthen the effort of the (Rodrigo) Duterte’s administration to explore and discover indigenous petroleum resources, the DOE remains committed to establishing the ‘Explore, Explore, Explore!’ program that will elevate energy independence, security and sustainability through effective and reasonable development of all indigenous energy resources in the Philippines,” Philippine Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Electricity/Power Grid

DoE circular on smart grids due by 3rd quarter

20 May 2019

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Philippines

THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) is scheduled to issue in the third quarter a circular covering the operation of smart grids in the Philippines as distribution utilities embark on projects to upgrade power systems in line with advances in the technology.

“Many have already adopted and implemented some level of smart grid initiatives in their operations, and the DoE is spearheading the formulation of a policy framework and roadmap for the smart grid implementation,” said Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor E. Delola during the The Future Energy Show at the Mall of Asia’s SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

“As part of its implementation, we have already undertaken steps, such as the identification of the plans, projects and programs for the generation, transmission, distribution and load sector necessary for the establishment of the national smart grid framework; the creation of smart grid technical working group; the conduct of forums and workshops; and collaborating with other government agencies, stakeholders, private companies, and the academe through information sharing and education campaigns,” he added.

Mr. Delola was delivering a message for DoE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi who was scheduled to give the conference’s keynote speech. He told reporters that a circular on smart grids is set to be released in the third quarter.

“It’s a roadmap pero in form of a circular ang ilalabas (It’s a roadmap but will be released in the form of a circular),” he said.

Mr. Delola said a smart grid includes the latest advancement in information, communication and technology. It allows households to receive real-time information on their power consumption. The same information is also available to distribution utilities.

He said when the country achieves full smart grid coverage, the level of competition will also be at full blast, that is, households will be able to directly buy electricity from retail suppliers.

With smart grids, households will also have access to information on when electricity demand is at its lowest, allowing them to schedule energy-consuming activities during off-peak hours when power costs are lowest.

Mr. Delola said smart grids would allow the system’s load profile to flatten as opposed to its current behavior, which is “too peaky.” Power demand peaks during times of the day when electricity usage is at its highest, resulting in thinning reserves and possible power outages.

He said the proposed circular will include specific capital expenditure projects that match the level of development of a distribution utility. The circular will enumerate the projects that an electric cooperative with minimal technology investments need to do, he said.

“The ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) will just look into that roadmap, pagka-identified ka ng (when you are identified by the) Department of Energy at level 1, you can apply for these projects,” Mr. Delola said, adding that the regulator will have a guide on the projects that it needs to approve.

“We’re looking at five levels,” he said, with the country’s largest power distribution utility Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) at level 4. “Level 5 is really integrating everything — the DERs (distributed energy resources), lahat nung mga (all the) current developments.”

“When you talk about Meralco or Aboitiz, medyo (they’re a bit) advanced,” he said. “When you look at the coops malayo pa (they’re still far behind).” The Aboitiz group leads the biggest power distribution utilities in the Visayas and Mindanao.

In his speech, Mr. Delola said the forum is “very relevant and timely” as the DoE is working on how to ensure energy supply security and greater access to energy through the utilization of innovative technologies that will provide great help to fuel the economy in a sustainable manner.

“There are several factors that drive us to improve our current power system and venture towards smart grid. First, to have a more reliable, more efficient, secure and flexible grid, there is a need to integrate new and emerging technologies in our system. Second, the promotion of renewable energy as our policies, like net metering, renewable portfolio standards, green energy option, and a provision of a renewable energy market, make our system more complex,” he said.

“Third, the government is also promoting the use of electric vehicles, where over two million were sold in 2018 and its number is expected to increase significantly in the future. Lastly, the rapid development of ICT. All of these call for the urgent shift to smart grid, which is expected to provide a safe environment, reliable sources, flexible, sustainable and more efficient system, and competitiveness towards consumer empowerment.” he said. — Victor V. Saulon

Electricity/Power Grid

25 years on, 500kV power line remains a technological feat

20 May 2019

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Vietnam

Part of the extra high voltage 500kV transmission line that runs through the south central province of Quảng Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngọc Hà

HÀ NỘI — May 27 this year will mark 25 years since Việt Nam’s first 500kV power transmission line was switched on, connecting the north and south of the country with an uninterrupted electricity supply.

Dubbed the ‘backbone’ of the national power grid, the power line is one of Việt Nam’s most significant technological feats, given how construction workers and technicians raced against time and finished nearly 1,500km of cables through 14 provinces and cities in a mere two years.

In the early 1990s, the southern region suffered from a serious electricity deficiency – on average, a day of uninterrupted power would be followed by a two or three-day long outage, at a time where the country had started to push for a free-market economic policy following the adoption of đổi mới (renewal) in 1986.

The situation was not only unimaginable by today’s standards but also a challenging puzzle for the country’s authorities as the southern region’s resources was not being put to use with such an unstable power supply.

At the same time, the northern region was recording an excess of electricity: a number of large-scale hydropower projects including Hoà Bình and thermopower plants in Uông Bí or Phả Lại were not even running at full capacity due to low demand.

The then Ministry of Energy, tasked with coming up with a solution to this conundrum, proposed a plan to transport electricity produced in the north to the south via an extra-high voltage 500kV power line that could bring 2 billion kWh a year to HCM City, the southern economic centre.

Despite skepticism from both inside and outside the country over the feasibility, efficiency and ambitious construction time of the project, the late Prime Minister Võ Văn Kiệt signed off on the project in February 1992 and the US$544 million project commenced in early April the same year.

During the 700 days of construction, some locations looked to be so remote it would be impossible to transport equipment and materials to implement the project, including the Hải Vân Pass and the highly dangerous Lò Xo Pass in Kon Tum Province, but it was eventually done thanks to thousands of local people carrying sacks of cement and steel up the mountains and hundreds of others providing logistics for the entire operation.

The hard work of dozens of thousands of workers and technicians finally paid off in May 27, 1994, when the 500kV substation in Pleiku in the central highlands province Gia Lai powered up the two grids in the north and south for the first time in history.

High maintenance

Technicians from the Power Transmission Company No2 under the State-run Electricity Việt Nam (EVN) operate an unmanned drone to inspect the 500kV power lines and substations as part of periodic maintenance. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngọc Hà

To get the system up and running was already a major achievement, but maintaining a system of this scale was a constant battle against the elements and sometimes, people.

Before the second circuit of the 500kv power transmission system went into operation in 2005, all of the power was carried by the first circuit for 10 years, and it frequently ran at full capacity and overloading was not uncommon.

Hồ Công, deputy director of the Power Transmission Company No3, which oversees the power grid in nine central highlands and south-central provinces under the State-run Việt Nam Electricity (EVN), said maintenance and operation of the power line in this region was even harder, due to the complex combination of terrain from treacherous jungle-covered mountains to deep rivers.

“And then there are downpours in the rainy season, which trigger flash floods and landslides. In the dry season, the heat, the scorching sunlight and ferocious dust storms are insufferable. We need to stay on high alert at times as the risk of fire [from vegetation] near the power line is constant,” Công told Vietnam News Agency.

The power line also passes through several plantations of rubber, coffee and pepper, as well as as forests of pine and cajuputs, which have a habit of falling – especially during the monsoon – and risk disrupting the supply for the entire southern region.

“Another challenge for us is that in the Central Highlands, with the power line running through areas mostly populated by ethnic minority groups of Ba Na, Ê Đê, Xê Đăng, who practice slash-and-burn farming, so it took us a lot of time to educate them on the need to do it safely with a controlled buffer zone to avoid the risk of fire to the power line,” Công said.

Besides, in several locations, there are still outdated devices and equipment that need to be replaced or upgraded.

The power sector in central highland and south-central provinces also frequently need to upgrade the power system to accommodate hydropower plants sprouting up in the uplands in subsequent years.

He noted that in the quarter of the decade since the power transmission system was built, the technology landscape had changed significantly and there had emerged several solutions – including the new control system Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, thermographic cameras that could help remotely raise alarms over possible risks, devices to help locate precisely the point of disruption on the length of the line – but the professional skills and knowledge of engineers and technicians still mattered.

If the first 500kV circuit could be considered an epic example of the Vietnamese people’s strong will, then the second and third circuits and the efforts of all those involved in making sure electricity runs uninterrupted – all done by Vietnamese – could be seen as a multi-generational extension of that epic effort, Hồ Công said. — VNS

Oil & Gas

Oil price hike seen this week

19 May 2019

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Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Oil prices are seen to increase this week as tensions in the Middle East pushed up global crude prices.

Unioil Petroleum Philippines said in its forecast that fuel prices are expected to get a significant rise next week.

“Diesel and gasoline should go up by P0.80 to P1.00 per liter,” it said in its weekly forecast.

During the past trading week, concerns over the global supply pushed oil prices higher amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

According to a report by Reuters, two Saudi Arabian oil tankers were attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

It was later reported that Houthi rebels attacked the tankers, which was described by Saudi Arabia as an attempt to undermine the security of crude supplies amid tensions between the US and Iran.

As counterattack, a Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen carried out several air strikes on the Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Thursday, Reuters reported.

The expected price adjustment comes after two consecutive weeks of price cuts on pump products.

Last week, oil companies rolled back gasoline prices by P1.25 to P1.30 per liter and kerosene by P0.30 per liter. Diesel prices were unchanged.

Electricity/Power Grid

Myanmar state counselor stresses utmost effort to increase power production

18 May 2019

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Myanmar

YANGON, May 18 (Xinhua) — Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has stressed the need to make utmost effort to increase electricity production, saying that the government has set up new infrastructure for the power system including installation of new cable lines and opening of new sub-power stations.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also chairperson of the Rural Areas and National Races Development Central Committee, made the remarks at the inaugural ceremony of a 145-megawatt (mw) gas power plant in Belin, Kyaukse township, central Mandalay region Friday, according to local government sources.

She expected that about 50 percent of the country’s electricity demand will be fulfilled before the end of this year, which will be up from 30 percent in 2016.

She revealed the government’s target to achieve nationwide electrification by 2025.

Of many power plants launched in Mandalay region, the present 145-mw Belin gas power plant has brought the total power produced in the region to 525 mw which will be transmitted not only to Mandalay region but also to the national grid reaching the people in the whole country, Suu Kyi said.

Myanmar is meeting just under 50 percent of its electricity demand which is one of the major requirements for the development of the country.

She added that power and transport are crucial for the country’s development and if the people get access to good transportation and electrification, their social-economic life will improve quickly.

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