News Clipping Archive - Page 1174 of 1320

Electricity/Power Grid ,
Renewables

‘Leapfrogging’ the grid: Hybrid lithium-flow in action at a remote Thai village microgrid

15 April 2019

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Thailand

While energy storage, like the electrification of transport, is often discussed as the ‘Next Big Thing’ for first world economies, this emerging technology is starting to play an important role in developing nations too. Just as mobile telephony revolutionised telecommunications in developing economies during the past two decades by leapfrogging the need for fixed line services, energy storage systems are eliminating the requirement to connect remote communities to a national power grid.

Coupled with renewable energy produced by photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, energy storage systems in remote communities can store that energy until it is required overnight or on a cloudy day. An excellent demonstration of the benefits of energy storage systems in developing nations is Ban Pha Dan, a village in a mountainous region of northern Thailand that has long lacked electricity.

Up until now, people in Ban Pha Dan had to rely on candles and oil lamps for light at night or resort to four-wheel-drives carting in diesel for generators to generate electricity. The lack of electricity also resulted in a lack of road lighting, which made it difficult to travel at night. In a project backed by the Thai Government, Ban Pha Dan is using solar cells to generate power and a high-performance hybrid battery system, including Redflow ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries and lithium batteries, to store and deliver energy for a village that is separated from the national electricity distribution network.

TSUS Group’s GM Tossapon Jirattipong (left), Redflow’s ‘man on the ground in Thailand Mark Benfield (centre) and TSUS Group CEO Dr Suriyon Chomdee. Image: Redflow

Combination of technologies to find the ‘best economic case’

Under its national Power Development Plan, announced in January this year by the Thailand National Energy Policy Council, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Thailand aims to prioritise the development of renewable energy sources for the period 2018-2037. The plan expects that non-fossil energy sources will account for 35% of the country’s total capacity by 2037.

TSUS Group General Manager Tossapon Jirattipong explains that Ban Pha Dan is a pilot project to enable Thai Government agencies to gain insight into lithium and zinc-bromine flow batteries for future deployments. “For this project, they needed to see the two things, first how to manage both flow batteries and lithium batteries,” he says.

“They expect that flow batteries should be the best for baseload management and, when demand gets higher, then lithium batteries can meet those peak demands. This configuration prolongs the life expectancy for both types of batteries.

“The hybrid energy storage system will also enable them to compare the efficiency and economic value of the two different battery types. Combining them produced the best economic case.”

Redflow believes the Ban Pha Dan deployment provides a compelling model for remote communities in both developing and developed countries. This solar-powered microgrid with energy storage shows how to provide environmentally-friendly energy for remote communities.

Redlow’s factory in Thailand, which the company says could be eventually ramped up to an annual production capacity of 30MWh.Image: Redflow.

Improving quality of life without spending big on infrastructure

Without the cost and pollution of diesel generators, this system gives local people access to energy for lighting, refrigeration and water pumps, which significantly improves their quality of life.

The success of the Ban Pha Dan system demonstrates the benefits of solar-powered microgrids with energy storage for remote communities in developing nations, including the Asia-Pacific region, southern Africa and even remote mining communities in Australia.

Just as mobile telephony leapfrogged fixed-line telecommunications in developing countries, microgrids can deliver the benefits of modern technology without the massive infrastructure spend required by grid-based energy utilities.

Electricity/Power Grid ,
Energy Cooperation

PM – Vietnam agrees to provide additional 50MW of electricity

15 April 2019

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Cambodia ,
Vietnam

Prime Minister Hun Sen has told Fresh News that Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to provide the additional of 50MW of electricity on top of 200MW supply to Cambodia.

The Premier added that the Vietnamese Prime Minister conveyed best regards to Cambodian King, the President of the Senate, the President of the National Assembly, the Government and all Cambodians on the occasion of the Khmer New Year.

Cambodia faces a shortage of 400MW during the dry season.

Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked Vietnam for always supporting Cambodia during hard time.

Renewables

Indonesia delays auction of geothermal areas due to ongoing tariff negotiations

14 April 2019

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Indonesia

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources delayed the auction of five Geothermal Working Areas (WKP). The Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) postponed the auction of five Geothermal Working Areas (WKP).

The auction, scheduled for this month will now be pushed to May. Director of Geothermal Directorate General of EBTKE, Ida Nuryatin Finahari, explained that the auction schedule was delayed because it was still awaiting the pre-transaction agreement (PTA) document from PLN. “They are preparing it,” he said to local news outlet KataData, last week.

“They want the price to be higher than what PLN offers. If the tariff is expensive, it does not need to be auctioned, “said PLN Business Director Djoko Rahardjo.

PTA is a WKP auction requirement. PTA is needed because PLN will buy electricity produced by private electricity producers (IPP) who win the WKP auction. In the PTA an electricity tariff scheme will be established. Ida stated that she could not confirm the tariff scheme.

However, before, he said the scheme was a sliding scale. With this scheme, electricity tariffs are dynamic following the amount of production. The tariff rate is determined by PLN.

“So for example the 0-10 MW price is so much, then if production increases to 10-20 MW the price changes,” he said, some time ago.

East Java Regional Business Director, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara PLN Djoko Rahardjo Abumanan explained that it has drafted a PTA draft, however, electricity tariffs are still negotiated with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. According to him, tariff negotiations are tough. the tariff is expensive, it doesn’t need to be auctioned, “he said. The five WKPs to be auctioned are Laniea in Sulawesi with a capacity of 66 MW, Sembulan in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) with a capacity of 100 MW, Telaga Ranu in North Maluku with a capacity of 85 MW. Gunung Wilis in East Java with a capacity of 50 MW, and WKP Gunung Galunggung in West Java with a capacity of 10 MW.

Others

New Nissan Philippines chief to focus on customer service, e-vehicles

14 April 2019

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Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The new head of Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) aims to sustain the company’s sales growth momentum by focusing on customer satisfaction and promoting electric vehicles (EVs).

“We delivered great results in the past couple of years and my vision is to sustain this growth momentum for the future,” NPI president and general manager Atsushi Najima told reporters during the company’s handover ceremony.

Najima replaces Ramesh Narasimhan who will be taking over as president of Nissan Thailand.

NPI has seen significant growth under Narasimhan’s leadership.

While most automotive firms registered lower sales last year due to weak demand for vehicles following the government’s move to slap higher taxes on automobiles, NPI bucked the trend as it sold 34,952 units, 40 percent higher than the 24,995 units in 2017.

In the same year, the company accounted for 8.7 percent share of the Philippine automotive market.

Following the good performance last year, Najima said NPI would want to sell to more Filipino consumers by focusing on customer satisfaction.

“Our service is not on sales only. We need to provide after-sales as well. That is why as far as we provide service, we think as a package. We want to get customer satisfaction,” he said.

He said there are opportunities for growth for the company in the country given the huge market, strong economic growth and rising purchasing power.

“Globally, if you look at other countries, GDP (gross domestic product) per capita exceeds $3,000, this is start of motorization. Philippines is exactly at that stage. I see huge opportunity for Philippine market,” he said.

To sustain the company’s growth momentum, he said NPI would also be expanding its offering through the launch of its EV, the Nissan Leaf, next year.

As part of preparations for the launch of the Leaf next year, he said NPI intends to continue to work with the government, as well as to support policies for the development for EVs in the country.

Others

Laos to launch electric vehicle charging system

14 April 2019

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Lao PDR

Laos is stepping up efforts for the use of electric vehicles in the country and will be launching a pilot project for vehicle battery charging stations. The Ministry of Energy and Mines is set to work with the private sector on the project as part of efforts to support the government’s move to minimise the use of fossil fuels.

In his opening remarks at an event held on April 2 to sign a memorandum of understanding on the project, the country’s Minister of Energy and Mines Khammany Inthirath said Laos imports a large volume of fuel annually which has caused a huge trade deficit over the years.

“We are heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels which causes a huge annual deficit. Therefore, this pilot project on the use of electric vehicles will be very helpful in decreasing the consumption of fuel,” he said.

Laos is promoting the use of clean energy in the transport sector as part of measures to translate the government’s policy into an action plan until 2025, a strategy for 2030 and a vision for 2050 for supplying energy to the sector.

“Laos has abundant potential for the use of natural resources such as water, solar power, wind and waste. These could be used to generate 26,000 megawatt annually. So far, about 20 per cent of this potential has been developed,” he said.

Khammany said Laos imports almost two billion liters of fuel per year, worth more than $1 billion.

However, he noted that prior to the official inauguration of clean energy for transport, it was necessary to develop infrastructure, besides charging stations also spare parts outlets and repair centers.

As a first step, Electricite du Laos (EDL) signed an agreement with EV Lao Co Ltd for a feasibility study on charging stations, which will be jointly implemented by the two companies.

EDL managing director Boun-oum Syvanpheng said his firm has been actively studying charging systems for electric vehicles as part of preparations for changing over to clean energy.

EV Lao president Bounleuth Luangpraseuth added the company was keen to work with the government on the possibility of building charging stations.

He said charging stations could be installed at public and private locations and called for recommendations from the public and private sector for the development and operation of electric vehicles in Laos.

Renewables

EDC to supply geothermal energy to Neltex manufacturing facility

13 April 2019

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Philippines

Neltex, the Philippines’ largest manufacturer or plastic pipe products, has tapped Energy Development Corporation to supply renewable energy to their manufacturing facility in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Geothermal energy will come from EDC’s Bacon-Manito geothermal project in the Bicol region. This move will make Neltex the first company in the country’s plastic pipe industry to have made the shift to renewable energy.

Prior to this agreement, EDC had already been supplying green energy to Continental Temic Electronics Philippines, a global automotive parts company based in Calamba, Laguna.

With a total installed capacity of 1471.8 MWe, EDC is one of the largest geothermal companies worldwide. It is a subsidiary of First Gen Corporation, which maintains a portfolio of geothermal, solar, wind, hydro, and natural gas energy assets. EDC and First Gen were the only two Philippine companies that were included among the world’s biggest and greenest companies.

Energy Economy ,
Oil & Gas

Sapura Energy secures RM1.3bil jobs

13 April 2019

–

Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: Sapura Energy Bhd

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

’s shares rose after it announced it had secured RM1.3bil worth of new jobs.The oil and gas counter, which was briefly suspended yesterday pending the announcement, gained one sen to close at 34.5 sen. It was the most actively traded counter, with 312.4 million shares changing hands.

In total, there were five new contracts worth a combined sum of about RM1.3bil that Sapura Energy had won for its engineering and construction and drilling segments.

In its filings with Bursa Malaysia, the company said the new wins included a submarine rescue service contract for the Royal Australian Navy. And marking its foray into Egypt, the group’s unit Sapura Offshore Sdn Bhd won a subcontract from Pan Marine Petroleum Services Company for the installation of six new subsea pipelines in the Gulf of Suez.

In the drilling segment, Sapura Energy’s unit, Sapura Drilling Asia Sdn Bhd, secured two contracts for the provision of drilling rigs from ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc and Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd respectively.

The list also included a contract from ENI East Sepinggan Ltd won by Sapura Offshore for the construction and installation of two offshore rigid pipelines from the Jangkrik facility to a future manifold near Merakes drilling centres.

The group said its growing orderbook, resulting from the new contract wins, was expected to increase its asset utilisation and contribute to improving its financial performance.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2019/04/13/sapura-energy-secures-rm13bil-jobs/#BqlTIDFyySzmJOke.99

Energy Cooperation

India-Asean officials meet, discuss connectivity

13 April 2019

–

ASEAN

A two-day meeting of 21st Asean-India Senior Officials concluded here on Friday after they discussed ways to impart impetus to connectivity and deepen cooperation on financial matters.

The meeting was co-chaired by Vijay Thakur Singh, Senior Officials’ Meeting Leader (SOM) and Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry and Busaya Mathelin, SOM Leader and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand.

India congratulated Thailand on its assuming the Chairmanship of Asean for 2019 and welcomed its role as country coordinator of the Asean-India dialogue parternship for the period 2018-2021.

An MEA release said that the meeting reviewed the Asean-India strategic partnership and its future direction.

“They made their assessment on the progress of cooperation under all three pillars – political-security, economic and socio-cultural. The SOM leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of interest,” it said.

The release said they agreed to deepen maritime cooperation as decided at the Asean-India commemorative summit 2018. In this context, they proposed to undertake a variety of measures, including enhanced cooperation in blue economy.

“The meeting desired to impart impetus to Asean-India connectivity, in all its forms. It also welcomed the commissioning of the ERIA study on the trilateral highway and its extension to Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam as well as the proposal on formation of digital villages in the Asean countries, under digital connectivity.

“They also discussed ways and means to further deepen cooperation on financial matters,” the release said.

The meeting decided to impart urgency to cooperation in renewable energy and hold a conference in 2019.

The release said that Asean-India partnership is being implemented through the ‘Plan of Action (2016-20)’ and is making good progress along the 30 mechanisms to implement cooperation in the different sectors.

News Clipping

Combination of technologies to find the ‘best economic case’

Improving quality of life without spending big on infrastructure

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