Thailand steps away from coal

By The Nation

 

 

Natural gas gets a bigger role in the draft 2018 Power Development Plan, but it remains to be seen which fuel is better for producing electricity

 

The Electricity Generating Authority Thailand (EGAT) has turned its back on coal-fired power plants for now after years of fruitless attempts to build them in southern Thailand.

 

The proposed Krabi coal-fired plant came up against strong opposition from environmental groups and non-governmental organisations on the grounds that it could cause harm to the ecosystem, specifically fisheries, as well as the tourism industry.

EGAT also wanted to build the Tepa coal-fired power plant in southern Songkhla province, but both of these projects are now on hold – deleted from the just-released draft 2018 Power Development Plan (PDP), which sets out the country’s long-range energy goals and ambitions.

 

According to the draft PDP, waiting next for Cabinet approval, EGAT would instead focus more on power plants that burn natural gas, with Surat Thani named as the site for construction of two such facilities. Each of these would generate 700 megawatts of electricity into the national grid system, the first in 2027 and the second by 2029. Natural gas is seen as a more environmentally friendly fuel compared to coal, even though EGAT has often asserted that today’s technology for burning coal has improved to the point where coal-fired plants produce less pollution and those using natural gas.

 

The gas-fired plants proposed for Surat Thani would effectively be substitutes for the Krabi and Tepa projects in ensuring power security in southern Thailand.

 

In addition, the PDP calls for the government to invite the private sector to invest in a 1,000-megawatt “independent power producer” (IPP) project that would start generating electricity in 2034. The National Energy Policy Committee held a public hearing on the 2018 PDP in Surat Thani on December 6, where it was noted that the IPP project could use coal as fuel, but the final decision would be subject to further studies on environmental impacts. Another IPP scheme, rated for 700 megawatts, is planned for 2035, but this would use natural gas as fuel.

 

Energy experts believe southern Thailand should have at least one major coal-fired power plant so there is diversity among fuels used for generating electricity, which would favourably affect prices and help guarantee power security. The PDP will likely be updated again in 2020, when the consequences of using natural gas and rooftop solar power on the country’s energy demands can be taken into consideration. The government is keener now on energy produced with rooftop solar panels and will start buying solar power from the private sector next year, with a target of purchasing more than 10,000 megawatts as we approach 2036.

 

EGAT meanwhile has sought support from the Energy Ministry to allow it to boost its share of electricity generation to 50 per cent of the country’s total capacity. At present, EGAT’s share is only 37 per cent, with the rest coming from facilities run by the private sector, especially IPPs. To increase its role in power generation, EGAT will have to compete with the private sector. 

 

Public hearings on the draft 2018 PDP will be completed shortly, after which the plan will be submitted to Cabinet for approval. Overall, the PDP is supposed to cap the average price of electricity at about Bt5.55 per unit, equivalent to the average tariff set out in the 2015 PDP.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30360369

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-14

There is lots of cheap gas in Asia and environs. 

I know there is lots of cheap coal from Indonesia, but you have to applaud this decision.

Gas is a better and cleaner option especially if they build a truly modern power plant that creates little environmental footprint.

The next thing to do is encourage solar technology. So many roofs, so much sun, so little incentive.

Thailand is not placed geographically to consider wind, wave or geo power. But there is lots of sun and cloud is just a minimal obstacle.

 Financial incentive for solar would be a positive move.

Then start to reduce plastic bag use. No, I was only joking there, plastic bags are part of Thai culture. 

Solar power has made huge strides in becoming more efficient and the average light in Thailand would be around 9 hours of electricity producing power from panels, i AGREE !  more proactive approaches from the government and incentive schemes are needed to get away from fossil fuels which are still so destructive. 

 

 

25 minutes ago, leeneeds said:

Solar power has made huge strides in becoming more efficient and the average light in Thailand would be around 9 hours of electricity producing power from panels, i AGREE !  more proactive approaches from the government and incentive schemes are needed to get away from fossil fuels which are still so destructive. 

 

 

You can half that number to 4.5 hours per day on average over a year, then you are correct.

1 minute ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

You can half that number to 4.5 hours per day on average over a year, then you are correct.

 Where do you get that from?

I have 3 solar lights around our home, plus 4 solar sensor lights.

The 3 lights are on around 9 to 9 and a half hours, overcast days around 6 hours. 

Thailand's solar 'potential' is actually not very good.

 

Think cloud cover, rain, and geography.

 

See the attached graphic.

Go nuclear what could possibly go wrong???? 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The Electricity Generating Authority Thailand (EGAT) has turned its back on coal-fired power plants for now

So much for the "clean coal" arguments supporting coal-fired power plants.

You may not be aware that one of Thailand's EGAT largest power plants is lignite coal fired. It is situated at Mae Moh near Lampang and produces 50% of electricity for the North, 30% to Central and 20% to the South. I am sure EGAT is not going to turn its back on this plant - many jobs would be lost. Lignite is mined locally.

 

The headline is hard to understand. What does 'steps away' mean ? I read it two different ways. Is 'steps away' a distance or a verb ?  In either case those for gas have an economic interest for their cause, same as coal does. It is all about the money.

France has actually made a coal fired power plant with filters & extractors that minimize

the pollution down to less than 1%. That is 43 times better than gas.

But Thailand will not pay the premium

Whilst I applaud all you solar buffs the complexity & huge costs to store will make it

unsuitable for mainstream supply in my life time. Wind & wave power is the answer long term

where hydro is not available

 

39 minutes ago, natway09 said:

France has actually made a coal fired power plant with filters & extractors that minimize

the pollution down to less than 1%. That is 43 times better than gas.

But Thailand will not pay the premium

Does that include CO2 as well? It is always POSSIBLE to remove toxic gases from the discharged gases -although sometimes this just produces liquid or solid waste instead, and is expensive. And, of course, there is the ash .... you have to dispose of that as well. CO2 can also be removed, again at a price, and it also impacts on efficiency (you use some of the energy produced to run the other equipment). The reason why you do not see this technology in use is that it is currently uneconomic. Gas, renewables are cheaper.

On 12/13/2018 at 3:43 PM, leeneeds said:

Solar power has made huge strides in becoming more efficient and the average light in Thailand would be around 9 hours of electricity producing power from panels, i AGREE !  more proactive approaches from the government and incentive schemes are needed to get away from fossil fuels which are still so destructive. 

 

 

Should've been quite universal worldwide some time ago - natural and perpetuating alternative energy sources. 

Yes...?

 

You might ask yourself why this is not the case. 

The rhyme and reasons as to why things never progress in this manner.

When EGAT tells its wisdom(?!) about the present technology for burning coal's 'improvement', IMHO coal it will mainly be, and coming from ...China. Don't ask me why, just a wild guess. 

On 12/14/2018 at 12:09 PM, Burma Bill said:

You may not be aware that one of Thailand's EGAT largest power plants is lignite coal fired. It is situated at Mae Moh near Lampang and produces 50% of electricity for the North, 30% to Central and 20% to the South. I am sure EGAT is not going to turn its back on this plant - many jobs would be lost. Lignite is mined locally.

 

EGAT wants to upgrade it.

 

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) plans to propose the Energy Ministry allocate 35 billion baht to develop two units of coal-fired power plants in Lampang's Mae Moh district to replace... 

 

35 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

EGAT wants to upgrade it.

 

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) plans to propose the Energy Ministry allocate 35 billion baht to develop two units of coal-fired power plants in Lampang's Mae Moh district to replace... 

 

Interesting, so EGAT is not "stepping away" from coal as stated. Good news for the local workers and associated companies. Have a nice day.