Unprecedented Heatwave Spurs High Power Demand in Thailand

[webfact]

 

Thailand is in the grip of a record-breaking heatwave, driving the nation's power demand to enormous levels. The Thai Meteorological Department reported that over three dozen districts across the country's 77 provinces experienced their highest ever temperatures for April, the traditionally hottest month, with some records breaking those set in 1958.

 

This extreme heat has caused a surge in electricity consumption, with a record peak of 36,699 megawatts on April 29, marking the third record-breaking demand in a week.

 

To meet these rising demands, PTT, Thailand's state-owned energy company, has secured an emergency shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with possible additional purchases being considered. LNG is mainly used for power generation in this nation.

 

The extreme temperatures have sparked health and safety concerns, as heat-related fatalities increase. The Ministry of Public Health has linked around 30 deaths to the heat this year. In response, residents have been cautioned to reduce outdoor activities as predictions forecast temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many areas.

 

In Bangkok, the heat index, which includes humidity, hit more than 52 degrees Celsius, a level considered very dangerous, thus posing extreme discomfort and potential health hazards. Lampang, a northern province, saw the temperature soar to 44.2 degrees Celsius, only slightly below the country's all-time high of 44.6 degrees Celsius.

 

TOP Picture: NNT- National News Bureau of Thailand

 

-- 2024-05-02

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[BigBruv]

Let see if the climate nuts / do gooders jump on this thread or is it only when someone else wants to use some energy?

[ezzra]

14 minutes ago, BigBruv said:

Let see if the climate nuts / do gooders jump on this thread or is it only when someone else wants to use some energy?

Why the negativity? the article just point out to a very unusual and extreme weather conditions Thailand is experiencing

at the moment and it has nothing to do with 'do good dooers or climate activist, this is a pure freak of nature..

[KhunLA]

The damn expanding HiSo & middle class using their ACs ... 

 

 

That greenhouse effect from pollution doesn't help any.  High AQI & PM2.5 numbers forcing high temps ...

... just a coincidence, I think not

 

But hey, blame everything on the fake climate change, and you can tax everything 

 

The do gooders don't care, as they have solar and drive EVs 

 

Help save the energy for all you other people who need it   GOD helps those that help themselves ... or so I'm told  

Edited May 1 by KhunLA

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand is in the grip of a record-breaking heatwave, driving the nation's power demand to enormous levels.

Wait till half the vehicles private and commercial are electric...

 

[Bandersnatch]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The extreme temperatures have sparked health and safety concerns, as heat-related fatalities increase. The Ministry of Public Health has linked around 30 deaths to the heat this year.

 

These figures are definitely under reported. In our village alone we have one death and one in ICU. 

 

One guy was fishing in a pond thinking that the water would keep him cool not realizing that the sun was reflecting off the water and he was getting a double dose. He had a heart attack and was very fortunate to be pulled out before he drowned. He is the one in ICU.

 

The other case is very tragic, an old guy was out in his field alone burning the stubble when he was overcome by the heat. His burned body was found later by his family.

 

I am fortunate to have solar so have dedicated a room with aircon for our 5 dogs all month.

 

I have been living in Thailand for 20 years and this is the hottest I’ve ever seen it. 

 

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

19 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Wait till half the vehicles private and commercial are electric...

 

 

Not in Thailand. EV sales here are ramping up, but ICE sales still dominate.

 

 

 

[daveAustin]

This topic is bound to draw in the ‘heating up of climate’ deniers (thicky uninformed boomers usually), where it might just be an unusually hot summer regardless. Using a load of aircon. Bkk and CM are especially horrible. Dead, stifling air. 

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

The do gooders don't care, as they have solar and drive EVs 

But, still have to live on the same planet, right? I also think an EV have to be charged, and also the need for electric power in home combined with the car would be quite much to carry 100% with solar.

[KhunLA]

12 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

But, still have to live on the same planet, right? I also think an EV have to be charged, and also the need for electric power in home combined with the car would be quite much to carry 100% with solar.

Not really and we do it with no problem, with just an 8kW system.   Plenty of excess for the EVs while still abusing the hell out of the ACs.   Using 1000kWh a month ... no problem.

 

When crappy weather, overcast, and not quite enough for the house & car, we would just take the E-MB.   Haven't really needed to yet.   Others have larger systems, and if conservative with the ACs, could probably get by with a 5kWh system, although we couldn't.   Ours is just big or small enough, for a couple crappy days of weather.  Haven't needed the grid since installed.

Edited May 2 by KhunLA

[Bandersnatch]

8 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

But, still have to live on the same planet, right? I also think an EV have to be charged, and also the need for electric power in home combined with the car would be quite much to carry 100% with solar.

 

I have solar and 2 EVs and no grid connection

https://youtu.be/zGaoKTUrEwg

[JGon]

I knew months in advance that this year was going to be the hottest summer because of what is called the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation ). In "El Niño" conditions SE Asia gets hotter and drier than usual... add the higher AQI numbers and a strong heat wave and you get this. Thankfully seems like the rains are back from May 6th onwards... 

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Thailand is in the grip of a record-breaking heatwave, driving the nation's power demand to enormous levels. The Thai Meteorological Department reported that over three dozen districts across the country's 77 provinces experienced their highest ever temperatures for April, the traditionally hottest month, with some records breaking those set in 1958.

 

This extreme heat has caused a surge in electricity consumption, with a record peak of 36,699 megawatts on April 29, marking the third record-breaking demand in a week.

 

To meet these rising demands, PTT, Thailand's state-owned energy company, has secured an emergency shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with possible additional purchases being considered. LNG is mainly used for power generation in this nation.

 

The extreme temperatures have sparked health and safety concerns, as heat-related fatalities increase. The Ministry of Public Health has linked around 30 deaths to the heat this year. In response, residents have been cautioned to reduce outdoor activities as predictions forecast temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many areas.

 

In Bangkok, the heat index, which includes humidity, hit more than 52 degrees Celsius, a level considered very dangerous, thus posing extreme discomfort and potential health hazards. Lampang, a northern province, saw the temperature soar to 44.2 degrees Celsius, only slightly below the country's all-time high of 44.6 degrees Celsius.

 

TOP Picture: NNT- National News Bureau of Thailand

 

-- 2024-05-02

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If you would use Solar Power there would be no need to mention any problems with supply of electricity.

[KhunLA]

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

If you would use Solar Power there would be no need to mention any problems with supply of electricity.

That's using way too much of that uncommon common sense 

 

Why a tropical country doesn't have solar on every rooftop is mind boggling ...

... never mind, I know why 

[sammieuk1]

Here's my report from Blueport HH yesterday ..Bring your eggs and bacon and cook it on your face as soon as you enter ..if you are foolish enough to go to the 2nd hand market on the top floor bring a Sunday roast 🤔

[Gottfrid]

13 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

I have solar and 2 EVs and no grid connection

https://youtu.be/zGaoKTUrEwg

Interesting. How big are your system and how much space does it require?

[Gottfrid]

15 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Not really and we do it with no problem, with just an 8kW system.   Plenty of excess for the EVs while still abusing the hell out of the ACs.   Using 1000kWh a month ... no problem.

 

When crappy weather, overcast, and not quite enough for the house & car, we would just take the E-MB.   Haven't really needed to yet.   Others have larger systems, and if conservative with the ACs, could probably get by with a 5kWh system, although we couldn't.   Ours is just big or small enough, for a couple crappy days of weather.  Haven't needed the grid since installed.

Great! As, I asked another poster. How much space does it require?

[ExpatOilWorker]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

To meet these rising demands, PTT, Thailand's state-owned energy company, has secured an emergency shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with possible additional purchases being considered. LNG is mainly used for power generation in this nation.

Awesome 👌 news!!

[newbee2022]

17 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That's using way too much of that uncommon common sense 

 

Why a tropical country doesn't have solar on every rooftop is mind boggling ...

... never mind, I know why 

Yeah, me too. But it's not forbidden to ask, isn't it?🙏

[Bandersnatch]

13 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Interesting. How big are your system and how much space does it require?

 

This video shows my solar system and should answer most of your questions

 

 

[Chassa]

If you would use Solar Power there would be no need to mention any problems with supply of electricity.

 

 

How may Thai people (peasants?) can afford al this Farang nonsense regarding Solar power and EV's!

[Bandersnatch]

14 minutes ago, Chassa said:

How may Thai people (peasants?) can afford al this Farang nonsense regarding Solar power and EV's!

 

EV sales are taking off, shows what little you know about the subject:

 

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sales in Thailand surged by 603% year-on-year to 73,568 units last year, with the upward trend expected to continue throughout this year, as per the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

https://aseannow.com/topic/1321870-thai-ev-sales-surge-by-603-amid-government-incentives/

 

Solar is also growing a rapid rate, just open your eyes next time you go into a DIY store like Thaiwasadu

 

As for your “peasants” comment, electric motorbike sales are expanding with shops popping up everywhere.

 

Solar is also very common now for moving water on farms 

 

As for your “nonsense” comment you can achieve payback in 5 years which is a 20% return on your investment.

[KhunLA]

43 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Great! As, I asked another poster. How much space does it require?

For our system, less than 40-45m² of roof.  Panels are ~2m² each, and we have 18 X 540w that will generate 9.7kWh, and Inverter will put out 8.8kWh at peak sun/performance.

 

 

They have better panels, at least 640w, I think, and posted here somewhere, so would need a few less for same.

Edited May 2 by KhunLA

[KhunLA]

33 minutes ago, Chassa said:

If you would use Solar Power there would be no need to mention any problems with supply of electricity.

How may Thai people (peasants?) can afford al this Farang nonsense regarding Solar power and EV's!

A lot more than you think, obviously.  Our installer is putting in at least 2 systems a week, and works non stop.

 

Probably the same peasants (really ?) driving around in ฿2-3-4M vehicles, that don't live in a one room apartment / condo, and sit on the barstool all day.

[stoner]

43 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

This video shows my solar system and should answer most of your questions

 

 

 

very nice.

[VinnieK]

I feel sorry for all you schmucks who chose to reside anywhere north of BKK

What were you thinking?

 

 

[patman30]

for the righteous i have solar and drive an EV
that is you
Yes, you are fortunate to able to do what you do and live how you live, be grateful
the vast majority of people cannot live like you
the vast majority of people use their cars during the day
the vast majority of people cannot afford solar
the vast majority of people cannot afford a brand new second hand car, let alone a new EV
the vast majority of people do not have 30 minutes to wait for a charge on long journeys
the vast majority of people cannot afford to replace a disposable EV every few years
the vast majority of people cannot afford to signal their virtue in such ways

if the grid cannot meet the demands of aircons being run on high
imagine how bad it would get when everyone got home from work and charged their EV

Edited May 2 by patman30

[Gottfrid]

36 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

For our system, less than 40-45m² of roof.  Panels are ~2m² each, and we have 18 X 540w that will generate 9.7kWh, and Inverter will put out 8.8kWh at peak sun/performance.

 

 

They have better panels, at least 640w, I think, and posted here somewhere, so would need a few less for same.

Ok, I am totally wrong. Thought it needed much more space. Love it, and will look in to it. Thanks!

 

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

This video shows my solar system and should answer most of your questions

 

 

Thanks!

[Gottfrid]

11 minutes ago, patman30 said:

a brand new second hand car

Excuse me! What is a brand NEW SECOND HAND CAR? 😂

Didn´t you talk about the importance of words?