Smart Grid to change the face of Thai power, energy systems

[webfact]

Smart Grid to change the face of Thai power, energy systems
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering is undergoing a pilot run of its so-called Smart Grid project. The project's aim is to demonstrate that the use of electricity and energy in Thailand by consumers can be greater while maintaining power supplies over the long term.

Also being tested under this project are charging stations for electrical vehicles (EV) in several provinces - and a virtual power plant, in which smaller power plants are remotely operated through computerised controls, said faculty dean Prof Bundhit Eua-arporn.

The Smart Grid project is in parallel with other operations of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), under the Energy Ministry, which runs energy-related programmes. They include renewable energy and alternative energy sources, such as solar cells and power windmills.

The faculty works jointly with three electricity authorities - Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, and the Provincial Electricity Authority. The Smart Grid roadmap has been completed by the agencies now conducting the pilot run, through a CU technical seminar named after the late dean, Arun Sorathet.

Insecurity over energy supplies

Bundhit said the Smart Grid scheme had been prompted by insecurity in energy supplies, which would result in insufficient electricity production, and climate change, which would lead to greater consumption of power in the long run. The development under Smart Grid would also mean competition to power producers in the region and profits from businesses associated with it.

EPPO director-general Samerjai Suksumek said energy management in Thailand would from now on be run on a "doing more with less" principle, with the help of general and information technology, through two-way interface, on a basis of environmental friendliness and resources austerity.

Projects involving the Smart Grid would be accepted more by communities in locations where they'd been set up due to the smaller size of the plants and less discharge. At the same time, higher petrol prices and scarcer resources would make it more welcome by consumers in general, he added.

A senior EGAT official, Patthana Saengsriroj, said a Smart Grid pilot in Mae Hong Son which began last year was expected to be completed by next December, when the five agencies would jointly study and assess it. Once proven successful, it would be further developed into a national project, and later to the regional level.

A senior MEA official, Ratanarojana Thavisin, said a routine service had been upgraded in a new framework associated with Smart Grid, to boost efficiency of electricity distribution to the MEA services also in Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi, apart from Bangkok - the main area of MEA responsibility.

A deputy PEA governor, Suwat Chiewcharchai, said the Smart Grid under PEA responsibility was focused on further developing smart substations and expanding feeder automation to serve customers in the provinces, while helping develop charging stations for EV and Pattaya.

The charging stations are being built at another nine MEA offices, after the first station at the MEA headquarters in Bangkok's Ploenchit area which is now serving both prototype and service MEA electrical vehicles, said Ratanarojana.


-- The Nation 2014-05-05

[chooka]

One day in next 500 or so years they may actually work out how to put their cables underground.

[zydeco]

Another brand new scheme to exploit. The skimmers are going to get rich off this one.

[NongKhaiKid]

A few days ago we had a short, sharp shower of rain in my area overnight then at 0700 the thunder started but no rain or lightning.

However as soon as the first peal started the power went off and remained off for 16 hours. I admit it was raining heavily only 5 Kms away but ... ?

[zydeco]

A few days ago we had a short, sharp shower of rain in my area overnight then at 0700 the thunder started but no rain or lightning.

However as soon as the first peal started the power went off and remained off for 16 hours. I admit it was raining heavily only 5 Kms away but ... ?

I've had that happen twice in the last week. The transformers are blowing. You can hear them when they go. One blew right across the street from me. Thought it was a bomb.

[bluebluewater]

Just look up at any electrical pole. That is what their smart grid is also going to look like.

[NongKhaiKid]

A few days ago we had a short, sharp shower of rain in my area overnight then at 0700 the thunder started but no rain or lightning.

However as soon as the first peal started the power went off and remained off for 16 hours. I admit it was raining heavily only 5 Kms away but ... ?

I've had that happen twice in the last week. The transformers are blowing. You can hear them when they go. One blew right across the street from me. Thought it was a bomb.

Wow what a thought.

All these thunderstorms during the hot season and we still have the rainy season to look forward to.

Must get onto You Tube for the old Gene Kelly movie and brush up on the lyrics.

[gabruce]

A few days ago we had a short, sharp shower of rain in my area overnight then at 0700 the thunder started but no rain or lightning.

However as soon as the first peal started the power went off and remained off for 16 hours. I admit it was raining heavily only 5 Kms away but ... ?

I've had that happen twice in the last week. The transformers are blowing. You can hear them when they go. One blew right across the street from me. Thought it was a bomb.

FYI. In Chiang Mai transformers blowing up is a common occurrence. At least once every couple of weeks. During rainy season it's more frequent. Usually electrical service is restored within the hour, sometimes just a few minutes. It was a bit disconcerting at first. You don't always see the flash, and always hear the explosion.

[spidermike007]

Just look up at any electrical pole. That is what their smart grid is also going to look like.

Exactly, before even talking about a smart grid, you have to improve your own system to the point where you have world class equipment, wiring, power poles, etc, etc. In Thailand the professors are always putting the cart before the horse. Tens of billions of dollars need to be spent improving the system nationwide to even bring it up the standard of Malaysia, much less the west. In Samui, the system is still a hodgepodge of spaghetti wires, thrown together, and in Samui they still face blackouts frequently. Same tens of billions of dollars need to be spent reforming the police, re-building the political system from the ground up, creating effective waste treatment facilities, etc. Where does one even begin, when it comes to bringing the infrastructure up the standard it should be?

[hyperdimension]

Would home solar power be a feasible solution in Thailand now that the costs of solar technology have dropped? Generating electricity ourselves seems more attractive than 100% relying and depending on any of the electricity authorities here.

Edited May 5, 2014 by hyperdimension

[Payboy]

faculty dean Prof Bundhit Eua-arporn

late dean, Arun Sorathet

EPPO director-general Samerjai Suksumek

senior EGAT official, Patthana Saengsriroj

senior MEA official, Ratanarojana Thavisin

deputy PEA governor, Suwat Chiewcharchai

I'm not sure whether we've dropped enough names in the press release to convince everyone it's really a smart grid.

[winstonc]

Would home solar power be a feasible solution in Thailand now that the costs of solar technology have dropped? Generating electricity ourselves seems more attractive than 100% relying and depending on any of the electricity authorities here.

in reality it should be the hub of solar power with the amount of sunshine it gets imagine free aircon..i would leave it on 24/7..

[3NUMBAS]

Just look up at any electrical pole. That is what their smart grid is also going to look like.

you mean spaghetti junction ??

beats me how they fault find in all that mess of confusion of cables

[northernjohn]

I think it is all great ideas.

Does any one know who they are pirating the information from?

[Kudel]

Would home solar power be a feasible solution in Thailand now that the costs of solar technology have dropped? Generating electricity ourselves seems more attractive than 100% relying and depending on any of the electricity authorities here.

in reality it should be the hub of solar power with the amount of sunshine it gets imagine free aircon..i would leave it on 24/7..

24/7 so the sun also shines at night in Thailand ?A smart grid or any grid in most western country's does not allow a person to produce electricity totally of grid and if so at night you would still need other means of getting electricity.

[farang62]

Never happen here.

Difficult in developed countries, Canada and the US struggeling with it now.

They would have to ripe it all out and start over.