Thai coal plants seen as way to cut dependence on natural gas

[Issangeorge]

Promote solar, give long term loans to people to invest in solar panels, it is now at the price level, where if it is used along with grid power it is affordable.

[Thai at Heart]

Promote solar, give long term loans to people to invest in solar panels, it is now at the price level, where if it is used along with grid power it is affordable.

What to do at nighttime?

[dcutman]

Promote solar, give long term loans to people to invest in solar panels, it is now at the price level, where if it is used along with grid power it is affordable.

What to do at nighttime?

I think it is called storage.

[Thai at Heart]

Promote solar, give long term loans to people to invest in solar panels, it is now at the price level, where if it is used along with grid power it is affordable.

What to do at nighttime?

I think it is called storage.

Of electricity from solar? As a plan for a national grid, that doesn't quite cut it unfortunately. There is still a need for non renewable, with other sources in addition.

[Andaman Al]

Actually there is a lot of Geo-thermal energy that could be used in Thailand. Around Krabi lots and lots of 'hot springs'. Evidence of not so deep significant Geo-thermal energy that could be tapped for next to nothing. Anyone want to start a powerplant business with me please get in touch

Edited November 17, 2015 by Andaman Al

[Issangeorge]

Promote solar, give long term loans to people to invest in solar panels, it is now at the price level, where if it is used along with grid power it is affordable.

What to do at nighttime?

I think it is called storage.

Of electricity from solar? As a plan for a national grid, that doesn't quite cut it unfortunately. There is still a need for non renewable, with other sources in addition.

Thailand already has natural gas, coal, and hydro powering its grid. The solar would help to relieve the grid at peak times. The beauty of solar is it is available during the daytime when it is vote at and thus the ac is running the most and electricity use is at its highest. Solar can help supply the extra electricity needed, and thus new coal plants don't have to be built.

[Lampang2]

Big lignite mine and power plant close to Lampang.

Probably adds much more to bad air than farmers burning the fields.

[halloween]

Was there not a post two weeks or so on TVF that natural gas was discovered in Khon Kean and the deposit was far more than the country currently uses to generate electricity ???

So why build 2 new coal fired power stations???

Last time I looked, Khon Kaen was in the north, and the excess demand for electricity is in the south of Thailand. Relying on long distance transmission is both expensive (called "transmission loss", strangely) and ultimately unreliable as evidenced by the big southern blackout. Building sources locally to meet demand is not only economic, it is logical.

BTW the vast majority of electricity generated in Oz is from coal fired stations.

[halloween]

Promote solar, give long term loans to people to invest in solar panels, it is now at the price level, where if it is used along with grid power it is affordable.

What to do at nighttime?

I think it is called storage.

Yes it is. Now work out how many batteries each house needs to supply their electricity needs for 18 hours per day.

[halloween]

Are you sure?

According to the 2010 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Thailand had end 2009 coal reserves of 1354 million tonnes, 0.16% of the world total.

http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/coal/as/th/p0005.htm

Thailand is a significant producer of lignite, which is used almost exclusively for power generation. Total national lignite production is around 21 Mt/y. The country currently also imports some 5-6 Mt/y of bituminous coal and some coke for industrial use. The 2,400 MW lignite-fired Mae Moh power plant is the largest source of electricity in the country, generating around 13% of Thailand’s electric power production, and also one of the largest point sources of atmospheric pollution in Southeast Asia. The total cost of the project has been estimated at US$1.3 billion, and US$1.1 billion has been received in debt financing from a consortium of financing institutions. Construction began during 2003 and is scheduled for completion in 2006. The project will rely on imported coal. Banpu's mines in Thailand and Indonesia currently have a combined capacity to produce 14.5 Mt/y, with a reserve base of 170 Mt and resources of 139 Mt.

Lignite, or brown coal, is a far more polluting energy source than anthracite (black or bituminous coal). the energy yield per ton is far lower, the ash and dust content far higher.