Thailand’s addiction to coal has global consequences

By Pratch Rujivanarom

 

 

In pushing for a massive coal-fired power plant in the South, the junta-led government is not only defying the global trend towards sustainable development – it is also putting the health of our next generation at risk.

 

The dispute over whether to build the Krabi plant is ongoing despite protesters having announced victory when Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha acknowledged the need to revisit the project’s Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA). 

 

However, the government’s EHIA improvement order is short on detail, sparking concern that dispute over the energy mega-project will inevitably erupt again in the near future.

 

Full Story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30307442

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-2-27

Coal fired power is dated technology. In Western Australia rooftop solar PV is growing at such a rapid rate that by 2022 the daytime power demand will drop below the minimum threshold required by coal fired stations to operate.  These stations cannot cycle up and down or switch off and on again for the evening peak. Therefore they must be retired. 

 

Rooftop and utility. scale solar PV should be encouraged in Thailand as a means of ensuring the country not only has energy security but also competitiveness with low power pricing.

Edited February 28, 20179 yr by scotchonrocks
Addition

A 19th century energy source for a 19th century government.  Shame there is no sunlight or water in thailand.... wait what!! 

14 minutes ago, scotchonrocks said:

Coal fired power is dated technology. In Western Australia rooftop solar PV is growing at such a rapid rate that by 2022 the daytime power demand will drop below the minimum threshold required by coal fired stations to operate.  These stations cannot cycle up and down or switch off and on again for the evening peak. Therefore they must be retired. 

 

Rooftop and utility. scale solar PV should be encouraged in Thailand as a means of ensuring the country not only has energy security but also competitiveness with low power pricing.

Funny you mention Australia when the present  Ozzy governments big push is to get all the coal mines operating again and opening so called " clean" coal power plants. So not too dated for Australia then?

Edited February 28, 20179 yr by starky

1 hour ago, scotchonrocks said:

Coal fired power is dated technology. In Western Australia rooftop solar PV is growing at such a rapid rate that by 2022 the daytime power demand will drop below the minimum threshold required by coal fired stations to operate.  These stations cannot cycle up and down or switch off and on again for the evening peak. Therefore they must be retired. 

 

Rooftop and utility. scale solar PV should be encouraged in Thailand as a means of ensuring the country not only has energy security but also competitiveness with low power pricing.

Absolute rubbish, complete tripe, utter BS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_Western_Australia

Tell us, what is going to supply the morning and evening peaks while the solar panels produce nothing? Coal fired power station DO cycle up and down in output, though relatively slowly, and CAN be put on hot-standby, though the changing of turbine temperatures does increase metal fatigue and reduce overall life. 

1 hour ago, starky said:

Funny you mention Australia when the present  Ozzy governments big push is to get all the coal mines operating again and opening so called " clean" coal power plants. So not too dated for Australia then?

Oz politicians are quite happy to sell coal to the rest of the world, in particular Japan and China, but turn hypocrite when it comes to using it onshore, hoping to appease the voters force-fed on the renewable mantra. The PM has finally bit the bullet and come out in favour of reliable base load, but has yet to accept that efficient modern stations are sufficient and that nobody is interested in the idiocy of carbon capture.

Perhaps part of the discomfort of using coal in Thailand is because of the absence of the carbon credit legislation and exchange. Thailand has not been supportive of efforts to reduce C02 emission. They even reject a carbon sink proposal to maintain a reasonable forest conservation. If legislation is in place, I doubt the coal plant will be feasible considering 18 tons of C02 emission annually. Australia do have carbon credit legislation and exchange. 

2 hours ago, Jimbo2014 said:

A 19th century energy source for a 19th century government.  Shame there is no sunlight or water in thailand.... wait what!! 

The problem actually is, that it is very hot in Thailand, which has a very negative impact on the electricity output. Contrary to popular belief a much cooler climate with still sufficient sunshine is investment wise a much more attractive proposition.

 

3 hours ago, starky said:

Funny you mention Australia when the present  Ozzy governments big push is to get all the coal mines operating again and opening so called " clean" coal power plants. So not too dated for Australia then?

Seems like a page out of Trumps playbook. World wide cabal. Cheap is back in favor world wide clean air to costly. Big business is speaking. 

Edited February 28, 20179 yr by elgordo38

China and India build coal fired power stations everyday, they do not have any plans to

stop this in our lifetime, what about Russia how is their power produced.  

Carbon penalties is just a big money scam.  Carbon capture if it is done effectively

could be done by all countries that can afford to do that.

Replace the word coal for "back handers for an outdated technology" then you may get nearer the truth

1 hour ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

China and India build coal fired power stations everyday, they do not have any plans to

stop this in our lifetime, what about Russia how is their power produced.  

Fake news. SAD.

In fact China, Russia and India are increasing the number of nuclear power stations well into the next several decades.

Many other countries are now adding nuclear power and/or upgrades to their electric grids such as Spain, USA and Finland.

http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwide.aspx

And many more sources should you have any interest in FACTS.

 

Reading in the famous Bangkok English newspaper. Business section February 22. BCPG close to renewable deal. It is continuing expanding its renewable power portfolio OVERSEAS saying it is in talks with a company in an ASIAN country. Hey boys whats wrong with your own backyard no country loyalty??

14 hours ago, Bullie said:

The problem actually is, that it is very hot in Thailand, which has a very negative impact on the electricity output. Contrary to popular belief a much cooler climate with still sufficient sunshine is investment wise a much more attractive proposition.

 

thats a new one ten out of ten.

 

Youre living in the past, Europe's biggest production house Germany and even Japan is powered by? (it ain't bulls rear end stuff that is for sure) Heat does not come into it, except trying to get the staff who know how to install it to work in the heat. PV today needs only a small amount of light to generate, give it loads of sun and it gives you loads power. But then you need a power company with the know how and a grid to distribute it. Electricity cannot be stored except in batteries, but lossy in that form, run it around a network or grid and bingo. Thailand does not use heating units but does use  Aircon so even stevens my friend

Cheapest stable power to allow the poor of Thailand to afford electricity.   Coal fired plants can run with minimal emissions, just have to take care of the fly ash, which is a good additive to concrete.

15 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

China and India build coal fired power stations everyday, they do not have any plans to

stop this in our lifetime, what about Russia how is their power produced.  

Carbon penalties is just a big money scam.  Carbon capture if it is done effectively

could be done by all countries that can afford to do that.

 

Erm, no, that's completely wrong.

 

China announced in January 2017 that they were cancelling 103 planned coal plants, which would have been been worth $62 Billion and generated 120GW.

 

http://www.sciencealert.com/the-end-of-coal-is-near-china-just-scrapped-103-power-plants