Power Engineering - Thai energy chief calls for regional coordination

5 October 2004 ¿ Thailand's Permanent Secretary of Energy, Cherdpong Siriwit, today called for a greater degree of regional power coordination in South East Asia. Speaking at the opening keynote session of POWER-GEN Asia, being held in Bangkok this week, he said that such coordination would provide a better solution for neighbouring countries and contribute to improved security of supply.

Siriwit pointed to examples of power market cooperation such as the Nord Pool in Scandinavia and SIEPAC in Central America. He said that by building a connection between hydropower and thermal dominated power systems it would allow for greater power banking. "We would all benefit from a regional system," said Siriwat. He said that Laos has hydro potential of 3600 MW from the Mekong tributaries and Myanmar's hydro potential is 16 000MW.

Siriwat also urged delegates not to overlook the region's renewable energy potential. He said that the region could develop up to 1600 MW in wind power, 700 MW in mini hydro schemes and over 5000 MW from solar power. In addition he said that the potential from biomass power generation was in excess of 7000 MW.

The IEA World Energy Investment Outlook 2003 forecasts that China will be the largest single market for investment in the electricity sector globally in the period 2001-2030 with nearly $2000bn required. China and the other Asian countries will need more electricity investment than North America and Europe combined during this same period.

Dr Kajornsak Hotrabhavananda, deputy governor, policy and planning at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), told delegates that the latest projections were for an annual growth in electricity demand in Thailand of approximately 6.5 per cent.'s EGAT's 2004 Power Development Plan (PDP) for Thailand projects peak demand rising from a recent high of 19 326 MW to around 40 000 MW by 2015.

Thailand's PDP aims for renewable energy productions amounting to five per cent of capacity from 2011 onwards. Currently renewable energy accounts for just half of one per cent of Thailand's power output.

Thailand currently has an installed capacity of 25 961 MW and expansion of generating capacity will initially be focussed on the Southern and Northeastern regions. In all, some 23 new power plants are scheduled for construction under the PDP. EGAT currently has ongoing power plant projects with total capacity of 5328 MW, three gas fired, two oil fired and two hydroelectric. Under the PDP EGAT is aiming to add 22 363 of installed capacity over the next nine years, bring the level up to 47 333 MW.

Add RSS Feed