Hydroelectricity in Thailand

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Thailand has set targets and policies for the development of its energy sector for 2035, with priority being given to indigenous renewable energy resources, including hydropower. [1]

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Hydropower in Thailand is the biggest form of renewable energy in Thailand, beating solar power in Thailand and wind power in Thailand, with a total capacity of over 7000 megawatts (MW) of hydropower generation capacity installed in 26 hydroelectric dams in the country. The biggest hydroelectric dam in Thailand is the Bhumibol Dam, which has eight turbines giving it a total capacity of 749 MW. The dam was opened in 1964 and is owned and operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). As of 2000, large-scale hydropower generation in Thailand had reached almost 3 gigawatts (GW), and development has since slowed as concerns were raised on environmental impacts of large hydropower plants. [1] Generation from small-scale hydropower is rising at a modest rate. [1]

Renewable energy in Thailand is a sector that is developing in Thailand. With its current rate of carbon emissions, Thailand must follow suit from its neighbors by cutting emissions down through the use of renewable energy. Several policies, such as the Eleventh Plan, set goals for renewable energy, such as biofuel implementation, in order to reduce the reliance of nonrenewable energy. For example, the use of biofuel can provide many benefits, such as reducing carbon emissions and reducing reliance on imported fuel. Some of the major renewable energy sources would be wind power, solar power, and biofuel.

Solar power in Thailand

Solar power in Thailand is targeted to reach 6,000 MW by 2036. In 2013 installed photovoltaic capacity nearly doubled and reached 704 MW by the end of the year. At the end of 2015, with a total capacity of 2,500-2,800 MW, Thailand has more solar power capacity than all the rest of Southeast Asia combined.

Wind power in Thailand

Wind power in Thailand amounted to an installed production capacity of 224.5 MW as of the end of 2014. Installed capacity was 112 MW at the end of 2012, with 111 MW added in 2013, and a minor amount added in 2014. This ranked Thailand 46th in the world by installed capacity as of 2015.

Thailand also imports electricity produced by hydroelectric power stations in other countries. By September 2015, Thailand was importing 7% of the electricity it could produce. Electricity was being imported from Laos, Myanmar and China. [2] [3]

Laos Socialist state in southeast Asia

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, commonly referred to by its colloquial name of Muang Lao, is a socialist state and the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Located at the heart of the Indochinese peninsula, Laos is bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest.

Myanmar Republic in Southeast Asia

Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and also known as Burma, is a country in Southeast Asia. Myanmar is bordered by India and Bangladesh to its west, Thailand and Laos to its east and China to its north and northeast. Myanmar is the largest of the mainland Southeast Asian states. To its south, about one third of Myanmar's total perimeter of 5,876 km (3,651 mi) forms an uninterrupted coastline of 1,930 km (1,200 mi) along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The country's 2014 census counted the population to be 51 million people. As of 2017, the population is about 54 million. Myanmar is 676,578 square kilometres in size. Its capital city is Naypyidaw, and its largest city is Yangon (Rangoon). Myanmar has been a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1997.

China Country in East Asia

China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia and the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.404 billion in 2017. Covering approximately 9,600,000 square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi), it is the third or fourth largest country by total area. Governed by the Communist Party of China, the state exercises jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four direct-controlled municipalities, and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

To complement Thailand's hydropower plants, EGAT plans to build floating solar-hydro projects on eight reservoir dams around the country, with a total planned capacity of 1 GW. [4] [5] [6]

List of Thailand hydroelectric power stations

StationCapacity (MW)CommunityCoordinatesStatus
Ban Yang Dam 0.13Operational
Ban Khun Klang Dam 0.20Operational
Bang Lang Dam 72 6°9′23″N101°16′25″E / 6.15639°N 101.27361°E / 6.15639; 101.27361 (Bang Lang Dam) Operational [7]
Ban Santi 1.28Operational
Bhumibol Dam 749 17°14′33″N98°58′20″E / 17.24250°N 98.97222°E / 17.24250; 98.97222 (Bhumibol Dam) Operational [8]
Chulabhorn Dam 40 16°32′10″N101°39′0″E / 16.53611°N 101.65000°E / 16.53611; 101.65000 (Chulabhorn Dam) Operational
Chao Phraya Dam 19 15°9′29″N100°10′48″E / 15.15806°N 100.18000°E / 15.15806; 100.18000 (Chao Phraya Dam) Operational
Huai Kui Mang Dam 0.10Operational
Huai Kum Dam 1.06Operational
Kaeng Krachan Dam 12 12°54′57″N99°37′51″E / 12.91583°N 99.63083°E / 12.91583; 99.63083 (Kaeng Krachan Dam) Operational [9]
Khlong Chong Klam Dam 0.02Operational
Lam Takhong Pumped Storage Power Plant 500 14°51′54″N101°33′37″E / 14.86500°N 101.56028°E / 14.86500; 101.56028 (Lam Takhong Dam) Operational
Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam 9 19°9′41″N99°2′24″E / 19.16139°N 99.04000°E / 19.16139; 99.04000 (Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam) Operational [10]
Nam Pung Dam 6Operational
Pak Mun Dam 136 15°16′55″N105°28′06″E / 15.28194°N 105.46833°E / 15.28194; 105.46833 (Pak Mun Dam) Operational [8]
Rajjaprabha Dam 240Operational
Sirikit Dam 500 17°45′50″N100°33′48″E / 17.76389°N 100.56333°E / 17.76389; 100.56333 (Sirikit Dam) Operational [8]
Srinagarind Dam 720 14°24′31″N99°07′42″E / 14.40861°N 99.12833°E / 14.40861; 99.12833 (Srinagarind Dam) Operational [8]
Sirindhorn Dam 36 15°12′22″N105°25′24″E / 15.20611°N 105.42333°E / 15.20611; 105.42333 (Sirindhorn Dam) Operational
Tha Thung Na Dam 38 14°14′1″N99°14′9″E / 14.23361°N 99.23583°E / 14.23361; 99.23583 (Tha Thung Na Dam) Operational [11]
Ubol Ratana Dam 25.2 16°46′31″N102°37′05″E / 16.77528°N 102.61806°E / 16.77528; 102.61806 (Ubol Ratana Dam) Operational
Vajiralongkorn Dam 300 14°47′58″N98°35′49″E / 14.79944°N 98.59694°E / 14.79944; 98.59694 (Vajiralongkorn Dam) Operational
Mae Wong Dam 15°55′1″N99°19′39″E / 15.91694°N 99.32750°E / 15.91694; 99.32750 (Mae Wong Dam) Proposed
Kaeng Suea Ten Dam 18°36′0″N100°9′0″E / 18.60000°N 100.15000°E / 18.60000; 100.15000 (Kaeng Suea Ten Dam) Proposed
Pakchom Dam Proposed
Ban Koum Dam Proposed

See also

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Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand

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Bang Lang Dam dam in Bannang Sata, Yala

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Renewable Energy Outlook: Thailand (PDF). 2017. ISBN   978-92-9260-035-8.
  2. ↑ "The Hidden Cost of Thailand's New Power Development Plan". International Rivers. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Development of hydropower 'must be safe', PM tells World Economic Forum". The Nation. September 14, 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  4. ↑ Sharon, Alita (2019-03-05). "Thailand's new solar plants to float on dams and reservoirs". OpenGov Asia. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  5. ↑ Sharon, Alita (2018-11-18). "Thailand's EGA to facilitate 1GW of floating solar on hydro dams". OpenGov Asia. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  6. ↑ Kenning, Tom (December 11, 2018). "ADB invests US$155 million in B. Grimm's green bonds for Thai solar projects". PV Tech. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  7. ↑ "Bang Lang Dam". Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Hydroelectric Power Plants in Thailand". Gallery. Power Plants Around The World. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Kaeng Krachan Dam". Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam". Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Tha Thung Na Dam". Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Retrieved 7 July 2014.
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