InfoQuest, (February 13, 2020) -- Mr. Anirut Thanakornmontri, spokesman of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) of the Ministry of Energy of Thailand, announced the progress of Thailand's Short-term Action Plan for Smart Grids (2017-2021).
The Action Plan is a plan for the second phase of Thailand's master plan for smart grid development (2015-2036).
It mainly aims to develop pilot projects to test the applicability and rate of return on investment of various technologies. The projects have been conducted by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and the progress of each project is summarized as follows:
Thailand's PEA has commenced the pilot projects for load response and energy management systems, including the smart grid development project in Pattaya Region. A total of 116,308 old-type meters are to be replaced with smart meters and the plan is expected to be completed by 2020. In addition, the PEA has rolled out the Microgrid and Energy Storage System Project.
The project is carried out in areas far away from power transmission lines and with high safety factors, e.g. in Betong District, Yala Province and in Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son Province.
PEA has also cooperated with EGAT to carry out relevant microgrid pilot projects, building an independent power system that has no need to rely on main transmission lines and an energy storage system for use in the project area.
The EV Station Research Project is currently in the operation and testing stage. There is an application developed for the project's charging management. A total of 11 charging stations have participated in the project, including charging stations in Hua Hin District, Pak Chong County, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and Ayutthaya Province among other places. The EV Station is expected to open for operation around April 2020.
The Power Pack Research Project is a research project for the energy storage system installed at home. The precondition of the project is that the future manufacturers will install more solar rooftops and the power of the energy storage system (ESS) in the research design is 5 kW per hour.
The use of power packs is another solution to the power problem in remote areas where solar energy has been installed. It may become a new service provided by PEA for users in the future.
As for MEA, some progress has been made in the pilot project for the building energy management system within its jurisdiction, and the project has been connected to the smart grid system.
The pilot project for load response and pricing mechanisms implemented in Bangkok and surrounding areas (DR: LAMS), aimed at enabling power users to effectively participate in Thailand's energy management and promote energy conservation, is expected to be completed in 2022.
The Microgrid Pilot Project of Thailand's MEA, which aims to study the microgrid system and become a model for the facility microgrid system, will be mainly connected to the microgrid system in service areas and expand the use of alternative energy sources.
The microgrid system in service areas will be managed and controlled in real time and the project is expected to be completed in 2021. In addition, other pilot projects are also under implementation, e.g. the Smart Metro Grid Project, which was piloted before it was fully promoted within the jurisdiction of MEA.
In order to ensure the safety of the power system and enable it to undertake the utilization of renewable energy in the future, the Thai EGAT has carried out the grid modernization of power plants and power transmission systems, including using big data to predict the supply and demand of renewable energy and improving the flexibility of power plant.
The Grid Connectivity Development Plan has been formulated to upgrade the power transmission systems, transmit electricity to other countries in this region, and promote Thailand to become a powerhouse for ASEAN.
The above modernization measures aim to prepare for the transition from fossil fuel power generation systems to renewable energy power generation systems represented by smart grids, and ultimately boost the establishment of community power plants to generate income for the grassroots economy.
EGAT has also established its Energy Excellence Center to publicize the knowledge on renewable energy and smart grids. In the project, solar panels and energy storage systems will be installed to generate electricity from relevant energy sources, achieve self-sufficiency in electricity and avoid the use of electricity in the grids.
In addition, knowledge about hydrogen systems and garbage power generation will be promoted.
The smart grid system development plan aims to upgrade the power systems into Smart Systems and make the systems more stable and efficient to reduce the demand for standby power plants, cut down power outages and lower power transmission and distribution losses.
It also plans to improve the quality of services for power users to provide a smart life, increase energy usage efficiency by promoting the participation of power users and use smart grid technologies to manage energy usage demands in the form of Smart Appliances, EV, EMS/DR/DSM, and Smart Billing.
At last, efforts will be made to promote the green upgrading and transformation of the power system structure, boost the renewable energy generation, ensure that the power systems can operate at the same efficiency as before or higher efficiency, build a green and low-carbon society, and develop the microgrid system to promote the sustainable development of community energy.
Source: InfoQuest, by Arda / Wilawan / Sasithorn, translated by Xinhua Silk Road
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