Chris Greacen
“Energy is a human right”: Renewable energy on the Thai/Burma border
Energy and Development Workshop
Monterey Institute of International StudiesIrvine Auditorium, McCone Hall
May 7, 2010
Outline
• Thailand– Micro-hydropower– Solar home systems maintenance & repair– Refugee camp renewable energy trainings
• Burma– Solar electricity for medical clinics, etc., in
Karen-controlled Burma
•Started 2005
•provides hands-on appropriate technology support …
•to village innovators in ethnic minority areas on both sides of the Thai/Burma border
•Conflict area
•Little/no rural electrification
•Joint effort:•Karen Network for Culture & Environment (Thailand)
•TOPS (Taiwan),
•Palang Thai (Thailand),
•Green Empowerment (USA)
•Sun EPI (USA)
“Energy is a human right.”
Our goal:
Improve access to clean energy to improve quality of life
Thailand Projects
Micro-hydroelectricity
Source: Inversin, A. R. (1986). Micro-Hydropower Sourcebook.
Inversin, A. R. (1986). Micro-Hydropower Sourcebook
Village & Year Turbine Generator Electronic Load Control Capacity
Kre Khi village 2003 Chinese turgo Permanent magnet (PM)
None 500 W
E Wi Jo 2004 Crossflow Synchronous None 1 kW
Mae Sa Pau 2005 Chinese turgo PM None (Nepali ELC) 1 kW
Huai Krating 2006 Pump as turbine Induction Nepali ELC 3 kW
Mor Hti Tha 2007 Chinese turgo PM None 1.5 kW
Mae Klang Luang 2007 Vietnamese propeller
PM Vietnam ELC 200 W
Mae Wei 2008 Pump as turbine Induction Thai ELC 3 kW
Mae Klang Luang 2008 Chinese turgo PM None 1.5 kW
Surin 2008 Chinese turgo PM Thai ELC 1.5 kW
Surin 2008 Vietnamese propeller
PM Thai ELC 200 W
Betong 2008 Pelton Induction Thai ELC 1 kW
Kre Khi rebuild 2009 Pump as turbine Induction Thai ELC 1 Kw
E Wi Jo rebuild 2010 Pump as turbine Induction Thai ELC 3 kW
Mae Rim monastery Chinese turgo PM Nepali ELC 2 Kw
Our community micro-hydro projects in Thailand
Kre Khi village, Tak provinceAbout 500 W for school, clinic, Buddhist temple
2010 -- E Wi Jo, Tak province3 kW Pump-as-turbine
Micro-hydro Video: Mae Wei Village, Feb. 2008
Mae Klang Luang, Chaing Mai200 watts$120 (turbine: $90)Installed: 2007Head: 1.7 meters
Border Green Energy Team
Needed: maintenance & repair trainings for > 14,000 Thai solar home systems
Thai government solar home program
203,000 solar home systemsUS$200 millionNo maintenance plan23% failure rate within 20 months
Thai SHS in Tak province
DEEP CY CLEEBB 125
3K THAI STORAGE BATTERY PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
3KDEEP CY CLE
EBB 1253K THAI STORAGE BATTERY PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
3KDEEP CY CLE
EBB 1253K THAI STORAGE BATTERY PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
3KDEEP CY CLE
EBB 1253K THAI STORAGE BATTERY PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
3KDEEP CY CLE
EBB 1253K THAI STORAGE BATTERY PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
3K
SH-1210M
เครื่��องควบคมการื่ปรื่ะจุแบตเตอรื่��และแปลงกรื่ะแสไ ฟฟ�าส�า หรื่�บรื่ะบบพล�งงานแสงอาทิ�ตย์!
เป"ด / ป"ดปล�$กไ ฟฟ�ากรื่ะแสสล�บ220 โ วลต์� 50 เฮิ�รต์ซ์�
แบต์เต์อร�� แผงร�บพล�งงานแสงอาทิ�ต์ย์�
ไ ฟฟ�ากระแสสล�บ220 โ วลต์� 50 เฮิ�รต์ซ์�
FORTHSOLAR PRODUCT
สาย์ดิ�น
NL
แผงพล�งงานแสงอาทิ�ตย์!
ปานกลาง
ต��า
โหลด / เก�นพ�ก�ดโหลด
เต'ม
สภาวะการื่ทิ�า งาน
สภาวะแบตเตอรื่��
ปรื่ะจุแบตเตอรื่��
SH-1210M
เครื่��องควบคมการื่ปรื่ะจุแบตเตอรื่��และแปลงกรื่ะแสไ ฟฟ�าส�า หรื่�บรื่ะบบพล�งงานแสงอาทิ�ตย์!
เป"ด / ป"ดปล�$กไ ฟฟ�ากรื่ะแสสล�บ220 โ วลต์� 50 เฮิ�รต์ซ์�
แบต์เต์อร�� แผงร�บพล�งงานแสงอาทิ�ต์ย์�
ไ ฟฟ�ากระแสสล�บ220 โ วลต์� 50 เฮิ�รต์ซ์�
FORTHSOLAR PRODUCT
FORTHFORTHSOLAR PRODUCT
สาย์ดิ�น
NL
แผงพล�งงานแสงอาทิ�ตย์!
ปานกลาง
ต��า
โหลด / เก�นพ�ก�ดโหลด
เต'ม
สภาวะการื่ทิ�า งาน
สภาวะแบตเตอรื่��
ปรื่ะจุแบตเตอรื่��
ปานกลาง
ต��า
โหลด / เก�นพ�ก�ดโหลด
เต'ม
สภาวะการื่ทิ�า งาน
สภาวะแบตเตอรื่��
ปรื่ะจุแบตเตอรื่��
HaCo
HaCo
10A
~ON
HaCo
HaCo
10A
~~ON
Rated 120 peak Watt single crystalline PV
module
Rated 150 W, 50 Hz, 230 V Inverter / 10 A Charge controller
12 V, 125 Ah deep cycle lead-acid
battery
Two 10 W tube fluorescent
lights with electronic ballasts
AC outlet for TV or other appliances
Ministry of Interior
PEA
Installation company
End users
$
$
SHS
Existing linkages
warranty
Tax payers
$
Ministry of Interior
PEA
Installation company
End users
$
$
SHS
Missing linkages
warranty
What happens when systems fail? There is no feedback loop from the end users to
installation company, PEA, government or taxpayers
Tax payers
$
Warranty awareness Self-help: local technicians
+ user training
Ministry of Interior
PEA
Installation company
End users
$
$
SHS
Missing linkages
warranty
Tax payers
$
Feedback on status of systems, failure
modes, successful interventions
Thailand SHS Training
BGET SHS trainings in Tak province
Trainings already performed in ten TambonsTambon District Date of
training# of SHS
# of technicians
Mae Tan Tha Song Yang
October 2005 964 16
Mae Song Tha Song Yang
October 2005 1,728 29
Mae Wa Luang
Tha Song Yang
November 2005
778 39
Mae La Tha Song Yang
December 2005
847 30
Mae Cha Rao, Phra Tart
Mae RamatDecember 2005
250 19
Tha Song Yang
Tha Song Yang
February 2006 571 25
Sam Meun Mae Ramat March 2006 642 19
Mae U Su Tha Song Yang
May 2006 1,065 19
Mae Tuen Mae Ramat June 2006 1,443 28
TOTAL 8,288 224
BGET SHS trainings in Tak province
Border Green Energy Team
Refugee camp trainings
History of ESP• Started 2003 by Saw
Loh Doh, first Principal
• ZOA Refugee Care supported since 2005
• Provide essential engineering skills for Karen youth
• Encourage self-reliance
Solar PVMicro-hydroHydraulic ram pumpSolar cookingBiogas
Hydraulic Ram Pumping
Biogas from Animal Manure
Solar/diesel hybrid systems for computer training centers in 7
refugee camps
ESP students apply engineering skills to implement community development work…
Border Green Energy Team
Solar electricity for >50 medical clinics for internally displaced inside Burma
Up to 2 million “Internally Displaced People” (IDP) in Burma
Ruggedized solar electric systems built by medics in 3-5 day hands-on trainings
• 10 trainings (2003-2010)• >90 medics trained• >50 clinics• 5 vaccine refrigerators
Clinic Conditions
Solar Equipment & Training
Solar Systems for FBR Training Facility:Medical and Human Rights/Leadership
Walt RattermanBGET co-founder +++
www.sunepi.org
Chris Greacen
www.palangthai.org
Salinee Tavaranan (BGET director)
www.bget.org
BGET’s Next Steps…
• 3rd year Appropriate Tech classes for ESP
• Thai SHS repair pilot projects
• Demonstration/Learning Center
• Orphanage Project