Myanmar to exploit more solar power, wind energy

Myanmar to exploit more solar power, wind energy

Myanmar is moving to exploit solar and wind energy, but experts said such
attempts must be stepped up to smoothen the country's development. Soe Soe
Ohn, director of the national electrification project at the Rural
Development Department, said solar energy offered high potential
particularly in rural electrification.

Some homes are equipped with solar panels and more are in the pipeline to
increase off-grid supply.

"According to our national plan, off-grid electrification for this fiscal
year will focus on households, rural health centres, schools, religious
buildings and rural street lights.

"To meet the target, solar system plays a key role," she said at the Myanmar
Green Energy Summit last week.

Under phase 1 of the national energy plan 2016-21, 461,000 households in
Sagaing, Ayeyarwady and Thanintharyi regions as well as Kayin, Chin, Rakhine
and Shan states will be electrified by solar systems.

Solar and mini-grids will serve 19,000 street lights and 11,000 public
institutions, such as schools, clinics and religious buildings, over the
five years.

Despite the potential, the Electricity and Energy Ministry just awarded
contracts for large-scale solar farms early this year. One project in Magway
region, with 220 megawatts in capacity, was awarded to Green Earth Power
(Myanmar). It will take four years to complete the 836-acre solar farm.

At the summit, Thomas Chrometzka, director of renewable energy at GIZ, a
German development agency, stressed the urgent need for Myanmar to address
power shortages in industrial estates with renewable energy, particularly
solar.

Manufacturing is now powered by two systems - grid power and diesel
generators. But due to limited supply, in 2014, only 26.5 per cent of grid
power was supplied to the sector, leaving it to rely heavily on generators.
This creates favourable conditions for the installation of solar systems, he
said.

"Myanmar's growing agro-industry has high electricity demand such as for
cooling and manufacturing is not very developed yet but growing, like
textiles. "So far, all the industrial zones do not get 24-hour electricity.
Access to reliable electricity constrains not only companies in Myanmar but
also potential investors," he said.

Myanmar is home to three special economic zones and 19 industrial zones. All
SEZs promise 24-hour electricity. Renewable energy is sustainable and allows
industries and the economy as a whole to develop in the long term.

Renewables not only benefit remote areas unconnected to the grid but also
support grid-connected consumers. "Solar is an independent power resource
and cheaper than diesel-generated generators. "It can also bring technical
transfers and technological innovations that have positive spill-over
effects on the economy. It also helps build human capacity," he said. "Your
choice should depend on what kind of services/electricity demand you have.
There is no one-size fits all solution. "The quick win will be the solar
system because all the electricity produced can be immediately consumed."

Myanmar still lacks regulations on renewable energy while local firms have
limited experience with complex systems, which together constrain the solar
system's potential. Tax incentives including exemptions on import duty and
commercial sales tax for equipment as well as power purchase agreements
should be adopted.

On wind power, a memorandum of understanding was signed for three projects
to be completed by 2031 - a 1 gigawatt project in Tanintharyi region, Mon
and Kayin states; a 1.9GW project in Shan and Kayah states; and a 1.1GW
project in Chin and Rakhine states and Ayeyawady and Yangon regions.

Thi Thi Soe, deputy director of the Education Ministry's Research and
Innovation Department, said research confirmed the potential of wind power
in many parts of the country. On the plus side, wind costs less than solar
and can generate power day and night. However, the government's support was
needed.

Myanmar needs to complete a renewable energy policy and guidelines and
strengthen the institutional framework between ministries and other
organisations. It needs to encourage development of wind resource assessment
nationwide. The incentive programme for the wind energy market should be
supported by the promotion of private sector participation.

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Ref:
http://www.evwind.es/2016/10/24/myanmar-to-exploit-more-solar-power-wind-ene
rgy/57392

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com