Thailand okays $5.6bn budget to enhance grid systems

Thailand okays $5.6bn budget to enhance grid systems

Thailand's National Energy Policy Council approved a national smart grid
plan which aims to enhance the reliability of the country's grid.

Under the approved smart grid plan, state-owned utilities will spend up to
Bt200 billion ($5.6 billion) in implementing smart grid projects through to
2036.

The $5.6 billion will fund the deployment of up to five smart grid pilot
projects under the guidance of Thailand's Ministry of Energy.

Utility firms set to trial smart grid technologies under the approved plan
include the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), the
Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and the Metropolitan Electricity
Authority (MEA).

The smart grid projects are expected to help the utility firms to reduce
energy usage by 350MW by 2036.

In addition, the smart grid plan will ensure participating energy firms
reduce their carbon footprints by adopting renewable energy resources.

The plan will help Egat, PEA and MEA to improve their customer services by
helping consumers to increase their energy efficiency and reduce their
energy bills.

The projects will include the integration of information and communication
technologies with energy distribution systems of the three state-owned
energy providers.

Egat's smart grid investments include developing a microgrid which includes
the integration of the utility's solar plant, 4MW energy storage, electric
vehicle charging and energy management systems in Muang district in Mae Hong
Son province.

PEA is expected to begin construction of its microgrid in Mae Sariang
district in the same province at the end of this year.

The microgrid to be developed by PEA is envisioned to help the energy
company to reduce the number of power outages in Mae Sariang from 755
minutes per user per year in 2014 to 150 minutes per user per year by 2019.

According to a local publication, between three and five pilot projects will
be deployed by the three utility firms within the next five years.

Smart grid plan

In July 2016, Egat had announced that it plans to increase its power
generation portfolio to secure its grid network against growing power
demands.

The utility firm filed a proposal with the Regulatory Energy Commission to
expand its renewable energy portfolio from 560MW to up to 2000MW by 2036.

The smart grid proposal included the expansion of the utility's portfolio of
renewable energy resources including wind, solar and biomass.

Apart from increasing its capacity sourced from renewables, the utility's
smart grid plan would also ensure the energy company generates 50% of the
total power required in Thailand.

By July last year, Egat generated 37% of Thailand's total power generated
from various sources.

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Link to Original Article:
https://www.metering.com/news/smart-grid-plan-thailand/

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com