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Published on February 4, 2008

Both the public and private sectors agree there needs to be diversification in fuel used to generate power and ensure energy security.

They say the government needs to determine what energy sources should be focused on at a time of depleting natural-gas supplies and limited financial resources, panellists said at a seminar.

At the Krungthep Turakij seminar last week the panellists agreed diversification was imperative given that 70 per cent of the country's electricity is generated using natural gas.

Gulf of Thailand gas is expected to be exhausted in 20 years. Gas from Burma accounts for a quarter of that consumed by Thailand.

Japan's power sources are coal, hydroelectric, nuclear and gas in equal proportion while in Finland less fuel is used because of the availability of renewable sources of power like wind and solar.

"We want to include more power from renewable energy sources, but that will push up power prices. While the well-heeled and educated can afford higher power prices, say Bt7 a unit from a current Bt3, don't forget that we still have a large number of poor people out there who find the prices unaffordable," said Energy Ministry deputy permanent secretary Kurujit Nakornthap.

The country's fuel diversification policy allows for two nuclear plants to provide 4,000 megawatts by 2021 as well as more coal-fired plants and hydroelectric power from Laos.

It is feared that politicians may alter the plan.

Locally, to encourage renewable and recyclable energy, the ministry provides incentives for power generated from biomass or other renewable sources.

Power from these sources receives a premium on that paid for electricity from conventional fuels. However, it accounts for less than 10 per cent of total consumption and providers are unhappy with the small "adders", or incentives, they receive.

Phichai Tinsuntisook, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries' renewable energy industry alliance, said renewable energy would never provide more than 15 per cent of total power needs, as a result of the high start-up costs and lack of incentives.

There are five companies producing solar-cell panels. They spent a combined Bt6 billion to get started and still most of their sales are overseas.

"The government needs to increase the adders to power generated from waste, solar and wind. Power plants powered by fossil fuels must be required to generate power from renewable energy, too. This should boost the industry," he said.

Pinyo Meechamna, a senior researcher at Chulalongkorn University's energy research institute, said in determining the ratio of generation fuels, four "E" factors should be taken into account - economy, environment, engineering and energy security.

"We have to admit that nuclear and coal is interesting due to their cheap costs, but people consider coal environmentally unfriendly while people fear engineering problems at nuclear-power plants. We must find a balance," he said.

Kurujit said new technology reduced toxic emissions from coal-fired plants, while local physicists were talented enough to ensure no problems at nuclear power plants.

Pinit Sirinarueprugpong, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand's research and development department deputy chief, admitted the authorities must communicate with the residents at sites of future plants.

"We need to be sincere with them. They are ready to listen to us. This is why we had no problems constructing the plant in Chana, Songkhla."

Achara Deboonme

The Nation