Non-intermittency and Sustainability in Renewable Energy Generation

บทคัดย่อ

The objectives of this research are to study applications of energy storage systems for

enhancing the non-intermittency and sustainability in renewable energy generation as well

as to propose plan for developing renewable power plants and an energy storage system for

substitution of the Mae Moh Power Plant in Lampang Province of Thailand after its

retirement in 2051. This research was conducted in a qualitative approach by gathering

information from various sources including literature review, secondary data collection and

experiences of researcher and experts. Subsequently, gathered information was analysed to

define configurations of the renewable power plant and energy storage system as well as the

analysis of the economic feasibility, energy security, environment and social benefits.

      The main problem focused in this research is that power generated from renewable

energy resources such as solar and wind are intermittent and varying. The amounts of power

generated from these energy sources depends strongly on weather conditions. As a result, it

is impossible to control the amounts of power generated from intermittent renewable energy

and to balance with amounts of power required by the load at any time. One promising solution

to tackle this problem is to store power generated at one time in energy storage systems and

use it at another time when renewable energy cannot be generated.

The problem of the intermittency of renewable energy is the main impediment of increasing

penetration of renewable energy in the Thailand grid system in the near future. It is therefore,

necessary that the country execute an energy storage development plan as soon as possible

to mitigate any difficulties related to this problem.

      According to the research, after the retirement of the Mae Moh Power Plant and Mine,

areas of the power plant and mine are highly recommended to be developed to the system of

a 1,500-megawatt Solar Power Plant and a 1,000-megawatt Pumped Hydro Storage. The Pumped

Hydro Storage in the system could serve as an energy storage that charges energy from the

solar power plant during the day and discharges energy during the night when the solar power

plant cannot generate electricity and when power demand is relatively high. Capital investment

of the system is estimated to be around 82,000 million THB. Projected internal rate of return

(PIRR) is as high as 12.29%. In addition, the system could help to reduce emissions at the rate

of 1.03 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year compared to convention electricity

generation from fossil fuels. Due to the aforementioned reasons, this system has the

potential to be the model of 100% renewable energy generation, able to generate non-intermittent

and sustainable power in the gigawatt range.