Glossary of Energy Terms. Know Your Power. Towards a Participatory Approach for Sustainable Power Development in the Mekong Region

Transcription

1 Glossary of Energy Terms Know Your Power 2012 Towards a Participatory Approach for Sustainable Power Development in the Mekong Region

2 List of terms Terms Page Terms Page Avoided cost 10 Installed capacity 4 Base load 12 Intermediate Load 12 Biomass Gasifiers 13 IPP 3 Consumption 7 Least cost analysis 10 Decentralized energy 9 Marginal cost, long run marginal cost Demand-side Management (DSM) Mekong Countries 2 Dispatch 5 Micro/ Pico Hydro 13 EAC 3 MOU 3 EdL 3 MRC 3 EGAT 3 Off-grid 9 Electrification rate 6 PDP 3 Energy efficiency 11 Peak Load 12 Energy Security 11 Population 3 EVN 3 PPA 3 Externality or External Cost 10 Reserve capacity 5 Generation (power) 7 Single Buyer Model 9 Generation Mix 8 Solar Photovoltaic 13 GMS 3 Stand-alone 13 Grid 9 Transmission 5

3 Welcome to Know Your Power The power sector is one of the most important issues underpinning the intense economic and social development taking place in the Mekong region. However, the sector is highly complex and involves many actors, issues and regional differences. This Glossary of Energy Terms will help you to start increasing your knowledge on power sector issues, especially in the Mekong region. Some of the terms and information are taken from The terms listed here are not arranged in alphabetical order. Please refer to the List of Terms on the previous page of this booklet. Sustainable Power Development Power produced and used in ways that support human development over the long term, in all its social, economic, and environmental dimensions * * World Energy Assessment initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), and the World Energy Council (WEC) (2000) 1

4 Mekong countries located in the Mekong River Basin. The countries in the region are linked together by the Mekong River, which starts from the Tibetan Plateau. The river runs through China s Yunnan province, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia and down into the South China Sea at the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. 2

5 The Population 1 in each country is shown in the figure below. The number of people who live along the river basin itself is roughly 75 million. These people typically live in rural areas, as the only major population centre in the entire basin is Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Please note that the population of Yunnan province in China where the Mekong runs through is approximately 46 million. 2 1, 2 Wikipedia Abbreviations The following abbreviations are frequently used when referring to the power sector: IPP = Independent Power Producer MOU = Memorandum of Understanding PDP = Power Development Plan PPA = Power Purchase Agreements Abbreviations of key stakeholders MRC = Mekong River Commission GMS = Greater Mekong Subregion EdL = Electricité du Laos EVN = Electricity of Vietnam EGAT = Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand EAC = Electricity Authority of Cambodia 3

6 Capacity The installed capacity 3 of each country is the maximum amount of electricity a country can produce in a year. The installed capacity of a vast country like china is very high 797,000 MW, while Thailand and Vietnam account for most of the installed capacity in the lower Mekong region. Myanmar s energy capacity has increased dramatically since 2010, because many Mega dam projects have been constructed. Mekong Installed Capacity 2010 The Mekong Country Install Capacity in MW 2010 Thailand Myanmar Lao PDR Cambodia Vietnam China 3 Sources of information: EGAT, EDL, Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, Electricité du Cambodge, US Commercial Service, Department of Commerce. 4

7 Reserve capacity: Central power systems designed to meet demand plus a reserve capacity, over and above the expected peak load obligation of the power plant (15 to 45%). Transmission: Process of transferring electric energy from one point to another in an electric power system. Dispatch: 4 Energy dispatch controls how much energy travels through specific transmission stations to end-use service areas. This requires a human operator to schedule, monitor and control distribution of energy. Dispatch also denotes the process of coordinating the distribution of energy on a moment-to-moment basis to meet changing load requirements. 4 Online Energy Dictionary at 5

8 The electrification rate or percentage of households in each country with access to electricity varies in each country. In Vietnam and Thailand, for example, almost all areas are electrified, while some countries still have very low rates. The electrification rates are shown in the map below. 5 99% 23% 69% 99% 26% Mekong at Night 95% 5 Source of information: Alliance for Rural Electrification, World Bank 2010, US Commercial Service, Department of Commerce 6

9 Generation VS Consumption Electricity Consumption is measured in kilowatt-hours (kwh) or Gigawatt-hours (GWh) Example 1 kilowatt hour (kwh) = if a light bulb is 1000 Watts and is used for one hour During a twenty-four hour period, a 1MW power station will generate (assuming a 100% capacity) 1 MW x 24 hours = 24,000 kwh /day During one year, the station will generate 1 MW x 24 hours x 365 days = 8,760,000 kwh/year Tip! Electricity utility companies charge you for electricity consumption at a certain amount per kilowatt hour. Power generation is measured in watts (voltage x current), while consumption is measured in kilowatt-hours. 1,000 W = 1 kilowatt (kw) 1,000,000 W = 1 megawatt (MW) 1,000,000,000 W = 1 gigawatt (GW) 7

10 Generation Mix 6 is a term referring to the diversity of generating units used to produce electricity. For example, natural gas is the main source of power generation in Thailand, but coal and cogeneration are also important. Fuel Type Myanmar (2010) Thailand (2010) Laos (2009) Cambodia (2008) Vietnam (2010) China (2007) Capacity MW Hydropower 2,451 4, , ,000 Natural Gas , Coal Fire 120 3, , ,000 Cogeneration 0 1, Others Oil/gas 0 3, Renewable Nuclear ,900 Total 3,344 31, , ,440 As this table shows, hydropower is ranked as the number one source of power generation in Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos. Thailand relies heavily on thermal power production with natural gas accounting for 70% of power generation. In China, coal is the main fuel source for generating electricity. 6 Source of information: 8

11 Centralized VS Decentralized Systems Grid or electrical grid is a vast, interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers. Single Buyer Model: A model whereby Independent Power Producers sell electricity to transmission and dispatch facilities owned by the state the single buyer which then sells electricity to distributors. Off-the-grid (OTG) or off-grid refers to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. Decentralized energy 7 is energy generated at or near to the point of use. A decentralized energy system has two key characteristics: It enables buildings to become power stations, using technologies such a solar panels, wind turbines, micro-hydro power. Local energy networks proliferate in order to distribute heat and power locally 7 Decentralizing Thai Power: Towards a Sustainable Energy System, Palang Thai/Greenpeace Southeast Asia. 9

12 Cost Avoided cost 8 The marginal cost for the same amount of energy acquired through another means such as construction of a new production facility or purchase from an alternate supplier. Least cost analysis 9 Analysis that compares the costs of technically feasible but mutually exclusive alternatives for supplying output to meet a given forecast demand. Externality or External Cost 10 from power projects can be defined as the cost resulting from impacts that are not priced in the market place. Failure to internalize negative externality costs might lead to the setting of an inappropriate financial tariff, or estimating a too low financial rate of return. Marginal cost, long run marginal cost 11 The cost of providing an additional kilowatt-hour of energy output over and above any energy currently being produced. 8 source: Online Energy Dictionary at Nuclear Energy Agency (2001) Externalities and Energy Policy: The Life Cycle Analysis Approach. Workshop Proceedings 11 source: Online Energy Dictionary at 10

13 Efficiency Demand-side Management (DSM) 12 The modification of consumer demand for energy through various methods such as financial incentives and education, usually to encourage the consumer to use less energy during peak hours. Energy efficiency a reduction in the energy used for a given service (heating, lighting, etc.) or level of activity. Energy Security Availability of energy at all times in various forms, in sufficient quantities, and at affordable prices. 12 Wikipedia 11

14 Load In a central power system, power plants are designed and operated for: base load, intermediate load, and peak load. Base load: usually large units with low operating costs. Usually operated at full capacity during most of the hours they are available. Intermediate Load: Power plants used to respond to variations in customer demand which occur during the day. Plants designed for changes in output levels. Peak Load: a power plant used to supply customer demand during peak (= highest) load hours of a given day, month, season or year. Load curves for Typical electricity grid 12

15 Small Scale Power Generation Stand-alone systems are designed to provide electrical power to equipment located in areas which do not have a mains electrical supply. Micro / Pico Hydro: Small hydroelectric power generation. Micro hydro produces up to 100 kw of electricity and pico hydro under 5 kw. Biomass Gasifier 13 is a specially designed reactor that heats biomass in a low-oxygen environment to produce a fuel gas. The gas produced is then used to drive a gas turbine or combustion engine which generates electricity. Solar Photovoltaics 14 A solar photovoltaic panel is a cell which converts energy from the sun directly into electricity. 13,14 Powering 21 st Century Cambodia with Decentralized Generation, A Primer for Rethinking Cambodia s Electricity Future, Grainne Ryder. 13

16 About MEE Net The Mekong Energy and Ecology Network (MEE Net) was established in 2008 under the Foundation for Ecological Recovery (FER) to work on power sector issues in the Mekong region. MEE Net aims to address this problem region-wide by developing an energy network to monitor the electricity sector and develop analyses and strategies that are effective in challenging massive build-out, mega infrastructure plans by governments and utilities. Mekong Energy and Ecology Network Foundation for Ecological Recovery 409 Soi Rohitsuk (Ratchadapisek 14), Pracharatbumpen, HauyKhwang, Bangkok Tel: Fax: Website: