Solar Thermal Technology in Thailand 2012 Solar Dish, Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector, Trough

1. By
Dr. Jack Wong
March 13, 2555

2. Concentrate Solar Power (CSP) has become an attractive alternative source
for electricity generation by using clean technology friendly to environment.
Kingdom of Thailand not like many countries in the world suffering from
high insolation DNI 1,000 W/m2. Kingdom of Thailand has an average of DNI
550 W/m2. Kingdom of Thailand locate near equator zone, hot and humid
country with soft‐land. It is almost impossible to operate Solar Thermal in this
areas. With special designed from Thai’s engineer can proved in this region with
medium insolation could operate Solar Thermal very well. It must be designed
to suit the environment and requirements of each area. The Solar Dish,
Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector and Solar Trough, more than 85 % of power
plant locally made in country, work fine in this location.
Kingdom of Thailand has an advantage of solar hours with an average of 325
days per year with little cloud. Also Thai’s government has establish several
incentives, including Adder Tariff for ten years, to assist investors through the
Provincial Electric Authority (PEA) on Very Small Power Producer (VSPP).

3. In year 2542 (1999), Department of Energy Development, Ministry of
Energy and the Science Department of Silpakorn University, Kingdom of
Thailand surveyors discovered that solar intensity vary by season
(summer, rainy(monsoon), winter) and areas from the northeast and
southwest. April and May are the highest insolation.
• Northeastern provinces such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram,
Surin, Sri Saket, Roi Et, Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani with an
average of 20‐24 MJ/(m2day).
• Central provinces such as Suphan Buri, Chainat, Ayudhya, Lopburi
with an average of about 19‐20 MJ/(m2day).
Both regions with a land area 14.3% of nationwide area, an average
insolation of 18.2 MJ/m2‐day.
In addition 50.2% area has an average insolation of 18‐19 MJ/(m2day).
This shows Kingdom of Thailand has a high potential for Concentrated
Solar Power energy generation.

4. The map on the left shows the
intensity of solar energy in the Kingdom
of Thailand, which indicates the various
zones in the western, northeastern, and
central regions. The other areas still
show a high incidence of solar energy
with lower energy.
National Daily Average of
Solar Energy by Area

5. The graph on the left shown
percent area of insolation, 14.3% has
insolation 19‐20 MJ/(m2day), more
than 50% has insolation 18‐19
MJ/(m2day), respectively on average
with a small area of 0.5% with little
sunshine. This provides Kingdom of
Thailand an average insolation of 18.2
MJ/(m2day).

6. By Region Annual Average Energy Eff /
Intensity 1,000 Tons
MJ/(m2day) of Oil
National 18.2 554,070.60
Total

7. CLFR Chonburi, Thailand Steam Test 400 PSI 450 C Dish Phitsanulok, Thailand
Karnchanaburi, Thailand Steam Test 150 PSI 180 C Real Time Energy Monitor

8. Steam Test
Out of Focus
Aug 25/2011 Cloudy
Row No. 11.30
1 95 109 104
2 130 131 130
3 160 160 160
4 190 191 190
Row No. 13.30
1 135 135 140
2 151 150 155
3 165 165 163
4 173 175 172
In focus
Oct 4, 2011 11:45-12:00 Cloudy
Row No. Zone1 Zone2 Zone3
1 150 180 190
2 170 210 210
3 210 270 300
4 290 350 380

9. Generated electric can be sold directly to the Provincial Electricity
Authority (PEA). These electric distributes through out the country
exclude Bangkok Metropolitan Area. The Government provides
investment incentives including an Adder Tariff of 0.27 USD (8.0 THB)
per Kilowatt for all powers generated by Solar Energy. PEA will purchases
it for ten years from first operation date.

10. For TOU electricity users the average rates follow the EGAT wholesale rate of 11‐33
kW based on the period of usage as follows.
Distribution Rate USD/kW THB/kW
Peak 0.098 2.94
Off Peak 0.037 1.11
Peak Period : 09.00‐22.00, 13 hrs,
Monday‐Friday and Ploughing Ceremony Day
Off Peak : 22.00 ‐ 09.00, 11 hrs,
Monday‐Friday and Ploughing Ceremony Day
Holidays : 00.00‐24.00
Monday‐Friday, Labor Day and Regular
(not including Ploughing Ceremony Day
and Alternate Holidays).

11. 2007 2008 2009
USD THB USD THB USD THB
Jan 0.0260 0.780 0.0211 0.663 0.0303 0.909
Feb 0.0244 0.732 0.0230 0.669 0.0303 0.909
Mar 0.0244 0.732 0.0230 0.669 0.0303 0.909
Apr 0.0244 0.732 0.0230 0.669 0.0303 0.909
May 0.0244 0.732 0.0230 0.669 0.0306 0.918
Jun 0.0228 0.684 0.0225 0.675 0.0306 0.918
Jul 0.0228 0.684 0.0225 0.675 0.0306 0.918
Aug 0.0228 0.684 0.0225 0.675 0.0306 0.918
Sep 0.0028 0.684 0.0225 0.675 0.0309 0.927
Oct 0.0221 0.663 0.0258 0.774 0.0309 0.927
Nov 0.0221 0.663 0.0258 0.774 0.0309 0.927
Dec 0.0221 0.663 0.0258 0.774 0.0309 0.927

12. USD/kW THB/kW
Standard Rate Peak 0.0976 2.93
Off Peak 0.0372 1.12
Ft Charge July 2009 0.0306 0.92
Adder Tariff Solar 0.2667 8.00

13. Power Adder + + South 3 Years
Generated Special Province
Biomass <= 1 MW 0.5 1.0 1.0 7
> 1 MW 0.3 1.0 1.0 7
Biogas <= 1 MW 0.5 1.0 1.0 7
All Types, sources > 1 MW 0.3 1.0 1.0 7
Garbage and Waste Material from Community or Industry that are non‐toxic
Fermentaion, Landfill 2.5 1.0 1.0 7
Thermal Process 3.5 1.0 1.0 7
Wind Power <= 50 kW 4.5 1.5 1.5 10
> 50 kW 3.5 1.5 1.5 10
Small Hydro 50 < 200 kW 0.8 1.0 1.0 7
< 50 kW 1.5 1.0 1.0 7
Solar 8.0 1.5 1.5 10

14. Period Descriptions No of Days Remarks
A Standard Year 365
B Standard Hours/Day 24
C No of Weeks/Year 52
D No of Official Holliday 117 E + F
E Saturdays/Sundays 104 2 * C
F Royal Holiday 13

15. No Day Descriptions Time to Generate Electric
Working On Peak Off Peak Total
Day hrs hrs Hours
1 Week Hours per day ‐ 13 11 24
Hours for Generation 248 3,224 2,728 5,951
2 Holiday Hours per day ‐ ‐ 24 24
Hours for Generation 117 ‐ 2,808 2,808
Total 365 3,224 5,536 8,760

16. Detail On Peak Off Peak
USD/kW THB/kW USD/kW THB/kW
Standard Rate 0.0976 2.93 0.0372 1.12
Ft charged (July 2009) 0.0306 0.98 0.0306 0.98
Adder Tariff 0.2667 8.00 0.2667 8.00
Connecting Charged 2 % ‐0.0069 ‐0.21 ‐0.0057 ‐0.17
Total 0.3869 11.61 0.3277 9.83

17. Period kW Annual Annual USD/kW Total Total
Hours kW 100% Eff 75% Eff
On Peak 6,000 3,224 19,344,000 0.3869 7,485,219 5,613,914
Off Peak 6,000 5,536 33,216,000 0.3277 10,886,475 8,164,857
52,560,000 18,371,694 13,778,771

18. Strengths
• No need to purchase fuel (gasoline, diesel, gas, coal, etc.) to generate
electric any more.
• Solar Power generation is environment friendly.
• Kingdom of Thailand has plenty of appropriate areas for solar energy
efficiency.
• Latest Concentrated Solar Technology, needs few skilled people to
operate.
• Thai’s Government provides incentives for investment on renewable
energy.

19. Weakness
• Not reliable as it can operate only when the sun shine.
• It depends on climate and season conditions.
Opportunity
• It is national energy policy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels to generate
power and provides incentives for alternative energy generation.
• The high world prices of fossil fuels is still in an upward trend which affects
high local electricity rates.
• The increased demand for Solar energy has started to reduce cost of solar
materials with better efficiency.
• The demand for electricity continues to rise due to economic development
and increase in population.
• The trend in fossil fuels is that they will soon run out if present increasing
demand continues.
• The Government provides an Adder Tariff of THB 8.00/kW for ten years as
incentive for Solar Power generation.

20. Threat
1. There is lack of support from Banks for Concentrate Solar Power
generation due to its new technology not many people understand it.
2. The process for licenses and permits is still long and tedious.
3. There are too many agencies involved to process the necessary approvals.

21. 1 MW 12 hrs 300 days/yr @ 550 W/m2 THB
Electric Sale 11.6 THB/kw‐hr 13 hrs 41,760,000
Carbon Credit 4,130 / day 1,239,000
Maintenance 10,000 / day ‐3,000,000
Operation 20,000 / day ‐6,000,000
Income per year 33,999,000 42,999,000 ‐9,000,000
Plant Cost Return with in 4.3 Years 146,000,000
Operation Cost : Salary, Interest, Insurance, Licenses, Other expenses

22. Analysis of Solar Thermal Technology in
Thailand, CLFR, Trough
Medium Insolation, Hot and Humid Country, Soft‐Land DNI 550 w/m2
DNI Mirror Area Operate Absorber Start End
Manufactures Technologies MW eff
W/m2 m 2
Rais hrs. Temp C Time Time
550 1.2 25,920.00 16.20 6 9:00 15:00
Theory 370
Thai 550 1.2 51,840.00 32.40 12 9:00 21:00
SSF Local Design 550 1.0 25,920.00 16.20 6 9:30 16:30 0.83
CLFR Local 550 2.0 51,840.00 32.40 6 9:30 16:30 0.83
Real 350
Fabrication 550 1.0 51,840.00 32.40 12 9:30 22:00 0.83
550 2.0 103,680.00 64.80 12 9:30 22:30 0.83
1,000 1.0 9,000.00 5.63 5 9:00 15:00
Theory 400
SolLight Germany Local 1,000 5.0 45,000.00 28.13 5 9:00 15:00
Trough Fabrication 550 0.5 9,000.00 5.63 5 10:00 15:00 0.50
Real 370
550 2.5 45,000.00 28.13 5 10:00 15:00 0.50
Theory Thai 1,000 0.01 50 6 850 9:00 15:00
SSF Local Design
Dish Real Local 550 0.005 50 6 600 10:00 16:00 0.50
Fabrication

23. Suppliers
Solar
Engine Generator Controller Absorber Storage Mode XFUR
Tracker
HTF
Dual
ABB with
SSF SSF SSF SSF Linear Phase
Induction Steam Sensor TASCO
CLFR Engine Software Absorber Molten
Motor Boiler
Salt
Loop
SolLight Mann Mann Siemens Steam Direct
Schott Time TASCO
Trough Turbine Generator Software Pressure Steam
HTF
Dual
Mitsubishi SSF with
SSF SSF SSF Phase
Induction Tubular Steam Sensor none
Dish Engine Software Molten
Motor Absorber Boiler
Salt
Loop