Five microgrids and energy storage in Northwest Thailand

Will microgrids grow in Thailand?

Like those in the US (C2ES Solutions Forum, 2017), rural and urban microgrids in Thailand are expected to grow in the future. As shown in the Thailand microgrid cases, the advancement of peer-to-peer (P2P) trading and blockchain will drive the commercialization of microgrid projects in urban areas.

How do Thailand microgrids react to distributed generation?

The Thailand microgrids mainly react to distributed generation that generally results from renewable DERs. Renewable DERs play a significant role in both distributed generation units and the perception of electricity users on an electrical load side.

What is a smart grid & a microgrid?

A smart grid and its sprout, a microgrid, have emerged as an integrated solution of the advanced technologies, especially those ICT-based technologies. At a national level, the microgrid initiatives have been added to a Thailand energy development plan.

Will the microgrid market grow in the long term?

Because of the growing demand, the microgrid market is likely to grow in the long term (IEC, 2014). Microgrid development is a customer-driven movement, while policymakers, professionals in utilities, and regulators encounter questions related to microgrid support (Pullins, 2019).

What are utility microgrids?

The utility microgrids are both grid-connected microgrids and isolated ones. Insights gained from the pilot projects were applied to shape or reshape the microgrid policies at the national level and the organizational level of the three utilities.

Why do microgrids have a low cost?

The technological advancement of microgrid constituents often provides the improvement and the tendency of low cost (LO3 Team, 2018; Intel, 2020). The improvement is in terms of, for example, more precision, accuracy, reliability, safety, and flexibility, as well as less time consuming, human force requirement, and maintenance.