WIND

Background

The main obstacle to wind potential assessment, as is the case for all other forms of renewable energy technologies, is the absence of reliable data over both short and longer time series. Weather observation remains rudimentary and restricted to a handful of sites in Cambodia. To calculate the wind conditions for each region in Cambodia, NEDO (2002) uses a combination of Cambodian geographical features and global weather data from the English Weather Bureau. The southern part of Tonle Sap Lake, the southwestern mountains and the southern coastal areas have favourable wind conditions. The Wind Atlas of South East Asia, produced by the World Bank's ASTAE program in 2001 is the most extensive study of wind resources ever undertaken for this region.  It identifies over 6,500 square kilometres of land in Cambodia with an average wind speed above 6 metres per second, with smaller areas above 7 metres per second[1]. 

The commercial viability of potential projects is determined by a number of site-specific factors, such as proximity to transmission and transport costs.  However it is important to note that significant wind generation has been established in many countries with wind speeds similar to Cambodia.  And the viability of projects in Cambodia will be assisted by Cambodia’s extremely high cost of electricity from fossil fuel sources.  Funding and finance of such projects is also emerging with projects such as the World Bank’s Rural Electrification Fund, and potential participation in the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol. For example, Sihanoukville, the main commercial harbour of Cambodia and a popular resort area. Given the expected demand in coastal areas surrounding Sihanoukville, electrification by wind power warrants further investigation. “We believe that, with Sihanoukville at its centre, the coastal region holds great potential for wind generated power.”

Project/Program

Wind energy is relatively new to Cambodia. Wind conditions data in a complete set is not available anywhere in Cambodia. Therefore it is a need for relevant institutions in wind energy to build up their own database for use in wind power. Throughout the country, should be studied of specific wind condition to have accurately data for developing wind power generations.  

The Government Cambodia's Renewable Electricity Action Plan provides framework supporting small-scale generation electricity local communities. Plan product major effort Cambodia's Department Energy Technique design decentralized system electricity supply based on innovative thinking latest renewable energy technologies.

The wind power generation market in Cambodia is currently low. All most wind turbine implement for school and mobile telephony.

* The telephone market        

The source information collected from Khmer Solar Company, Samart has already set up about 5 sites of 400 Watts wind turbines, totaling 8 kW at Koh Kong province. Koh Kong province is located in the coastal region that has the wind condition suitable with the performing of the wind turbine, annual average wind speeds of 5 m/s.

* Public infrastructures   

This market accounts for approximately 5 kW until now, on project funded by international NGOs. These projects focus mainly on schools and health centers. Currently, the main application focuses on water pumping, which powered by energy combination of solar power and wind power generation. Due to the duration of wind flow was limited and lacking of the wind condition data for investigation before installation of the systems, so now some of wind power systems were not well performed and removed.

* Wind power for pumping   

There are a very small number of individual households and farm wind pumps have been installed for water pumping. In general, mechanical wind pumps require relatively large starting torque at low speed, and then the wind turbine type has a limit for adoption. The multi-blades wind turbines has excellent low wind speed performance. They are able to begin pumping at wind speeds as low as 2.5 m/s and they reach their peak efficiency in the range of 4 to 7 m/s.  Mechanical wind pumps are probably the best choice for using wind energy when the annual average wind speed is less than 4 m/s.

* Domestic electrification

It is possible that some opportunities for small wind power systems, or individual household wind power systems may be found in some areas, particularly along the south-west coast and adjoining the Cardamom mountains, or in the high land country along the Vietnam border. There are anecdotal reports that winds off the Tonle Sap can be strong, although the duration of such winds may be limited. We also understand that a few individual household wind power systems have been installed in the country, but data on these systems could also not be obtained.

* Battery charging

A program financed in 2001 by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial technology Development Organization Japan) is stated to equip with 6 battery charging stations in the Takeo province. The installed capacity of each system was 508 Watts that consists of 400 Watts of wind turbine (AIR 403) and 108 Watts from solar PV module and a battery charger that can handle 3 batteries at a time. Bellow is shown the specifications of the wind turbine:

                        Specifications of wind turbine AIR 403

                        Rotor Diameter: 46” (1.15 meters)

                        Weight             : 13 lbs. (5.85 kg )

                        Mount              : 1.5” (1.9”OD, 48 mm)

                                                SCHED 40 pipe

                        Start up wind speed: 7 mph (2.7 m/s)

                        Voltage            : 12, 24, 48 VDC

                        Rated Output   : 400 Watts at 28 mph (12.5 m/s)

Each charging station has been made available free of charge for a group of 7 families, with each family also receiving a mobile lighting system made up of a 90 Ah battery and 7 Watts tester.

The families bring their 90 Ah battery in for charging once a week (1 day / family). The cost of charging was been set at 200 Riels (5 US Cent), which is 5 times cheaper than the rate charged by the battery charger in the same village.

System responsible: Each charging station was installed in the selected villager household and the owner household was provided with special training about the system performing. The owner household has responsibility to maintain the system and has duties to recharge the batteries in the group follow the date setting up.

The department of Energy Technique of MIME is responsible for all the systems with technical problem, but also management and administration support.

System evaluation: These battery charging stations that were presented to this province are demonstrative research systems that were funded by NEDO program. The cost of charging was been set at 200 Riels, which is 5 times cheaper than the rate charged by the battery charger in the same village. The investment feedback time was not studied. Some technical problems from the wind turbine were found as below:

-         Duration of wind flow that suitable with this type of wind turbine is very limited,

-         Fluctuations are great, it is not suitable for base running functions,

-         Low wind speed and wind less days are very long,

-         This type of wind turbine (AIR 403) is not suitable with this area (low wind speed).

From the problems above these charging stations were working unreliably. 108 Wp of solar PV module is not enough to function, especially in rainy or cloudy period. Due to the unreliable recharging the users took their batteries to diesel generator battery charging center and used the battery for other purposes. So, the wind conditions data should be investigated and defined first, before considering and deciding to have any wind power program.

In selecting promising regions for wind power generation, it is important to have weather data regarding area wind conditions. At the present time, Cambodia doesn’t have the necessary weather observation devices observation technology to get a through grasp of Cambodia’s wind situation. Table below NEDO was forced to use the obtainable data to make an estimate of said conditions:

Annual average wind by region in Cambodia

As seen from the data collection, most of Cambodia’s regions have an average wind velocity of under 3 m/s, and as a whole the wind conditions are not very favorable but there is hope for those few areas with an average wind velocity of over 5 m/s.

So to calculate the wind conditions for each region in Cambodia they used global weather data and Cambodia geographical features data to carry out a wind condition prediction by using a wind simulation program. They then examined the data from their collected materials, and selected promising areas for wind power generation.

They divided Cambodia up into 25 kilometer quadrants, and based on UKMO (English Weather Bureau) global model weather data and geographical features data, used the local wind circulation assessment and prediction system (LOCAL-VM) and created an average annual wind condition map. The analytic period was one year from January 1, 2000 until December 31. They present their wind condition findings. 

When the results of the wind conduction simulation are examined, most areas in Cambodia have average wind velocities of 3 m/s and under. So windmill generation of electricity should be started when wind velocities are around 3 m/s and under, it can be said that wind power generation is an suitable power generation in most of Cambodia. However, the southern Tonle Sap lake region located in central Cambodia, the mountain area in the southwest, and the southern coastal areas have favorable wind condition. Sihanoukville has an annual average wind velocity of around 5 m/s, which corresponds to the results of the simulation well.

Starting with Sihanoukville there are many villages that have a demand for electricity, making the possibility of electrification by wind power generation a good possibility. They believe that with Sihanoukville at its center, the coastal region holds great potential for wind generated power.

Wind condition simulation results (annual wind condition map)

Source: OEPC Research Report (FT 2001) Research on Wind Potential of Southeast Asia
 

BARRIERS

Major barriers exist in Cambodia impeding the development of wind power generation for rural application. These barriers can be summed up as follows:

*  Access to financing of renewable energy devices with high front-end cost

Cambodia banking system is relatively fragile, and operates mostly on short-term capital with high interest rates. The high cost of wind or renewable energy equipment, especially the front-end cost, acts as a deterrent for MFIs to finance them.

*  Lack of information on market characteristics, resource potential

Little document information is available on the characteristics of rural energy markets including their scope, potential, segments and consumer characteristics. No systematic studies have been done to assess the potential for exploiting renewable energy resources in the country. There is a need to conduct detailed resource assessment studies for wind.  Though wind potential is reported on the coast and the island system, systematic studies will be required to determine their feasibility as energy sources.

*   Institutional capacity for planning, implementation and maintenance

Technical know-how and maintenance skills are in short supply. Lack of experience in operation and maintenance; limited training possibilities; low volume of renewable energy installations so far; no network for service outlets and supply of spare parts are some of the factors leading institutional barriers.

*  General lack of awareness and political support

Lack of information on different renewable energy options and their cost and benefits is a big barrier in creating awareness, which is presently very low among the consumers. Efforts of information dissemination are feeble, and marketing of products non-existent. Low literacy levels in rural areas, and non-availability of local language literature on renewable energy also contribute to the general lack awareness.

It is clear that without addressing these barriers, it is difficult to promote sustainable energy alternatives to increase rural access. At the same time, government and other institutions in Cambodia have little capacity – financial – to address these barriers.

SUPPLIERS:

KHMER SOLAR Co.Ltd

#71, Preah Norodom, Blvd, Phnom Penh Cambodia

Tel: (855)23-212-212, (855) 16-830-038

Renewable Equipment Supply, Spare Parts & Services
 

COMIN KHMERE Co.Ltd

#48 Samdech Pan (Str.214), Phnom Penh Cambodia

Tel: (855)23-426-056

Generators - Supply, Rental, Spare Parts & Services
 

Hai Leck Cambodia Company Limited

N° 149 Street 143 Corner Street 360, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tel: (855)23-216-567

Generators - Supply, Rental, Spare Parts & Services
 

Exelco M&E Co Ltd

N° 142 Street 51, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tel: (855) 12-379-318

Air Conditioning - Supply & Services | Electric Works | Electricity Supply - Power Plants | Engineering - Contractors & Consultants | Generators - Supply, Rental, Spare Parts & Services | Maintenance - General, Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Cleaning, etc. | Mechanical Contractors | Chemicals | Electric Household Appliances - Retail & Services | Electric Equipment - Supply | Measuring Machines & Equipment | Refrigerating Equipment - Commercial & Industrial | Security Services & Equipment | Telecommunication Equipment, Supplies & Services

Key Players

GOVERNMENT:

1. Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy: Department of Energy Technique
2. Electricity du Cambodge (EDC)
3. Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology
4. Cambodian Climate Change Office of the Ministry of Environment

PRIVATE SECORS:

1.      KHMER SOLAR Co.Ltd.

2.      METROFILE ENGINEERING

3.      COMIN KHMERE Co.Ltd

NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION: 

-     REPSA (Renewable Energy Private Sector Association), from KHMER SOLAR,

      Director, Jean-Pierre Mahé of Kosan-Gret, As Secretary General of REPSA.

-     CRCD (Cambodian Research Centre for Development)

ACADEMIC:

1.    Institute Technology of Cambodia (ITC)

2.   Royal University of Agriculture (RUA)

DONORS, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS:

New Energy and Industrial Development Organization (NEDO, Japan)