EGAT kicks off largest wind-hydro energy project in Asia
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has geared up to establish Asia’s first wind, solar and fuel energy production facility in support of better balance in energy resources.
EGAT Governor Korndis Pakchotanont has signed a second phase development plan for wind turbines with HydroChina Co. as part of a project to ensure energy stability through the use of wind power. The authority has also signed deals with Hydrogenics Europe NV and Phraram 2 Civil Engineering Ltd. to establish a wind-hydrogen hybrid system, which will allow for the storage of wind power in the form of environmentally-friendly hydrogen gas.
The projects make Thailand the first country in Asia to use such technologies on a large scale. The projects will be set up in Nakhon Ratchasima province and include 12 wind turbines able to produce 24 megawatts of power each. They are slated to available for commercial use by as soon as 2017.
Wind-hydrogen system
“One method of storing wind energy is the production of hydrogen through the electrolysis of water. This hydrogen is subsequently used to generate electricity during periods when demand can not be matched by wind alone. The energy in the stored hydrogen can be converted into electrical power through fuel cell technology or a combustion engine linked to an electrical generator.
Successfully storing hydrogen has many issues which need to be overcome, such as embrittlement of the materials used in the power system.”
