In Thailand, it is agreed that the responsibility for developing hydropower sources for
small and very small power generation be divided among 3 agencies, namely the Electricity
Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), and the
Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE). It is agreed that for
a project which is financially feasible, EGAT or a private company will undertake the project
development. DEDE will undertake projects which are socially feasible, but not economically
with the capacity no more than 6 MWe. When the project sites are to be located outside
national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. At present, all 3 agencies have prepared action plans
for small and very small hydro power projects. EGAT has 3 projects, with combined capacity
of 28 MW. PEA has 4 projects, with combined capacity of 27 MW. In addition, DEDE has
98 projects, with combined capacity of 350 MWe.
DEDE has developed 75 hydropower projects in villages, with combined capacity of
2,500 kWe. DEDE invests in construction and allow local community to have ownership in
a form of cooperatives. DEDE is responsible for project designs, sources of fund, materials,
necessary technology. Local community provides manpower, and locally available materials,
such as stones and sand. It is expected that 50 hydro power plants will be constructed
at the existing dams and additional 400 plants at the existing dikes with a combined
capacity of over 190 MW. Moreover, if there is an efficiency upgrade for the existing
hydro power plants by changing electromechanical equipment in the next 10 year, it is
expected that a capacity of 86 MWe could be added.
Thailand currently has experience exploring for hydropower sources, structural designs,
and construction of small and large dams with capacity over 100 MWe. However, there is
a low capacity in designing, constructing and manufacturing hydropower turbine and
electromechanical systems. DEDE can produce radial flow hydro turbine of a size smaller
than 6 MWe through a number of private contractors. However, it cannot design or produce
axial flow hydro turbine. Recently, EGAT has cooperated with energy and environmental
academic institutions to design and manufacture small hydro turbines to be installed
at dams. These turbines can only operate at water pressure of 2.5-3 meters, with the
installed capacity of around 28 kWe and efficiency of 75%. The majority of the equipment,
such as runner, power generator, and electromechanical equipment, are developed
domestically by research team and the Department of Naval Dockyard.