COVID-19 and the Electricity Market

This chapter investigates the effects of COVID-19 on electricity consumption in some countries, especially in Iran. The effect of COVID-19 in the electricity industry and the amount of electricity consumption in Iran and in the countries that have been most affected have been studied. A study of COVID-19's impact on the world shows a reduction of about 15% in electricity demand during the short term of the COVID-19 outbreak. This amount varies from country to country. Studies show that the countries under study have experienced a relative decline in electricity demand in the short term, but with the continued prevalence of COVID-19 and the removal of some restrictions, the state of electricity consumption has more or less returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. It is worth noting that at the time of writing this chapter, the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Rights to Own and Operate a Hydro Floating Solar Project in Thailand

This paper finds that the current electricity regulatory regime, established by the Energy Industry Act B.E. 2550 (2007), together with the current electricity industry structure—the enhanced single buyer model—serves as a favorable legal basis for a state electricity enterprise, especially the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), to own and operate a hydro-floating solar project in Thailand. However, it argues that, despite their ability to obtain the relevant licenses under the Energy Industry Act B.E. 2550 (2007) as well as enter into power purchase agreements with state electricity enterprises or private customers, the rights of private hydro-floating solar project operators to own and operate a hydro-floating solar project on the surface of public water resources are undermined by uncertainty pertaining to the possessory right over the water surface of public water resources, as well as unfair or discriminatory practices concerning electricity network access.

Protection of Microgrids

The concept of microgrids goes back to the early years of the electricity industry although the systems then were not formally called microgrids. Today, two types of microgrids can be seen: independent and grid connected. The protection requirement of these two types differs as the protection needs of an independent microgrid are intended for protecting components and systems within the microgrid, whereas a grid connected microgrid demands both internal and external protection. The first part of this chapter is dedicated to independent microgrids. How protection devices such as residual current circuit breakers, miniature and moulded case circuit breakers, and surge protective devices should be selected for an example microgrid is discussed while referring to the relevant standards. In the next section, the protection of a grid connected microgrid is discussed. Particularly, micro-source protection, microgrid protection, loss of mains protection and fault ride-through requirements are discussed while referring to two commonly used distributed generator connection codes. An example with simulations carried out in the IPSA simulation platform was used to explain different protection requirements and calculation procedures. Finally, grounding requirements are discussed while referring to different interfacing transformer connections and voltage source inverter connections.

Impacts of Solar Electricity Generation on the Thai Electricity Industry

This paper analyses the impacts of electricity generation from solar energy on the Thai electricity industry. In this paper, three scenarios (REF, Solar2015 and Solar2018) are developed to represent an increased levels of electricity produced from solar energy. A Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) model is employed, in this paper, to assess the impacts for the period 2019–2037.This paper assesses and analyses the scenario impacts in terms of diversification of electricity generation, fossil fuel requirement and emissions of CO2 and SO2. The analysis reveals that increased electricity generation from solar energy would help diversify energy supply for electricity generation, reduce fossil fuel imports, and therefore help improve energy security of the country. Furthermore, it would help mitigating CO2 and SO2 emissions – an issue of environmental significance. Despite several benefits, there are a number of emerging barriers for promoting electricity generation from solar energy in Thailand. These include the intermittency of solar energy, high-capital cost, unsupportable grid infrastructure and unfavourable regulatory framework. This paper, therefore, suggests that the implementation of energy storage system, provision of financial incentives to potential investors, improvement of grid flexibility and the revision of the regulations to support solar energy business could be effective strategies in order to address the barriers facing the Thai electricity industry.