Clean Power Asia: Region Reports Back on Renewable and Cleaner Fossil Power Successes

Bangkok, Thailand, June 16, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Australia and the Philippines are just some of the more than 14 countries in the region that will present case studies and report back on renewable and cleaner fossil power projects during the upcoming Clean Power Asia in Bangkok from 28-30 June.

Thailand’s Ministry of Energy, who is officially supporting Clean Power Asia, and the supporting host utilities EGAT and PEA ENCOM look forward to welcoming over 300 international power industry professionals focusing on both renewable and cleaner fossil power. Energy experts from Thailand, Singapore, Korea, China, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and Iran will be attending the event.

Australia’s Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project
The Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project is the largest solar integration with a coal-fired power station in the world. Alan Brake is a Senior Engineer with CS Energy Ltd and the Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project Manager. During Clean Power Asia he will discuss their experience with solar-coal hybrid technology. Says Alan Brake: “CS Energy’s 750 megawatt (MW) coal-fired Kogan Creek Power Station is a highly efficient dry-cooled power station, which was commissioned in 2007. It is the largest single unit generator in Australia. The Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project enables the power station to produce more electricity while using the same amount of coal. By using energy from the sun, we will be increasing the station’s capacity to meet the growing demand for electricity, increase its fuel efficiency and reduce its greenhouse intensity – avoiding the production of 35,600 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.”

Hydropower offers good investment potential in The Philippines
Emmanuel Rubio, CEO, SN Aboitiz Power Benguet (SNAPBenguet) in the Philippines says hydropower plays a critical role in the Philippines as it provides the needed peaking capacity at lower costs compared to fossil fuel fired plants. He continues: “Hydro plants also provide the much needed ancillary reserves needed by the grid. For the country's renewable energy program, hydro electric power has the most potential for development as it is one of the more dependable and has the most opportunity.”

“In the near to midterm,” he says, “the Philippines offers good potential for investment in the power sector, considering the current infrastructure that is in place, the forecasted demand growth and the focus that the government is putting into the industry. It is one of the key drivers for the development and it’s critical that Philippines must be able to support the need for more energy at competitive rates to achieve its growth targets.”

During Clean Power Asia in Bangkok this month, Emmanuel Rubio will also report on the successful project implementation on the rehabilitation of the Ambuklao Power Plant. In July 1990, a strong earthquake hit Benguet and the operation of Ambuklao was affected leading to its final decommissioning in 1999. It is undergoing a rehabilitation project that will increase its capacity to 105 MW and restore it to operating status. All three units of Ambuklao are expected to be running by the third quarter of 2011.

More highlights from the Clean Power Asia programme include:

Renewable power:
· China WindPower plans to build and operate up to 800 MW of new wind farms by 2012
· Keys to success from Southeast Asia’s largest solar power plant project in Thailand
· Optimizing Hydropower generation in peninsular Malaysia – TNB’s Green Energy Initiatives
· Update on the Wayang Windu Project in Indonesia
· Lessons learned from one of the first European style organic waste to energy projects in Thailand

Cleaner fossil power generation:
· Environmental considerations related to the development and implementation of the 660MW coal-fired power plant project in Thailand (Gheco-One)
· Successful cleaner fossil fuel coal based power plant development: the Tianjin IGCC project in China
· PLN Indonesia’s approach to environmentally friendly coal power production
· Thailand’s Mae Moh coal fired power plant’s achievements in reducing emissions through technological and operational improvements
· Korea’s experiences in cost savings while generating ultra-clean electricity

Leading government and industry experts on the programme include:
· Sutat Patmasiriwat, Governor, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Thailand
· Pongsakorn Tantiwanichanon, Deputy Governor Planning and System Development, Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), Thailand
· Luluk Sumiarso, Former Director General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia
· Dato’ Ir. Azman Bin Mohd, COO, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Malaysia
· Dr. Direk Lavansiri, Chairman, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Thailand
· Ir. Ahmad Fauzi Hasan, CEO, Energy Commission, Malaysia
· Andrew Beebe, Chief Commercial Officer, Suntech Power, China
· Xaypaseuth Phomsoupha, Director General, Department of Energy Promotion and Development, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lao PDR
· Francis Saturnino C. Juan, Executive Director, Energy Regulatory Commission, The Philippines
· Ir. Ahmad Fauzi Hasan, CEO, Energy Commission, Malaysia
· Maaike Göbel, Manager, Southeast Asia and Pacific Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), Australia
· Nur Pamudji Director for Primary Energy, PT PLN (Persero), Indonesia

Event dates: Conference dates: 28-30 June, Site visits (optional): 30 June
Event location: Intercontinental Hotel, 973 Ploenchit Road, Bangkok, Thailand

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