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BGET helps rural communities to build and sustainably operate micro-hydro systems in Tak province. |
| This
project started in January 2003 with the cooperation of Chris Greacen
and the local organization Taipei Overseas Peace Service (TOPS), using
funding from The American Womens Club of Thailand to install a 500-watt
micro-hydro system at Kre Ki village, Tha Song Yang district. The power
was to be used for the village school, temple and street lights. The
system has a turgo turbine and a permanent magnet alternator as a
generator. |
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In
January 2004, the second micro-hydro system was implemented in E Wi Jo
village, three hours walking distance from Kre Ki (unreachable by car).
With additional support from another local group, Karen Network for
Culture and Environment (KNCE), a 2-kilowatt micro-hydro system with
the technology of cross-flow turbine and synchronous generator was
installed. The power provides one light in each of 40 village
households. The funding for equipment and materials mainly came from
TOPS. Other assistance was from organizations dedicated to helping
refugees including Thai Burmese Border Consortium (TBBC), the Catholic
Office of Emergency Relief and Refugees, and ZOA Refugee Care.
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At the beginning of 2005, the third micro-hydro system was installed in
the village of Mae Sa Pau, Tha Song Yang district. It has a turgo
turbine and a permanent magnet generator. The system generates 1.5
kilowatts to power lights in the clinic, church, and school.
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In
Jan-Feb 2006, a 3 kW micro-hydropower plant was installed at Huai Kra
Thing village, using a pump as turbine for the first time ever in
Thailand. This project was a cooperative work among many organizations
including villagers, KNCE, TOPS, ZOA Refugee Care, Spring Street
School, Village Studies Program from the US, and Engineering Study
Program from Mae La Refugee camp. The project is funded by the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) through the Global Environment
Facility (GEF)/Small Grant Program (SGP). In addition to installing two
micro-hydro systems, the goals for this particular project include
training the villagers in environmental issues and renewable energies
(solar power systems and micro-hydro) and performing community outreach
activities. |
| Jan-Feb
2007 saw the installation of a 2kW Turgo micro-hydro system at the
primary school in Mor Ti Hta village, Tha Song Yang District, Tak
Province. This is the second and final installation part of the UNDP
grant. As with previous years, many organizations and individuals lent
their support, hands, backs, minds, and hearts to the project. KNCE,
TOPS, ZOA Refugee Care, Palang Thai, Spring Street School, Village
Studies Program from the US, and Engineering Study Program from Mae La
Refugee camp all took part. |
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In February 2008 BGET’s second pump-as-turbine micro-hydro system was installed in the village of Mae Wei. The system produces 3 kW of power distributed to the village school. The installation was completed with the cooperative efforts from the villagers, KNCE, TOPS, ZOA Refugee Care, Spring Street School, Village Studies Program (USA), Engineering Study Program students from Mae La Refugee camp, and visiting foreign volunteers. The project was again graciously funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through the Global Environment Facility (GEF)/Small Grant Program (SGP). Unique to this micro-hydro installation, the process was professionally filmed, resulting in a short video on the steps and resources necessary to bring a micro-hydro system into a village. Check it out at (coming soon). |
Next activity: Another Install!
BGET is in the process of
confirming the next micro-hydro installation to take place in 2009. It is anticipated to be in the village of Baan Kam Waan in Mae Ramat district.
Existing Installations
|
Year
|
Location
|
Power
|
Type
|
Fund
|
2008
|
Mae Wei (Report | Schematic) |
3kW |
pump as turbine, induction |
UNDP |
| 2007 |
Mor Ti Hta (Report)
|
2kW |
Turgo, permanent magnet
|
UNDP |
| 2006 |
Huai Kra Thing (Report) |
3kW |
Pump as turbine, induction
|
UNDP |
| 2005 |
Mae Sa Pau |
1.5kW |
Turgo, permanent magnet |
|
| 2004 |
E Wi Jo |
2kW |
Synchronized cross-flow |
TOPS |
| 2003 |
Kre Khi |
1kW
|
Turgo, permanent magnet
|
Bangkok Women's Club
|
Current Objectives
|
1.
Follow-ups on the previous systems to install load controllers and to
provide the energy management discussion or training have been planned.
For the duration of each visit, a data-logger will be set up to monitor
and record voltage and current levels in the system. |
| 2.
To set up a training on environmental issues, community energy
management, and sustainability (as it pertains to micro-hydro systems)
for the system installed village and nearby villages. This training
will take place before work on the next site starts. |
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