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ADB loans $7.6M for Solar Power Construction

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on May 24 approved a $7.64 million loan to support the construction of a 100-megawatt (MW) solar power park in Cambodia to help in a contribute to the development of renewable energy and diversify the power supply that can improve the country’s competitiveness.

ADB Principal Climate Change Specialist Mr. Pradeep Tharakan said that ADB’s assistance will not only help diversify Cambodia’s energy mix through solar power development, but also help the country meet its greenhouse gas emissions reductions target, as per the Paris climate agreement.

“Having reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy sources are crucial for the economic development of a rapidly expanding country such as Cambodia,” said Mr.Tharakan.

In addition to ADB’s loan, the financing package for the National Solar Park Project includes an $11 million loan and a $3 million grant from the Strategic Climate Fund, specifically through the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program. Also included is a $500,000 technical assistance grant provided by the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund to support the capacity development of Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), Cambodia’s national electricity utility, as well as the Electricity Authority of Cambodia, the national electricity regulator, in solar photovoltaic technology and solar park planning. ADB will administer these resources. The project was prepared with grants from the governments of Canada and Singapore.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50607599/a ... struction/

Clean energy / A guide to renewable power in Cambodia
Posted on: May 24, 2019 | Business

Cambodia has huge renewable energy potential in the form of hydropower, solar and wind. Hydropower is already an important part of the energy mix and attention is shifting towards other renewable energies, but many challenges lie ahead

The Kingdom’s electricity demand has been increasing year-on-year since 2010 as rapid development in the country continues, with last year’s growth around 15%. Today, more people in and out of the major cities rely on having access to electricity. The government is taking steps to meet that need and to reduce reliance on electricity imports from neighbouring countries.

The government had set the goal of electrifying all villages in the country by 2020, and this year increased the target of households connected to the national grid from 70% to 95% by 2030, according to the Basic Energy Plan report prepared by Cambodia’s General Department of Energy and supported by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.

Plans for a new 700-megawatt coal-fired power station were approved in 2018 and it will be the third in the country, facts which suggest that the government still views coal and hydropower as the two primary sources in electrical supply, with most non-hydro renewable energy projects at nascent stages.

Recent investments and advances in technology indicate that Cambodia may look to tap into its substantial renewable energy potential in the coming decades, but without a clear course of action or specific targets, progress is hampered.

In an opinion piece, Veng Visal, a senior energy research analyst at the ASEAN Centre for Energy, noted that it was “quite an achievement” for Cambodia to have electrified 68% of the country’s total population – up from 36% in 2013 – but warned that “even with that number, there is still a long way to go.”
https://sea-globe.com/renewable-energy-in-cambodia/

ADB provides backing for 100 MW solar project in Cambodia
30 May 2019
Solar recommendation
The 100 MW National Solar Power Park project will comprise multiple plants, all of which will be tendered to independent power producers through two procurement rounds, the first allocating 60 MW of capacity. The first tender window closed on May 17 and no results have been published yet.

“ADB’s office of public-private partnership is working as a transaction advisor to assist EDC to design and conduct an open and competitive bidding process,” the development bank’s announcement added.

Almost five million Cambodians are without access to electricity as installed capacity in the nation reached 2,175 MW last year. Of that capacity 62% – 1,330 MW – was supplied by hydropower stations with fossil fuel capacity making up most of the remaining 780 MW, according to the ADB. To date, Cambodia has installed just 10 MW of solar capacity but thanks to abundant solar irradiation, the development bank has claimed 200 MW of PV could be added through 2021 without the need for grid upgrades.

In October, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) urged the Cambodian government to use solar to drive down electricity prices which are among the highest in Southeast Asia. “The government is on the verge of committing to an expansion of its hydropower program and coal plants, and this will limit the scope for solar development and potentially lead to additional social and environmental consequences,” the UNDP said at the time.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/05/30/ ... -cambodia/

Good for Cambodia! 100MW is better than nothing!

The 200MW project was granted to a Chinese firm. No tender. I don't know if it's going to be one huge project or several smaller projects (which would make more sense).
https://www.construction-property.com/read-news-1790/

Don't forget the ... But Coal Plants Planned Too...

Talks with Cambodia for energy projects, developing disputed border area
National
Sep 04. 2019
By The Nation

Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong says he will speak with his Cambodian counterpart regarding the dispute over the maritime border with the aim of joint development of the overlapping claim to benefit both countries on Thursday (September 5).

The 37th Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting and Associated Meetings (AMEM) will be held from September 2 to September 6.

The main topic of the session is Cambodia’s need for energy to fuel future economic growth. Thailand generates a surplus of energy beyond the needs of its population. Both countries will discuss how to generate and trade energy for Cambodia. Thailand is ready to invest in a power plant if Cambodia followed a plan to build more plants in the country, said the minister.

“In this session, we will talk about future collaboration on energy between the two countries, not a final verdict. Energy collaboration is only part of the solution to a problem that has been around for 20-30 years.” Sontirat said.

Cambodia was reportedly interested in buying electricity from Thailand and in a joint investment in coal-fired power plants on Kong island, near the border with Thailand.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30375824

"Cambodia was reportedly interested in buying electricity from Thailand and in a joint investment in coal-fired power plants on Kong island, near the border with Thailand."

!!!???

I doubt it. But a mega catastrophe if it does eventuate.
Koh Kong island is theee jewel of Cambodia's coast.

PS - there is hardly a square kilometre of flat land on the island - in total.

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:29 pm "Cambodia was reportedly interested in buying electricity from Thailand and in a joint investment in coal-fired power plants on Kong island, near the border with Thailand."

!!!???

I doubt it. But a mega catastrophe if it does eventuate.
Koh Kong island is theee jewel of Cambodia's coast.

PS - there is hardly a square kilometre of flat land on the island - in total.

That problem can be solved by using a few [ eco-friendly ] bulldozers.

Duncan wrote: ↑Thu Sep 05, 2019 7:55 am

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:29 pm !!!???
PS - there is hardly a square kilometre of flat land on the island - in total.

That problem can be solved by using a few [ eco-friendly ] bulldozers.

Shhh....

(don't tell them that)

ADB-supported solar project in Cambodia achieves lowest-ever tariff in ASEAN
By NS Energy staff writer 06 Sep 2019
The project, supported by ADB, drew 26 bidders, including several global companies, and has achieved the lowest power purchase tariff for a solar project so far recorded in Southeast Asia.

The auction for 60 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity conducted by Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), Cambodia’s national electricity utility, has led to the lowest bid of 3.877 cents (US dollar) per kilowatt hour by Prime Road Alternative Company Limited. The project, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), drew 26 bidders, including several global companies, and has achieved the lowest power purchase tariff for a solar project so far recorded in Southeast Asia.

The 60 MW project is part of a 100 MW National Solar Park and is structured as a public–private partnership. EDC is providing the land and transmission access, while the private sector will provide power generation capacity based on a long-term power purchase agreement with EDC. ADB served as the transaction advisor for the project, through the Office of Public–Private Partnerships, while also providing a sovereign loan blended with climate finance funds to finance the transmission line and substation for the solar park. The project preparation work was carried out by ADB with the support of the governments of Canada and Singapore.

“The record low prices show the power of competition. This is a new era for renewable energy development in Cambodia and the region, and particularly for solar power generation. This is good news for EDC and the people of Cambodia,” said the Director of ADB’s Office of Public–Private Partnerships Mr. Siddharta Shah.
https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/a ... -in-asean/

With many in Asia still dependent on farming and fishing, there is a real risk that large-scale renewable energy projects will change land use and hurt communities, say experts
By Rina Chandran

BANGKOK, Sept 10 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Huge renewable energy projects planned in Asia, such as solar parks and hydropower dams, risk accelerating the conversion of farmland, uprooting communities and destroying livelihoods, energy experts and human rights activists warned on Tuesday.

As they look to curb climate changing emissions, some of the most rapid transitions to renewable energy are taking place in countries such as China, India and across Southeast Asia.

But with many in the region still dependent on farming and fishing, there is a real risk that large-scale renewable energy projects will change land use and hurt poor communities, said Harjeet Singh, global climate change lead at charity ActionAid.

"This shift and expansion will have significant implications for farmers, indigenous communities, ecosystems and water sources. The risks include land grabbing, destruction of forests and water bodies, and displacement," he said.

"There is a need to ensure that the new solutions don't create different injustices, inequalities, and cause more environmental destruction", including from mining for minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium and rare earth metals, he said.

More than three people were murdered each week last year while protecting their land from encroaching industries, with a four-fold increase in killings related to conflicts over water, according to Britain-based human rights group Global Witness.

Of the 164 killings it recorded in 19 countries, nearly a fourth were linked to mining, with fatal attacks also recorded at hydropower projects, it said in July.

In the Mekong river, some 11 mainstream dams and 120 dams on tributaries are planned for hydropower generation, which scientists have warned will imperil the already fragile river system, and hurt communities dependent on fishing and farming.
http://news.trust.org/item/20190910070927-hdirf/