EGAT opens Renewable Energy Forecast Center and Demand Response Control Center, to enhance stability of Thailand’s power system and support clean energy trend
24 August 2023EGAT opened the Renewable Energy Forecast Center (REFC) and the Demand Response Control Center (DRCC) to upgrade Thailand’s power system to be more modern and stable while supporting the increasing share of renewable energy in the future.
Mr. Kitti Petchsantad, Deputy Governor – Transmission System of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) officially opened the Renewable Energy Forecast Center (REFC) and the Demand Response Control Center (DRCC) at the second floor of T.102 Building, EGAT Headquarters. These centers are two of the five pillars under Thailand’s Smart Grid Development Plan for the Medium Term (2022-2031).
EGAT Deputy Governor said that REFC and DRCC are vital for grid modernization which will enhance the stability and reliability of the power system. At present, REFC has succeeded in predicting electricity generation from renewable and clean energy, including wind and solar energy operated by Small Power Producers (SPPs). The forecasts are then incorporated with the plan of electricity generation of other fuel-based power plants to ensure that the power system can handle fluctuations and uncertainties of electricity generated from renewable energy. DRCC serves as the control center for reducing electricity consumption or load through Load Aggregator (LA) that manages the demand of power users who will reduce their power consumption in exchange with compensation. Currently, DRCC is being operated under the pilot project with a reduced load of 50 MW and with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and the Provincial Electricity Authority serving as LAs. In the future when the private agencies can become LAs, the new energy business will emerge and all LAs will operate under DRCC.
“REFC and DRCC are the prototypes of five regional renewable energy forecast centers and five demand response control centers which will be founded at the regional grid control centers to enhance modernization and stability. Moreover, eleven renewable energy forecast centers will be established at EGAT’s substations whose areas have the potential for renewable energy development. The centers will support the additional 8,000 MW renewable energy integrated into the generation mix as well as renewable energy power plants of Very Small Power Producers (VSPPs), which may impact the control and stability of the country’s power system,” emphasized EGAT Deputy Governor.
The success of REFC and DRCC establishment reflects EGAT’s dedication to grid modernization during the period of energy transition, to ensure security, stability, and reliability of the power system. It is also a beginning which leads to the development of grid modernization in other dimensions. EGAT will continue moving forward to steer Thailand toward Carbon Neutrality by 2050.