Enhancing the Electricity Generation Mix for Sustainability of Cambodia

Abstract

This masters thesis sought to analyze energy alternative technologies for Cambodia. Moreover, this study compared and evaluated the fuel alternative technologies with a high probability of being introduced in 2025 as they related to energy security, electricity generation cost, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels and secured capacity of renewable energy sources (especially hydropower). In this research, the energy security price index of electricity generation (ESPIgen) was used to measure the electricity supply security. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) was then used to compare the electricity generation cost from each fossil fuel for 2025 while the average cost data of the non-OECD countries were used in the case of Cambodia. Furthermore, the CO2 emissions from alternative technologies were estimated and were arranged according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) inventory guidelines. Moreover, the generation capacity balance was used to measure the secured adequate supply for electricity generation. The results of this study show that the hydropower-oriented scenario was better than the introduction of the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) scenarios. In addition, during the rainy season, the secured capacity of hydropower energy can supply more than three times the power peak demand by 2025 while in the dry season, hydropower and gas energies are needed to meet the peak demand. Therefore, the Cambodian energy policymakers need to decide the proper hydropower and gas energy supply proportion in the countrys fuel mixes. Cambodias specific conditions, such as in relation to the domestic fossil fuel reserves, import dependence, national renewable energy potential, and load duration curve, are very important factors that must be considered by the Cambodian energy policymakers to find the least-cost generation capacity mix in the electricity generation supply side. In addition, all these important factors can help the energy policymakers find the best development strategies for attaining the goals of Cambodia. Finally, the improvement of the hydropower technology in the electricity generation with higher energy efficiency can increase the future energy supply security of Cambodia, but the environmental impact of hydropower plants should be a main concern when start doing the feasibility study of hydropower projects.