Biomass and Solar Energy for Rural Electrification and CO2 Mitigation in Cambodia

Abstract

Cambodia has the highest fuel oil dependence in the power sector among the Asian countries. In 2007, about 85% of fuel oil was supplied for electricity production consuming 1.6% of gross domestic product (GDP). Presently, only 18% of households in Cambodia have access to the electricity grid. Moreover, 75% of the electrified households are in the urban area and 9% are in the rural area. These figures are not satisfactory for Cambodian government. The less electrification in rural areas and the high electricity price are very harmful to Cambodian development. The competitiveness of the fuel oil price in power generation is very hard to increase electrification in the whole nation. By 2030, 70% of all rural households shall have access to the electricity grid, as per government plan. Cambodia has a good potential in renewable energy resources such as 10 GW of hydropower with 1.5% from small and mini hydropower, 1.5 million tones of biomass residues per year and annual solar radiation of 5.1 kWh/m² per day. These alternative resources are commonly preferred supplies for the decentralized system in the rural areas. To understand and promote the useful potential of renewable energy resources in the country for long term development plan on rural electrification in Cambodia, the objectives of the study are (1) to examine the future potential of biomass and solar power for rural electricity generation to reduce the fuel oil dependency, (2) to assess the electricity demand, and (3) to mitigate CO₂ emission by using the Long-range Energy Alternative Planning system (LEAP) model for the study period of 2007 to 2030. Results are presented of biomass potential and solar energy for Cambodian rural electrification and CO₂ mitigation.