Water Related Risks
Raw water is an essential resource in electricity generation. Most of RATCH’s assets are thermal and combined-cycle power plants, accounting to 41.78%, that demand a massive volume of water. RATCH has thus emphasized the efficiency in water management, to raise the water utilization per power unit rate and increase the reuse rate. Meanwhile, we aim to decrease water withdrawal, to prevent impacts on water shortage and a possible conflict with community.
Water utilization varies accordingly to power plants’ installed capacity: the higher installed capacity, the higher water demand. All 6 RATCH-controlled power plants in Thailand, contributing 83.81% of revenue, use raw water from 3 sources which are the Mae Klong River Basin, the Chao Phraya River Basin and the Bang Pakong River Basin. All 3 sources mainly serve agricultural, irrigation and consumption purposes.
Water stress analysis
The analysis and ranking by World Resources Institute (WRI)’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas and the WWF (Water Risk Filter) shows a low water stress level for the Mae Klong River Basin and a high stress level in the Chao Phraya River Basin and the Bang Pakong River Basin.
Water withdrawal and power generation based on water stress levels in 2022
| Water source | Water stress level | Water utilization per power unit (cubic meter/megawatt-hour) |
Power generation based on water stress levels | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (10-20%) | Medium (21-40%) | High (41-80%) | |||
| Mae Klong | Ratchaburi Power Plant | - | - | 1.13 | 79.60 |
| Mae Klong | Berkprai Cogeneration Power Plant | - | - | 1.49 | 3.24 |
| Tap water from Chao Phraya River | - | - | Nava Nakorn Generating Power Plant | 1.55 | 6.22 |
| Tap water from Chao Phraya River | - | - | RATCH Cogeneration Power Plant | 1.36 | 3.88 |
| Tap water from Bang Pakong River | - | - | Nexif Ratch Energy Rayong Power Plant | 1.33 | 1.62 |
| Tap water from Bang Pakong River | - | - | Sahacogeneration Power Plant (Chonburi) | 1.78 | 5.45 |
Measures to tackle shortage risks
RATCH’s power plants, particularly those located in the Chao Phraya River Basin and Bang Pakong River Basin, have ensured continuous monitoring of water levels in raw-water sources and reinforced the compliance with preventive and mitigation measures as specified in the projects’ EIA. The goal is to monitor and watch out for any issues involving water shortage and a fight with community and farmers for water, that may send impacts on the economy and community livelihood. Constant discussions with water producers and distributors have taken place, along with the follow-up on their water source management plans.
Through long-term contracts, Nava Nakorn Power Plant and RATCH Cogeneration Power Plant use tap water made from water in the Chao Phraya River Basin while Sahacogeneration Power Plant (Chonburi) and Nexif Ratch Energy Rayong Power Plant use tap water made from water in the Bang Pakong River Basin. These two river basins show a high stress level (41-80%). To manage supply-related risks, the tap water producer and distributors are required to locate a secondary and emergency water source in case of drought or shortage in the main sources. That is to ensure a sufficient water supply to the power plants. In addition, each plant has established additional measures as follows:
- Construct backup water storage ponds to address water consumption for at least 10 days.
- Install the water quality improvement system to ensure efficient utilization and reduce water loss.
- Maximize water recycling in the cooling system.
- Consider additional approaches to optimize water utilization efficiency and recycling, like drawing rainwater for production or reusing treated water for equipment washing and tree watering.
- Regularly check pipelines and immediately fix leakage, to prevent water loss.
- Organize projects to raise awareness and campaign for efficient water utilization.