The sixth edition of Clean Energy Week Cambodia lands this week, with the aim of debunking common myths surrounding the energy sector, developing trust among industry players, and promoting new technologies steering Cambodia on its net zero journey.
From November 16 to 23, relevant actors from the government, and development, private and civil sectors, along with members of the public and students are expected to attend Clean Energy Week.
The EnergyLab event will host a series of dialogues, workshops, exhibitions, and awareness-raising events to showcase the innovations, successes, and benefits of clean energy.
The event will bring together stakeholders from a raft of sectors with the aim of encouraging collaboration between private and public sector players, raising awareness about clean energy among the public, and setting the record straight when it comes to the many misconceptions.
Clean energy Vs renewable energy
“We want to make clean energy as accessible as possible, we want to make clean energy well understood,” said Natharoun Ngo Son, EnergyLab director, adding that confusion often arises over the definition of clean energy and renewable energy.
According to a definition by the United Nations, renewable energy refers to energy that derives from natural resources and can be replenished at a faster rate than they are consumed. Examples include solar, wind, and hydropower.
Clean energy, on the other hand, refers to energy that derives from renewable, zero emission sources that do not pollute the environment when they are used. It also encompasses energy efficiency measures, electric mobility and balancing the power grid by injecting more variable renewable energies (VREs).
“Not all renewable energy is clean energy,” said Ngo Son. “For example, renewable energy like hydropower would not be considered as clean under the definition of EnergyLab and other organizations if they do not meet international norms and standards.”
He added that the social and environmental impacts of installing a hydropower system has to be taken into consideration, for example. “They have to be installed with minimum disruption on the communities around them and the environmental ecosystem.”
Debunking myths
“Even though people are familiar with clean energy, today it’s still a new topic for the majority of Cambodians, and there’s still a lot of space to further develop clean energy,” said Ngo Son.
“One of the reasons why it’s not as developed as it should be is trust. For the government, clean energy is still perceived as a technology that is risky.”
Ngo Son said this is due to the intermittency of VREs. “The variability of VREs, such as solar and wind, throughout the day raises a lot of questions about stability,” he noted. “For any energy sector, what is important is how to keep a balanced and stable electricity grid.”
Ngo Son added that finding that perfect balance with a fluctuating energy supply is complex. If too much is fed in at once, it causes a surge in power, while too little results in blackouts.
He added that the belief that VREs are unable to provide energy 24/7, for example when the wind stops blowing and the sun shining, is redundant.
The introduction of new technologies, such as mass battery energy storage systems (BESS), mean excess energy produced can be stored to be injected into the electricity grid when needed, creating a balanced and stable electricity supply.
“Clean Energy Week is to build trust by maybe correcting some misperceptions about renewable energy and VRE,” said Ngo Son.
He added that another common misconception is the cost of adapting these new technologies. While the price of BESS is decreasing, it currently remains high. However, the cost is quickly absorbed as stored energy is spread across the country’s entire power network.
“We need to shift our mindset. When we think about batteries for storage, it's for the whole system, not a single solar farm. Then, if we think about the whole system, the cost factor is not as high anymore,” he said.
Currently, ADB is piloting a BESS project supporting a 100 MW solar farm in Kampong Cham that is being developed with EDC.
Energy innovations
“Clean Energy Week isn’t just about building trust, it’s also about bringing innovation and putting the spotlight on innovation. The exciting fact about the renewable and clean energy sector is that something new happens every day,” said Ngo Son.
“There is technological innovation all the time that improves performance, reduces costs and increases reliability. So, bringing that knowledge and sharing its relevance for Cambodia is another purpose of Clean Energy Week.”
To tap into homegrown innovations within the energy sector, EnergyLab runs an annual accelerator program, Switch to Solar. The six-month program supports solar tech-innovative entrepreneurs in the agriculture or fishery market to grow their businesses
“The goal is to build their capacity and give them more access to funding, so they can scale-up the innovation they built,” Ngo Son said, adding examples include solar water pumps for agriculture, solar greenhouses and solar powered egg incubators. “There are many new actors that are entering the market.”
Clean Energy Week is organized by EnergyLab Cambodia, in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United Nations Development Programme, and co-funded by CAPRED, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the European Union through their SWITCH Programme.
For more information on the week's sessions, and access to early registration, Check out Clean Energy Week Website
From November 16 to 23, relevant actors from the government, and development, private and civil sectors, along with members of the public and students are expected to attend Clean Energy Week.
The EnergyLab event will host a series of dialogues, workshops, exhibitions, and awareness-raising events to showcase the innovations, successes, and benefits of clean energy.
The event will bring together stakeholders from a raft of sectors with the aim of encouraging collaboration between private and public sector players, raising awareness about clean energy among the public, and setting the record straight when it comes to the many misconceptions.
Clean energy Vs renewable energy
“We want to make clean energy as accessible as possible, we want to make clean energy well understood,” said Natharoun Ngo Son, EnergyLab director, adding that confusion often arises over the definition of clean energy and renewable energy.
According to a definition by the United Nations, renewable energy refers to energy that derives from natural resources and can be replenished at a faster rate than they are consumed. Examples include solar, wind, and hydropower.
Clean energy, on the other hand, refers to energy that derives from renewable, zero emission sources that do not pollute the environment when they are used. It also encompasses energy efficiency measures, electric mobility and balancing the power grid by injecting more variable renewable energies (VREs).
“Not all renewable energy is clean energy,” said Ngo Son. “For example, renewable energy like hydropower would not be considered as clean under the definition of EnergyLab and other organizations if they do not meet international norms and standards.”
He added that the social and environmental impacts of installing a hydropower system has to be taken into consideration, for example. “They have to be installed with minimum disruption on the communities around them and the environmental ecosystem.”
Debunking myths
“Even though people are familiar with clean energy, today it’s still a new topic for the majority of Cambodians, and there’s still a lot of space to further develop clean energy,” said Ngo Son.
“One of the reasons why it’s not as developed as it should be is trust. For the government, clean energy is still perceived as a technology that is risky.”
Ngo Son said this is due to the intermittency of VREs. “The variability of VREs, such as solar and wind, throughout the day raises a lot of questions about stability,” he noted. “For any energy sector, what is important is how to keep a balanced and stable electricity grid.”
Ngo Son added that finding that perfect balance with a fluctuating energy supply is complex. If too much is fed in at once, it causes a surge in power, while too little results in blackouts.
He added that the belief that VREs are unable to provide energy 24/7, for example when the wind stops blowing and the sun shining, is redundant.
The introduction of new technologies, such as mass battery energy storage systems (BESS), mean excess energy produced can be stored to be injected into the electricity grid when needed, creating a balanced and stable electricity supply.
“Clean Energy Week is to build trust by maybe correcting some misperceptions about renewable energy and VRE,” said Ngo Son.
He added that another common misconception is the cost of adapting these new technologies. While the price of BESS is decreasing, it currently remains high. However, the cost is quickly absorbed as stored energy is spread across the country’s entire power network.
“We need to shift our mindset. When we think about batteries for storage, it's for the whole system, not a single solar farm. Then, if we think about the whole system, the cost factor is not as high anymore,” he said.
Currently, ADB is piloting a BESS project supporting a 100 MW solar farm in Kampong Cham that is being developed with EDC.
Energy innovations
“Clean Energy Week isn’t just about building trust, it’s also about bringing innovation and putting the spotlight on innovation. The exciting fact about the renewable and clean energy sector is that something new happens every day,” said Ngo Son.
“There is technological innovation all the time that improves performance, reduces costs and increases reliability. So, bringing that knowledge and sharing its relevance for Cambodia is another purpose of Clean Energy Week.”
To tap into homegrown innovations within the energy sector, EnergyLab runs an annual accelerator program, Switch to Solar. The six-month program supports solar tech-innovative entrepreneurs in the agriculture or fishery market to grow their businesses
“The goal is to build their capacity and give them more access to funding, so they can scale-up the innovation they built,” Ngo Son said, adding examples include solar water pumps for agriculture, solar greenhouses and solar powered egg incubators. “There are many new actors that are entering the market.”
Clean Energy Week is organized by EnergyLab Cambodia, in partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United Nations Development Programme, and co-funded by CAPRED, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the European Union through their SWITCH Programme.
For more information on the week's sessions, and access to early registration, Check out Clean Energy Week Website