A SWOT Analysis of Utility-Scale Solar in Myanmar
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Solar in Myanmar
3. Materials and Methods
4. Results: SWOT Analysis of Utility-Scale Solar Energy in Myanmar
4.1. Strengths
4.1.1. Vast Untapped Solar Potential Resource (S1)
4.1.2. Areas with Higher Solar Potential near the Existing National Grid (S2)
4.1.3. Public Support for Solar (in Contrast to Coal and Large Hydro) (S3)
4.1.4. Shorter Lead Times for the Construction of Solar Power Plants (S4)
4.1.5. Increasing Experience in Solar PV through off-Grid Projects (S5)
4.2. Weaknesses
4.2.1. Regulatory Uncertainty in Myanmar’s Power Sector (W1)
4.2.2. Highly Subsidized Electricity Tariffs to Final Consumers (W2)
4.2.3. Lack of Policies to Support the Development of Renewables (W3)
4.3. Opportunities
4.3.1. Possibility of Export Generation Surpluses to Neighboring Countries (O1)
4.3.2. Seasonal Complementarity between Solar and Hydro Resources (O2)
4.3.3. Decreasing Global Prices of Solar Energy (O3)
4.3.4. International Investment Interest in Myanmar (O4)
4.3.5. Growing Investment in Solar Energy in Myanmar (O5)
4.3.6. Support from Various International Donors to Myanmar (O6)
4.4. Threats
4.4.1. Potential Disputes to Secure Land through Due Process (T1)
4.4.2. Difficulties to Improve Business Environment Due to High Levels of Perceived Corruption (T2)
4.4.3. Unwillingness to Propose New Projects Due to Delays in the Implementation of Currently Approved Projects (T3)
4.4.4. Reluctance to Invest Due to Possible Security and Reputation Concerns (T4)
4.4.5. Reduced Investment Interest Due to the Very Low Level of Solar Energy in Government’s Capacity Expansion Plans (T5)
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions and Policy Implications
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Category | Factor | Issue |
---|---|---|
Strengths (S) | S1 | Vast untapped solar potential resource |
S2 | Areas with higher solar potential near to existing national grid | |
S3 | Public support for solar (in contrast to coal and large hydro) | |
S4 | Shorter lead times for the construction of solar power plants | |
S5 | Increasing experience in solar PV through off-grid projects | |
Weaknesses (W) | W1 | Regulatory uncertainty in Myanmar’s power sector |
W2 | Highly subsidized electricity tariffs to final consumers | |
W3 | Lack of policies to support the development of renewables | |
Opportunities (O) | O1 | Possibility of export generation surpluses to neighboring countries |
O2 | Seasonal complementarity between solar and hydro resources | |
O3 | Decreasing global prices of solar energy | |
O4 | International investment interest in Myanmar | |
O5 | Growing investment in solar energy in Myanmar | |
O6 | Support from various international donors to Myanmar | |
Threats (T) | T1 | Potential disputes to secure land through due process |
T2 | Difficulties to improve business environment due to high levels of perceived corruption | |
T3 | Unwillingness to propose new projects due to delays in the implementation of currently approved projects | |
T4 | Reluctance to invest due to possible security and reputation concerns | |
T5 | Reduced investment interest due to the very low level of solar energy in government’s capacity expansion plans |
Consumer Range (kWh/month) | 2014 | 2019 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Kyats/kWh | USD Cents (2014) (1 USD = 972.00 kyats (as of 17 July 2014); Central Bank of Myanmar https://forex.cbm.gov.mm/index.php/fxrate)/kWh | Kyats/kWh | USD Cents (2019) (1 USD = 1514.5 kyats (as of 17 July 2019) Central Bank of Myanmar https://forex.cbm.gov.mm/index.php/fxrate)/kWh | |
1–30 | 35 | 3.6 | 35 | 2.31 |
31–50 | 35 | 3.6 | 50 | 3.30 |
51–75 | 35 | 3.6 | 70 | 4.62 |
76–100 | 35 | 3.6 | 90 | 5.94 |
101–150 | 40 | 4.1 | 110 | 7.26 |
151–200 | 40 | 4.1 | 120 | 7.92 |
Over 201 | 50 | 5.1 | 125 | 8.25 |
Consumer Range (kWh/Month) | 2014 | 2019 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Kyats/kWh | USD Cents (2014)/kWh | Kyats/kWh | USD Cents (2019)/kWh | |
1–500 | 75 | 7.7 | 125 | 8.25 |
501–5000 | 100 | 10.3 | 135 | 8.91 |
5001–10,000 | 100 | 10.3 | 145 | 9.57 |
10,001–20,000 | 125 | 12.9 | 155 | 10.23 |
20,001–50,000 | 125 | 12.9 | 165 | 10.89 |
50,001–100,000 | 150 | 15.4 | 175 | 11.55 |
50,001–100,000 | 150 | 15.4 | 175 | 11.55 |
100,001–200,000 | 150 | 15.4 | 180 | 11.89 |
201,000–300,000 | 125 | 12.9 | 180 | 11.89 |
Over 300,001 | 100 | 10.3 | 180 | 11.89 |
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del Barrio Alvarez, D.; Sugiyama, M. A SWOT Analysis of Utility-Scale Solar in Myanmar. Energies 2020, 13, 884. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13040884
del Barrio Alvarez D, Sugiyama M. A SWOT Analysis of Utility-Scale Solar in Myanmar. Energies. 2020; 13(4):884. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13040884
Chicago/Turabian Styledel Barrio Alvarez, Daniel, and Masahiro Sugiyama. 2020. "A SWOT Analysis of Utility-Scale Solar in Myanmar" Energies 13, no. 4: 884. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13040884