Survey of the possible use of windpower in Thailand and the Philippines

SMALL WINDPUMPERS PUMPING FROM DUG WELLS COULD ALLEVIATE PRE- AND POST-SEASON DROUGHTS THAT REDUCE RICE YIELDS. LARGER WINDPUMPERS BESIDE IRRIGATION CANALS AND DITCHES IN THE CENTRAL PLAIN COULD IMPROVE DRY-SEASON IRRIGATION AND PERMIT EXPANSION OF THE RICE CULTURE FROM ONE CROP TO TWO. SMALL AND LARGE WINDPUMPERS NOW EXIST IN THAILAND AND HAVE FOR CENTURIES, BUT ARE PRIMITIVE, SCARCE, AND OFTEN BROKEN DOWN FOR LACK OF KEY METAL PARTS. LARGER WINDPUMPERS ALONG THE MEKONG RIVER COULD ACCELERATE IRRIGATION OF THE NORTHEASTERN REGION. SMALL WINDPUMPERS COULD ACCELERATE THE DOUBLE-CROPPING OF VEGETABLES AND FRUIT IN THE NORTH EAST, NEAR KHAN KAEN. ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY WINDPOWER SYSTEMS IN THE GULF OF THAILAND COULD ECONOMICALLY SUPPLY ELECTRICITY TO BANGKOK, AND COULD PRODUCE NITROGENOUS FERTILIZER. ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY THE OCEAN THERMAL DIFFERENCES PROCESS IN THE ANDAMAN SEA COULD SUPPLY ALL OF THE ELECTRIC POWER DEMANDS OF BANGKOK, ELECTRICITY FOR CANAL AND DITCH IRRIGATION PUMPING, AND NITROGENOUS FERTILIZER PRODUCTION. HARDWARE FOR WINDPOWER SYSTEMS WOULD NEED TO BE U.S.-DEVELOPED AND THEN REFINED THROUGH IN-COUNTRY TESTS. IT COULD BE MANUFACTURED IN THAILAND. WHETHER INDIVIDUAL FARMERS WOULD BENEFIT ECONOMICALLY FROM THE TECHNOLOGY IS MORE A POLITICAL THAN TECHNICAL QUESTION. A MORE BRIEF ANALYSIS OF WINDPOWER POSSIBILITIES FOR THE PHILIPPINES WAS CONDUCTED. THE SAME POTENTIAL USES EXIST AS FOR THAILAND, INCLUDING POWER PLANTS BASED UPON OCEAN THERMAL DIFFERENCES.