Innovation Management

Objective:

To assess the feasibility of applying an Energy Storage System (ESS) using Redox Flow Battery technology in combination with power plants within the CKPower Group, with the aim of enhancing generation capability and expanding electricity sales opportunities.

Benefits to the Company:

1. Increase opportunities for electricity sales during peak demand periods, such as nighttime supply and Firm PPA arrangements.
2. Strengthen the Company’s image as an innovator in clean energy through the application of advanced energy storage technology.
3. Support the government’s Net Zero policy by improving renewable energy utilization efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
4. Reduce the risk of external electricity imports and decrease reliance on the main grid during periods of generation variability or production fluctuations.
5. Enhance power supply stability and consistency, enabling energy management closer to firm power characteristics.
6. For hydropower plants, the system enhances grid stability, particularly during planned maintenance (overhaul) periods, by reducing electricity imports and maintaining supply continuity.

Benefits to Stakeholders:

1. Customers and electricity users: Receive more stable and continuous electricity supply, both during daytime and nighttime.
2. Shareholder and Investors: Gain greater confidence in the Company’s capability to develop technologies that support long-term clean energy growth.
3. Communities and society: Benefit from reduced greenhouse gas emissions through the integration of renewable energy with energy storage systems.
4. Government: Supports the national clean energy transition and strengthens the country’s role in renewable energy development at the regional level.

Research Methodology:

1. Assess electricity demand patterns and the suitability of Redox Flow Battery technology for various power plants within the Group.
2. Conduct cost and feasibility analysis across technical and financial dimensions.
3. Evaluate energy storage performance and system lifespan.
4. Undertake desk studies alongside research and development to determine the optimal system size and specifications for practical application.

Preliminary Feasibility Results:

1. Integrating battery systems with solar power plants can expand electricity sales capability during nighttime.
2. The system can reduce electricity costs in cases where external power imports are required due to insufficient on-site generation capacity.

The CKP Forecasting System: XHPP Inflow Forecasting (2024), developed in collaboration with DHI A/S (Danish Hydraulic Institute), Denmark, marks a significant improvement over the first-generation flow forecasting system created by Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), France, in 2018. This advanced Hydrometeorological Monitoring and Forecasting System (HMFS) aims to enhance the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant (XHPP) operational safety and efficiency. This system combines real-time hydrometeorological data with innovative modeling techniques and state-of-the-art technologies to produce accurate inflow forecasts. These forecasts are crucial for efficient energy production and environmental stewardship. Additionally, the system improves public safety by predicting potential flood scenarios upstream and downstream of the plant. The new system offers four key advantages that significantly enhance safety and production planning.

1. Comprehensive Data Integration: In 2025, real-time information was collected from a network of 15 to 19 monitoring stations across Laos, measuring rainfall, water levels, and flow rates. This is complemented by publicly available weather data and satellite imagery of neighboring countries. These diverse data sources are verified and refined for consistency and accuracy before use, ensuring high-quality forecasting.
2. Accurate Predictions: The system uses state-of-the-art mathematical models based on the latest river cross-section surveys, along with ensemble forecasting techniques, to minimize uncertainties. Models link real-time data from nearby monitoring stations, providing precise forecasts crucial for energy production planning.
3. Fast Updates: Automated processes, from satellite data downloads to hydrological simulations and output visualization, ensure timely information for decision-makers. This automation reduces manual workload and human errors, enabling swift responses in various scenarios.
4. Extended Forecast Range: Using DHI’s Global Hydrological Model (GHM) and MIKE+ River Models, the CKP Forecasting System generates medium-range forecasts up to 15 days in advance, an improvement from the previous 12-day range. This extended forecast period facilitates more forward-looking production planning.

Overview of System Workflow

CKP Forecasting System: XHPP Inflow Forecasting

Comprehensive Data Integration

Real-time data from a network of 15 monitoring stations measuring rainfall, water levels, and flow rates across Lao PDR, combined with weather data and satellite information to track water conditions in neighboring countries.

Real-time Data from Stations (Water Level and Rainfall)

SCADA

Rainfall (Forecast)

Earth Observation (Satellite Images)

Accurate Predictions

Innovation and advanced technology with a system based on mathematical modeling, built from the latest hydrographic survey data, enabling accurate water volume forecasting for production planning.

Database

Fast Updates

Real-time data is displayed through an automated system, enhancing the speed of forecasting.

The model imports data and runs

Extended Forecast Range

Forecasts up to 15 days in advance

Inflow of XHPP prediction next 12 days

The system can also be further developed to create sediment transport modeling, which is vital for the long-term sustainability of the Mekong River. This modeling enables CKP to monitor sedimentation as well as assess potential impacts on river morphology, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Mekong River. Currently, the system is specifically implemented for the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant, with plans to expand its application to other hydropower plants, such as the Nam Ngum 2 Hydroelectric Power Plant and the Luang Prabang Hydroelectric Power Project, in the future.

Development Plan for the CKP Forecasting System: XHPP Inflow Forecasting (2023-2026)

This initiative represents the advancement of innovation into practical implementation to enhance operational efficiency through the CKP Forecasting System: XHPP Inflow Forecasting in hydropower generation.

The system reflects the Company’s commitment to the clean energy transition through the application of technology and innovation that enhance safety, improve operational efficiency, and reduce environmental impacts. It further supports the Company’s dedication to harnessing hydropower as a sustainable energy source, aligned with global efforts to advance toward a low-carbon society.

Concept

Previously, lubrication of contact points on the Disconnecting Switch (DS) was performed by attaching a paint roller brush to a hot stick and applying used transformer oil as a lubricant. This method posed operational limitations due to restricted working space, reduced convenience for operators, increased task duration, and heightened safety risks, as personnel were required to work in close proximity to high-voltage equipment.

Key Benefits

This innovation enhances operators’ problem-solving skills and equipment improvement capabilities, strengthening personnel competency and operational efficiency. It reduces working time and improves safety during maintenance activities at the Nabong Substation. Furthermore, the knowledge gained can be practically extended and applied to other equipment both within and beyond the substation.

Innovation-Enabled Energy, Resource, and Cost Savings