Solar power in Myanmar has the potential to generate 51,973.8 TWh/year, with an average of over 5 sun hours per day. Even though most electricity is produced from hydropower in Myanmar, the country has rich technical solar power potential that is the highest in the ; however, in terms of installed capacity Myanmar lags largely behind Thailand and Vietnam.
What is Myanmar's Solar power potential?
Myanmar's solar power potential is estimated to total around 35 gigawatts-peak (GWp). “So far, less than 1% has been installed so there is huge solar potential,” they highlighted. Very good solar potential exists in the central lowlands of Myanmar, where demand is the highest, they added.
Is solar energy a viable option for Myanmar's off-grid area?
For the off-grid area, Myanmar has mainly emphasis on solar home system and mini-grid system to be sustainable, affordable and environmental friendly. This paper aims to describe the high potential of solar energy, current situation of solar energy implementations and the important of Renewable Energy of Myanmar respectively.
“Moreover, solar can help ensure a just energy transition for citizens affected by energy poverty...Furthermore, 75–85% of Myanmar's population of lives within a 25–50-kilometer radius of high voltage power lines, which makes for ideal locations to develop medium- and large-scale solar projects,” they noted.
Among the renewable energy available, the potential of solar energy is one of the great interests in Myanmar. The government of Myanmar has set a plan to electrify the whole county in 2030. On the other hand, ASEAN has a target that is to increase 23% of Renewable Energy in ASEAN generation mix by 2025.
In rural areas, photovoltaics are used for charging batteries and pumping water. 70% of the Burmese population of 50 million live in rural areas. Myanmar's opened its first solar power plant in Minbu, Magway Division, in November 2018.
Can solar energy be a security & sustainability issue in Myanmar?
A continuation of paralysis on investments in solar energy could affect the security and sustainability of the sector in one of the most rapidly growing countries in the region. In this paper, we aimed to identify the barriers preventing solar energy to flourish in Myanmar and to identify policy options to unlock them.