The Thai government is rushing to complete the construction of the floating solar farm in Ubon Ratchathani province, going one step further in promoting the use of clean energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuel source.
Workers install solar panels at floating power farm. (Image: Reuters) The Thai government is rushing to complete the construction of the floating solar farm in Ubon Ratchathani province, going one step further in promoting the use of clean energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuel source. The project started construction in November 2020, on the surface of the reservoir of the Sirindhorn hydroelectric dam in Ubon Ratchathani province, northeastern region of Thailand. Rated as one of the largest hydro-solar hybrid power generation projects in the world, this solar farm complex consists of seven solar clusters with 144,417 solar panels, built. on an area of water surface up to 121 hectares. In an interview with Reuters news agency, Mr. Chanin Saleechan, Project Manager, said: “It is expected that by the end of April, we will complete the installation of the solar panels and will be ready to connect to the grid. the end of June, 2021 ”. According to the Electricity of Thailand (EGAT), the investment agency that implements the project, this solar farm, when completed, can reach a generating capacity of up to 45 megawatts. Mr. Chanin said that EGAT will adopt an Energy Management System to convert energy sources between solar and hydroelectricity, allowing the hybrid system to produce electricity continuously. He also affirmed that the combination of hydroelectricity and solar power will help reduce the cost of electricity generated. If the pilot project is successful, EGAT plans to continue implementing this model in other hydropower dams across the country over the next 16 years. “When all projects are completed in the hydropower dams, we will reach a total generating capacity of up to 2,725 megawatts,” said Chanin Saleechan. Previously, Thailand’s electricity source used to depend mainly on coal-fired thermal power plants, however, the construction of new thermal power plants is facing a lot of opposition due to health and environmental concerns. . Most recently, two coal-fired thermal power plant construction projects were canceled in 2018. According to the latest Energy Development Plan launched by the Thai government, the country aims to generate electricity from clean energy sources at least 35% of the country’s total electricity production by 2037.
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