Thai Solar and Battery Study Gets Green Light

A Thai renewable energy company seeks to prove that solar plus battery storage projects are a cost-effective way to meet the increasing energy demands of the country's growing economy.

Blue Solar Farm 1 Co., Ltd. (Blue Solar) was one of 17 firms competitively selected through Thailand's 2017 Small Power Producer Hybrid Firm Power Purchasing Agreement Program, which aims to improve the sustainability of the country's resources through renewable generation initiatives. The proposed project's first phase includes a 42 MW solar photovoltaic power plant with an integrated 12 MW energy storage system in the Suphan Buri province of central Thailand, approximately 80 miles northwest of Bangkok.

Blue Solar was the only firm that successfully integrated solar and battery energy storage in its design. The project will help demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of battery storage utility projects in Thailand, which is expected to lead to similar projects using this technology.

Blue Solar chose POWER Engineers, Incorporated (POWER) to conduct the feasibility analysis of this project, with financing by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) under the U.S. government's Asia EDGE program, which intends to improve consumer access to cost-effective, reliable electricity across the Indo-Pacific region. With subconsultants Delphos International, ERM, and Customized Energy Solutions (CES), POWER's experts will develop the technical analyses and energy models as well as evaluate its environmental and social impacts and provide conceptual designs.

"POWER is proud to support Blue Solar's innovative project," said Matthew Kavanagh, Federal Global Department Manager. "Our team will help Blue Solar take advantage of advances in storage technology that provide greater grid reliability and deliver immediate returns on investment."

POWER has extensive experience with renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. This expertise includes integrating renewable sources into microgrids, utility power grids, and within regional transmission organizations. POWER will also help Blue Solar analyze American solar and energy storage technologies that will benefit the project.

The Small Power Producer Hybrid Firm Power Purchasing Agreement Program introduced a 20-year power purchasing agreement for renewable power projects. Under this program, Thailand expects to add up to 300 MW of electricity generated by plants between 10-50 MW in size. Each of the approved projects is to be completed and fully operational by the end of 2021.

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