35 utility-scale solar farm projects completed in Thailand, maybe largest in Southeast Asia

One of Southeast Asia’s largest solar farm projects is now in full operation. The projects started back in 2010, 35 “solar farms” approximately 257 megawatts (MW); constructed and connected to the utility grid.

Thailand, one of Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding economy has had rising concerns about its power supply in recent years, alongside growing awareness of the need to reduce dependence on gas imports.

In order to diversify its energy portfolio, a feed-in-tariff system for renewable energy sources was adopted in 2007. This group of projects were initiated in 2009 to construct and operate multiple solar power plants in response to the resulting strong demand for renewable energy.

Approximately 1,100,000 solar panels were used and the total annual power output is estimated at about 345,000,000kWh — equal to the annual electrical consumption of approximately 287,500 Thai households. The power generated from the solar farms will be supplied to the Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand (PEA).

The project developers hope that the newly launched solar farms will reinforce the region’s power supply. They remain committed to promoting solar energy as a means to attain a low-carbon society.