B.Grimm Power and Energy China consortium to build world’s largest hydro-floating solar project in Thailand

The state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) announced that is has signed an EPC contract worth THB 842 million  (USD 24.47 million) with the consortium of B.GRIM Power – Energy China, comprising  B.Grimm Power Plc. (B.GRIM) and China Energy Engineering Group Shanxi Electric Power Engineering Co. Ltd. (Energy China) to build the world’s largest hydro-floating solar hybrid project at Sirindhorn Dam, Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand.

Gen. Somsak Rungsita, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence representing EGAT Board of Directors said that the hydro-floating solar hybrid project creates synergy between solar and hydropower. It represents an important step in the development of green energy in Thailand and resolves an uncertain electricity supply from renewable energy in accordance with the Government’s renewable energy support under Power Development Plan B.E. 2561-2580 (PDP2018). The project will also help reduce dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation.

Thepparat Theppitak, EGAT’s deputy governor for power plant development and renewable energy said that the project is a combination of floating solar cells that generate power from sunlight during the day and the existing hydropower of EGAT dam. The two kinds of power are controlled by the Energy Management System (EMS) that allows continuous generation of electricity and will enhance reliability of the country’s overall power supply. In the future, an energy storage system would potentially be applied with the project to increase reliability for renewable energy production.

The solar panels selected for this 45 MW project are crystalline double glass modules, which is suitable for being installed on the surface of the water with high moisture. The eco-friendly HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic floating platform will be installed covering the surface area over 450 rai with low cost of investment by sharing facilities with the existing transmission system, transformers, and high voltage substations.

The project is expected to complete within 12 months, and commercial operation date (COD) is scheduled in December 2020.

B.GRIM’s Chairman Dr. Harald Link said that the hydro-floating solar hybrid project is regarded as a major step in the development of renewable energy in Thailand and that its participation in this project will also open up opportunities for other floating solar projects. He added that its partnership with Energy China, as one of the world’s largest comprehensive energy solutions and a major state owned-conglomerate of the People Republic of China has high potential and cost-effective advantages in procurement,  allows the highest standard of engineering and of construction.

 

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Source: News release by Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Photo credit: © Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).