Thailand’s Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has selected 175 companies for the first phase of its renewables scheme. It has attracted massive interest, receiving proposals with a combined capacity of almost 17 GW, more than three times its 5.2 GW target.
The 5.2 GW capacity included biogas (335 MW), wind power (1.5 GW), ground-mounted solar farms (2,368 MW), and ground-mounted solar farms with energy storage systems (1,000 MW). However, the total capacity proposed added up to only 4.852 GW, as biogas project bidders failed to meet the ERC’s investment criteria, according to Bangkok Post.
Gulf Energy Development, which is the biggest winner with 28 projects totalling more than 2 GW. B Grimm Power, on the other hand, has received nine projects (eight solar and one 100 MW wind) with a combined capacity of 339 MW. Absolute Clean Energy holds 112 MW from 18 projects, while Thai Solar Energy has secured 100 MW from eight projects. Additionally, BCPG, the power generation arm of Bangchak Group, has obtained five projects with a total capacity of 12 MW.
According to Harald Link, president of B Grimm, the company plans to establish a joint venture with SCG Cleanergy Co, the clean energy arm of Siam Cement Group, to develop four solar farms.
The selection criteria include factors such as readiness, project development and financial capabilities of the participants, project site, technology, fuels and others. Furthermore, the FiTs for the first phase were THB 2.0724 (USD 0.0561) for biogas, THB 3.1014 for wind, THB 2.1679 for ground-mounted solar, and THB 2.8331 for solar+BESS.
The ERC has now launched the second phase with a target capacity of 3.6 GW. According to Khomgrich Tantravanich, secretary-general of the ERC, the agency will use the same selection criteria and power tariff rates as in the first phase.
New projects are allowed for the development of ground-mounted solar, including those equipped with energy storage systems (2,632 MW), wind power (1,000 MW), biogas (335 MW), and industrial waste-to-energy projects (30 MW).
