Thai PM Visits World’s Largest 45 MW Floating Solar Hybrid Project

Thai Prime Minister visited the world’s largest floating solar hybrid project and praised the clean power generation for mitigating global warming and generating power at a low cost.

Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense paid a visit with Mr. Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy at the Hydro-floating Solar Hybrid Project at Sirindhorn Dam, Ubon Ratchathani.

On this occasion, Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) Governor and EGAT executives welcomed the visitors and reported the project progress. Commercial operation is scheduled to begin in October by the state power utility.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the world’s largest 45 MW Hydro-floating Solar Hybrid Project at Sirindhorn Dam. Since the clean power system combines the power generation from “solar” and “hydro” power to help mitigate global warming and ensure a low project cost, it is required to accelerate the developments of the hybrid project in other dams.

For electricity generation, the project combines solar power during daytime with hydropower when there is limited light intensity or during nighttime. This hybrid system can prolong the power generation and lessen the fluctuation of renewable energy, which usually depends on weather conditions.

The installation of solar panels in the dam reservoir has no impact on agricultural areas and reduces greenhouse gas emissions of about 47,000 tons per year, equivalent to reforestation of 37,600 rai.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had stressed that Thailand is moving toward a low carbon economy with a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2065.

The prime minister’s remarks were part of his keynote speech delivered to open the Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) Forum 2021, which brought together stakeholders in the state and private sectors to discuss strategies to help Thailand move towards carbon neutrality.