BayWa r.e. BayWa r.e. has collaborated with Ubon Bio Ethanol PCL, one of Thailand’s most respected manufacturers and distributors for processed cassava products. Ubon helped to establish its first floating solar platform at Ubon Ratchathani (about 615km northeast of Bangkok).
The Floating Photovoltaic Farm, also known as “floatovoltaic”, will generate approximately 4,440 MWh of electricity in its first year of operation. It is BayWa r.e.’s first floating platform project. The UBE in Ubon Ratchathani is home to the 2.83 MW farm.
Two floating platforms technologies were deployed on two ponds. One used a pure pontoon technology, the other with a pontoon-and-metal support structure floating technology.
The project also includes 6,900 units of bifacial solar PV modules as well as a custom Medium Voltage SKID that is being developed for floating farms.
“This project with UBE in Ubon Ratchathani sets the stage for more floating solar opportunities not only in Thailand but beyond for BayWa r.e. Many countries and urban cities in Asia face issues with land scarcity and as such, we are constantly looking at innovative and new ways to adapt, providing solutions that work locally-driven not only at the government level, but also complemented by private sector-led initiatives.” said Daniel Gaefke, APAC Director, BayWa r.e.
In developing its floatovoltaic farm, BayWa r.e. was selected as UBE’s partner because of the firm’s successful track record globally and in the region.
“People and the planet are important to UBE, and it is our mission to be responsible corporate citizens. The solar floating farm in Ubon Ratchathani is one of many projects we have done as we place more emphasis on sustainable operations and the use of clean energy. In total, we are now generating more than 10 MWh in electricity alone from renewable energy. UBE is passionate and ambitious about our sustainability initiatives and is targeting to operate on 100% green energy.”
“The team was very professional and provided us with all the necessary guidance and expertise in helping us to bring our clean energy vision to life,” Sureeyot Khowsurat, UBE CEO.
BayWa r.e. is pleased to have UBE as a partner in the Ubon Ratchathani project. This represents BayWa’s desire to collaborate with companies and government agencies throughout Thailand and the region in order to develop clean energy projects. BayWa r.e. is proud to have worked with UBE in the Ubon floatovoltaic plant. This project marks BayWa’s first floating solar farm outside of Europe and the first in the Asia Pacific. There are many more projects in the pipeline, including one in the Asia Pacific.
BayWa r.e. is based in Europe. BayWa r.e. has been involved in clean-energy projects in the Netherlands and Great Britain, Mali, and Rwanda, to name just a few. BayWa r.e. is based in South Korea. BayWa r.e. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ulsan City for the development of floating offshore wind projects. It also completed the construction of the country’s first solar park.
BayWa r.e. Vietnam is a distributor of solar panels. BayWa r.e. recently opened a new warehouse for solar distribution and office space in Ho Chi Minh City, to better serve local integrators and installers. BayWa r.e. is proud to be a testament to its expertise. At the Philippines Solar Week Leadership Awards 20,21, BayWa r.e. was awarded the 2021 Solar Company of the year in the Distributor’ category.
