Japan's Kyocera Corporation and Thai solar developer SPCG have begun operation of one of the largest PV power projects in Southeast Asia.
The 257 MW project in Thailand consists of 35 solar farms that have been constructed since 2010. The completed project has been connected to the grid in northeastern Thailand.
"Thailands rapidly expanding economy has brought rising concerns regarding the national power supply in recent years, alongside growing awareness of the need to reduce dependence on gas imports," Kyocera said in a statement.
In order to diversify its energy portfolio, the country adopted a feed-in-tariff system for renewable energy sources in 2007. In response to growing demand for renewable energy, SPCG launched the ambitious project when it began to construct and operate multiple solar power plants in Thailand in 2009.
The company selected Kyocera to supply the necessary solar modules, totaling approximately 1,100,000 panels for all sites. The companies completed the 35th solar farm and connected to the grid in June.
The project has an annual power output of approximately 345 million kilowatt hours — equal to the annual electrical consumption of approximately 287,500 Thai households. Generated power from the solar farms will be supplied to the Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand (PEA).
Nobuo Kitamura, Kyoceras senior executive officer and general manager of the Corporate Solar Energy Group, described the project as "an important milestone for the development of solar energy in Thailand."
SPCG CEO Wandee Khunchornyakong added, "We are highly honored to be able to achieve this together with Kyocera, our long-term partner, with whom we shared the same philosophy, vision, and determination to develop one of the best solar projects in the world."
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