Focus on Thailand’s top solar power projects at Clean Power Asia in Bangkok next month

Bangkok, Thailand, May 22, 2011 --(PR.com)-- A visit to the world’s largest solar silicon thin-film power plant in the making is part of the programme of Clean Power Asia that is taking place in Bangkok from 28-30 June, when global power industry professionals, regional regulators, financiers and investors and technology providers will gather for the largest regional power event that will focus on both renewable and cleaner fossil power.

Thailand’s minister of Energy, Dr Wannarat Channukul, will deliver the welcome address at Clean Power Asia where energy experts will present more than 20 case studies from countries such as Thailand, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and Iran.

Included in the conference progamme are two site visits to some of the most prominent clean power projects in the host country. “Thailand is very advanced in its renewable energy policy,” says Elly Kreijkes, Clean Power Asia project director, “and the country has already implemented ambitious targets and incentive mechanisms. We want to offer delegates to the event the opportunity to visit some of the most ambitious renewable projects in the region.”

The site visits are:

1) Ned Project (World Largest Silicon Thin-Film Solar Farm)
NED is the first project to sign the power purchase agreement with state-owned enterprise, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, under the Small Power Producer Program (SPP Program) on 4 March 2010 with a targeted COD in November 2011 for the first phase and will reach its full capacity of 84 MW (gross) in first half of 2012. The project is located in Lopburi province, central Thailand; when completed it will be one of the World largest silicon thin-film solar farm. The project will install approximately over 620,000 high quality thin film panels to meet the project capacity and expect to connect with the 115kV PEA substation and 22 kV grid. This world class facility is owned equally by major power companies – CLP Group, Electricity Generating Public Company and Diamond Generating Asia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation.

Presenter: Mr. Johnny Wang, Construction Manager, CLP Group

2) The BCP Solar Power Project
The project was initiated by the Bangchak Public Company Limited (BCP) to enhance its green energy business and fulfill its vision of Greenergy Excellence. It will consist of two adjacent solar power plants operating as single complex, one with a net alternating current (AC) output of 8 megawatt (MW) and another with a net AC output of 30 MW. The two plants will sell their outputs to EGAT (30 MW) and PEA (8 MW) under SPP and VSPP arrangements, respectively. The project site covers about 76.8 ha of land (about 480 rais1) next to BCP’s terminal facility and biodiesel plant in Bang Pa-in District, Ayutthaya Province, about 50 kilometers north of Bangkok. The ground breaking took place on 5 August 2010 and COD is scheduled for October 2011.
Presenter: Mr Watcharapong Saisuk, Managing Director, Banchak Solar Energy Co. Ltd

More highlights from the Clean Power Asia programme include:

Renewable power:
· China WindPower plans to build and operate up to 800 MW of new wind farms by 2012
· Keys to success from Southeast Asia’s largest solar power plant project in Thailand
· Optimizing Hydropower generation in peninsula Malaysia – TNB’s Green Energy Initiatives
· Update on the Wayang Windu Project in Indonesia
· Landhi Bio Gas, Karachi – The largest bio waste to energy project in Pakistan

Cleaner fossil power generation:
· Environmental considerations related to the development and implementation of the 660MW coal-fired power plant project in Thailand (Gheco-One)
· Successful cleaner fossil fuel coal based power plant development: the Tianjin IGCC project in China
· PLN Indonesia’s approach in environmentally friendly coal power production
· Thailand’s Mae Moh coal fired power plant’s achievements in reducing emissions through technological and operational improvements
· Korea’s experiences in cost savings while generating ultra-clean electricity

Leading government and industry experts on the programme include:

· Sutat Patmasiriwat, Governor, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Thailand
· Pongsakorn Tantiwanichanon, Deputy Governor Planning and System Development, Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), Thailand
· Luluk Sumiarso, Director General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia
· Dato’ Ir. Azman Bin Mohd, COO, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Malaysia
· Dr. Direk Lavansiri, Chairman, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Thailand
· Ir. Ahmad Fauzi Hasan, CEO, Energy Commission, Malaysia
· Luluk Sumiarso, Director General for New and Renewable Energy and Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia
· Mr Nguyen Ninh Hai, Renewable Energy Expert, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam
· Xaypaseuth Phomsoupha, Director General, Department of Energy Promotion and Development, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lao PDR
· Atty. Maria Floreselda Abalos-Sampaga, Chief Officer Legal Department, Energy Regulatory Commission, Philippines
· Ir. Ahmad Fauzi Hasan, CEO, Energy Commission, Malaysia
· Maaike Göbel, Manager, Southeast Asia and Pacific Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), Australia
· Nur Pamudji Director for Primary Energy, PT PLN (Persero), Indonesia

Event dates: Conference dates: 28-30 June, Site visits (optional): 30 June
Event location: Intercontinental Hotel, 973 Ploenchit Road, Bangkok, Thailand

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