The Energy Regulatory Commission announced on Monday that 167 cooperatives were placed into Thursday’s drawing with a total solar energy output of 835MW. The drawing, which was held today, resulted in 67 farm cooperatives winning the right to sell upwards of 281MW of solar power back to the nation’s energy grid. Official drawing results will be announced on Tuesday to provide more insight into the winners.
Suppliers hoped that the government would purchase 300MW of solar power.
Veerapol Jirapraditkul, spokesman for the Energy Regulatory Commission, states “The offers in some areas are higher than our feed in capacities.” The government plans to only buy up to the maximum able to be fed into the energy grid. “If there is surplus feed-in capacities, suppliers next in line will have a chance,” states Mr. Veerapol.
The majority of the winners will supply power through the Provincial Electricity Authority, with six supplying power through the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.
The feed-in tariff has been set at 5.66 baht per kilowatt-hour. Names of the winners will be announced officially next week. Qualified suppliers will be held to a 25-year purchase agreement and will need to begin operation no later than December 30. Purchase agreements will be finalized within the next 120 days.
The second phase of the state’s plan to purchase 800MW of renewable energy will include 500MW of solar capacity. The 500MW will include 400MW from state agencies and the remaining 100MW from farm cooperatives. Screening for suppliers for the second phase will be conducted no later than early next year.
Source: https://ethailand.com/business-news/67-cooperatives-win-right-to-sell-281-mw-of-solar-to-national-grid/2335/
