Solar business gets supported

BANGKOK, 12 February 2010 (NNT) – The Energy Policy and Planning Office of the Energy Ministry and the Energy for Environment Foundation will throw a business event as a stage where investors can meet with financial providers, motivating the growth of the industry and ensuring energy security.

The Solar Business Bangkok 2010 with the theme of PV Solar Energy: Getting Down to Business will be held during 22-23 March 2010 at the Queen Sirikit Convention Center. It is aimed at promoting an exchange in solar energy project development from domestic and international experts.

Energy for Environment Foundation’s President Chaya Jivacate said that there were solar energy factories in Thailand since 2003 when the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) set up a 500 kilowatt system in Mae Hong Sorn Province.

He admitted that it was clear that the development and knowledge was limited within the public sector, but the potential of the industry was huge. The event will spread the technical and financial techniques to interested investors.

Mr Weerapol Chirapraditkul, Director of the Energy Policy and Planning Office, the Energy Ministry, said that at the moment the price of solar cells has drastically decreased. This was mainly due to the government’s ADDER policy, allowing the EGAT to buy solar energy at 10.5 baht/unit, coupled with the rapid growth in solar plant establishment.

Over 200 investors have proposed to sell electricity from solar energy, but only 7.7 out of 852 megawatts were on the system. The other has been in process. Mr Weerapol confirmed that the event would strengthen the industry with concrete results.