Thai Solar Energy Co., Ltd., opened the first of some 15 planned solar power plants in Thailand at the Huaykrachao, Kanjanaburi site on November 29, 2011, built with Solarlite's globally unique technology. Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, Yongyuth Wichaidit, spoke at the press conference at the Maleenont Tower in Bangkok. The presence of Yongyut Wichaidit and Minister of Energy, Pichai Naripthapan, shows the significance of this project for Thailand's energy policy. Dr. Cathleen Maleenont, Chief Operating Officer of the Thai Solar Energy Co., Ltd. (TSE), the investor and operator of the 5 MW power plant, stressed its signalling effect on the firm's positioning during the press conference. TSE not only intends to become a leading supplier of solar power in Thailand, but also a major energy producer outside Thailand in the long term.
The TSE 1 power plant is the first in the world to be based on direct steam generation, which is why it is so environmentally-friendly and efficient. With an output of 5 MWe, it is the first of 15 facilities with a combined total output of 135 MW that are slated for construction under Thailand's regulations for very small power producers (VSPP). The regulations guarantee additional feed-in tariffs for projects with up to 10 MW in their first 10 years of operation.
In fact, TSE is relying on its long-term partnership with Solarlite, a the German supplier of the solar technology company. Solarlite is the only company in the world that includes uses direct steam technology in the plant designs it offers in the commercial market. The technology is particularly environmentally-friendly because it uses water instead of oil as a heat transfer fluid.
In addition to the speech by the Deputy Prime Minister, another highlight of the opening ceremony was a live broadcast from the plant grounds by Thai television station TV Channel 3.
Thai Solar Energy Co., Ltd.
Thai Solar Energy Co., Ltd. (TSE) is a leading renewable energy company whose core business is solar power production. TSE is a "very small power producer" of electricity for the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). The firm has already signed electricity supply contracts for 45 MW.