Thailand - Wind Energy plans 800-MW projects

Wind Energy Holding Co, a Thai energy engineering group, aims to build wind-turbine power projects with a total capacity of 800 megawatts within five years, says CEO Nopporn Suppipat. "Thailand has very strong potential for building wind farms," he said. But he declined to specify the company's investment.

The company last year received two licences from the Energy Ministry for building wind turbine farms with a combined capacity of 240 MW, on which construction is expected to start soon. “Reaching our target of 800 MW would need a massive amount of land - of about 80,000 rai - but we believe we could acquire enough land to reach our target," said Mr Nopporn. Thailand has strong potential in terms of geography as well as in government support, he added.
Wind Energy's first project is its wholly owned Huay Bong 1 and 2, with a combined capacity of 180 MW, on 12,000 rai in the Dan Khun Thot district of Nakhon Ratchasima. The company's 60-MW Khao Kho project in Phetchabun is operated by the joint-venture company Sustainable Energy Corp - in which it holds 60%, while the top private power producer Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding has 30%, and Demco Plc 10%.

Wind Energy yesterday signed a purchasing contract with Siemens Wind Power Co, a unit of Siemens AG, which will supply wind turbine equipment for the two projects. Demco also joined a contract signing ceremony yesterday for the Huay Bong 1 and 2 wind power turbines worth 2.6 billion baht, for which it won the construction contract. Construction is expected to start within the third quarter this year and commercial operation is due to begin by the end of next year. Demco has also won the 900-million-baht construction contract for the Khao Kho project, due to start construction in the third quarter this year and to operate from mid-2011.

In another development, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc plans three renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 100 MW by 2016. These include the Khao Kho project, in which it aims to acquire a majority stake. Ratchaburi aims to conclude talks this year with a strategic partner for its second renewable project, a biomass power with projected capacity of about 10 MW.

The company is also conducting a feasibility study for solar power facilities at an expected investment of between 1 billion and 2 billion baht. The company is talking with solar cell suppliers and developers to select technology and set the construction cost.
For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net