Chinese investors seek wind farm construction in the South

[webfact]

Chinese investors seek wind farm construction in the South.

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 13 October 2014 (NNT) – Fifteen Chinese investors in renewable energy, have met with academics of the Prince of Songkla University in Nakhon Si Thammarat to discuss the possibility of building wind farms along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand.

Today they also visited the coast line from Laem Talumphuk in Pak Phanang District in Nakhon Si Thammarat to Sathing Phra District in Songkhla and they are satisfied with the potential of wind power along the coast.

Mr. Sawadi Samukpong, the Deputy Director of the South Basin Subcommittee said that many entrepreneurs were seeking investment in renewable energy since it could strengthen the available volume of electricity for both the business sector and households, while having no negative impact on the environment.

He explained that the Chinese investors were seeking to invest in a wind farm along 120 kilometers of coastline. The farm was expected to have 3,000 wind turbines which could produce 6,000 MWs in total, or 2 MWs each.

The investors would be granted a 25-year concession by the Thai government and spend the first five years on construction. If the project was successful, he believed the southern region of Thailand would create enough electricity to last ten years.

Meanwhile, investment in clean energy was also more desirable than that in big electricity power plants because it caused no adverse impact on the environment.


-- NNT 2014-10-13

[Gulfsailor]

Respect to the investors if they can pull this of at that location. In The Netherlands wind farms are only economic viable if heavily subsidized and that is in much windier regions and electricity selling for at least 3 times the Thai rate.

[JacChang]

My blackrock new energy fund has yet to produce profits. And now these guys want to jump in for more.

[rickirs]

"... the southern region of Thailand would create enough electricity to last ten years."

It had better last 10 years because that's the minimum payback period WITH tax incentives, subsidies, and grants.

In fact Thailand has previously supported extensive wind power (the Korat 1 and Korat 2 projects, the West Huay Bong 2 and West Huay Bong 3 projects, the Theppana wind farm) by supplementing the normal electricity tariff with 4.5 Baht/kWh ($0.15/kWh) for farms under 50MW and 3.5 Baht/kWh for larger projects. It will need to continue those incentives for more projects to come. But lessening its reliance on imported energy will help stablize the baht and improve national security.

[Ulic]

Wind farms are not nearly as green as they are made out to be or one may think. Between the amount of concrete

they use to form the base to the birds and bats they kill. Never mind the negative impact on residence in the area.

They also need to be heavily subsidized usually by consumers paying a super premium rate for the electricity they

produce which may not be when power is needed. In the windy wilds of Wyoming or off the coast of the Netherlands

may be more appropriate but as far as I am concerned wind farms are a green washing scam. Not green and not

cost effective.

[Seastallion]

Respect to the investors if they can pull this of at that location. In The Netherlands wind farms are only economic viable if heavily subsidized and that is in much windier regions and electricity selling for at least 3 times the Thai rate.

Yes, there's something not right here. Absolutely not enough wind there.

I see the Chinese getting their money and the consumers left with a donkey.

[Krataiboy]

Wouldn't solar be a better bet?

[samuijimmy]

There is two of these towers (maybe 3?) between NST and Ranot, I've never seen them turning... anytime I have driven by...

I agree with Seastallion ^

[weegee]

Worked here in the gulf many years previously....NOT enough wind, long enough...no matter what they are saying, I couldnt see this being a success..