Thailand gears up efforts on solar power

[rooster59]

Thailand gears up efforts on solar power

The Nation 

 

BANGKOK:-- Three MoU agreements were signed in Bangkok last week for solar power research and development projects to improve the region’s infrastructure for renewable energy.

 

Signed as part of the Engineering Expo 2016 at Bangkok's International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), the agreements have the unified goal to help boost Thailand as the Asia centre of solar power. The signatories are King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Banpu, Techen Technologies (Thailand) and Huawei Technologies.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Thailand-gears-up-efforts-on-solar-power-30296330.html

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-10-02

[cooked]

More research, that's very good, let's reinvent the wheel. The only research that needs to be done is as to why installing solar power is so expensive here that it is only worth using off the grid.

[elgordo38]

Talk about a leap in progress not to many moons ago there was talk of more electric generation using coal. I think the other poster cooked is right on the money. I salivate every time I look at the beautiful NZ steaks in Tops freezers. Then the price jumps out at me and I slowly walk away. In Thailand the government tries to be all things to all people. If anything social media has taught us how disingenuous this approach is. We all know governments have hidden agenda's it just the fact that they are hidden no longer governments flout them. They use the "up your nose with a rubber hose" approach now.

Edited October 2, 2016 by elgordo38

[ChrisY1]

I'm seriously considering complete solar for our home....I have a pool and just a normal house.....and need 3Kw with storage.

250w panels landed here for around $100 each.....inverter and storage with a total cost ~ Thb 150K........IMO, that's quite reasonable.

I'm not concerned with grid feed in as it's a bit complicated with the PEA, but would not consider a complete disconnect from the grid.

Sure, the system wouldn't pay for itself for a decade, but I'll be 90% independent.......and doing a bit for the green movement.

 

[Hayduke]

[sandrabbit]

4 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

I'm seriously considering complete solar for our home....I have a pool and just a normal house.....and need 3Kw with storage.

250w panels landed here for around $100 each.....inverter and storage with a total cost ~ Thb 150K........IMO, that's quite reasonable.

I'm not concerned with grid feed in as it's a bit complicated with the PEA, but would not consider a complete disconnect from the grid.

Sure, the system wouldn't pay for itself for a decade, but I'll be 90% independent.......and doing a bit for the green movement.

 

I think you'll find it's probably double that cost and you'll probably need about 15 panels. I'm looking into running a 2.5hp swimming pool pump on solar power and doing it off grid and just having the panels and invertor and just running the pump constantly when there's enough sunlight. I might add a small amount of storage later for garden lights and the domestic water pump but the battery prices are extortionate. For an idea on prices this is quite a good website

 

http://www.solar-thailand.com/EN/  

[sandrabbit]

We already have solar heated water with a 300 ltr tank and 2 panels and the prices for solar heating water equipment are quite reasonable although the specialist plastic piping is expensive and you can't scrimp on this. Even when it's been cloudy for days we get a minimum of about 45C and if we don't use much hot water when it's sunny it gets to about 92c and the safety valve opens to release pressure on the tank.

[williamgeorgeallen]

better off putting the money into putting a subsidy on some cheap solar panels bought from china and offer a good rate on any power put back into the grid. whats to research?

[Grubster]

7 hours ago, sandrabbit said:

I think you'll find it's probably double that cost and you'll probably need about 15 panels. I'm looking into running a 2.5hp swimming pool pump on solar power and doing it off grid and just having the panels and invertor and just running the pump constantly when there's enough sunlight. I might add a small amount of storage later for garden lights and the domestic water pump but the battery prices are extortionate. For an idea on prices this is quite a good website

 

http://www.solar-thailand.com/EN/  

I commend Chris for doing it and I'm sure he will enjoy the process of getting it done too. Half the reason I do anything is the joy of doing it. I do agree that its expensive and the pay back is not so good. I am also going to heat my pool and run the pumps with solar, The heat part is a no brainer with piping on the pool roof. I am going to look at your site now and find what I need to run the big pump. The recirculation pump for the heat will take very little power. Thanks

[Grubster]

11 hours ago, cooked said:

More research, that's very good, let's reinvent the wheel. The only research that needs to be done is as to why installing solar power is so expensive here that it is only worth using off the grid.

I guess one would think with the low price of labor it would be cheap here.

[rickudon]

Also look at - 

http://amornsolar.com/en/poly-crystalline.php

 

panels are a bit cheaper but still nowhere near $100 - I think you would be lucky to get at that price. Maybe via Alibaba but import duty may get you .... Depends on exactly what you intend but unlikely to get change out of 200,000 baht. Also, of course, batteries wear out quickly in a tropical environment - you will need to replace every 3-5 years.

[ericthai]

13 hours ago, cooked said:

More research, that's very good, let's reinvent the wheel. The only research that needs to be done is as to why installing solar power is so expensive here that it is only worth using off the grid.

It's expensive everywhere, that is why more research is being done to make panel more efficient and less expensive to make.