Thai PM visits world’s largest floating solar hybrid project, a move towards carbon neutrality
18 October 2021Thai Prime Minister visited the world’s largest floating solar hybrid project and praised the clean power generation for mitigating global warming and generating power at a low cost. EGAT aims at making the project a new tourist destination to bring liveliness to the country.
On October 15, 2021, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense paid a visit with Mr. Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy; Gen. Anupong Paochinda, Minister of Interior; and Mr. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, at the Hydro-floating Solar Hybrid Project at Sirindhorn Dam, Ubon Ratchathani. On this occasion, Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, EGAT Governor and EGAT executives welcomed the visitors and reported the project progress.
The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the world’s largest 45 MW Hydro-floating Solar Hybrid Project at Sirindhorn Dam. Since the clean power system combines the power generation from “solar” and “hydro” power to help mitigate global warming and ensure a low project cost, it is required to accelerate the developments of the hybrid project in other dams.
For electricity generation, the project combines solar power during daytime with hydropower when there is limited light intensity or during nighttime. This hybrid system can prolong the power generation and lessen the fluctuation of renewable energy, which usually depends on weather conditions. The installation of solar panels in the dam reservoir has no impact on agricultural areas and reduces greenhouse gas emissions of about 47,000 tons per year, equivalent to reforestation of 37,600 rai.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister and his entourage visited the Nature Walkway, with a junior guide giving information. From the Nature Walkway, visitors can see the bird’s-eye view of the world’s largest floating solar hybrid project, a soon-to-be tourist attraction of Ubon Ratchathani. The prime minister congratulated people in Ubon Ratchathani for the new tourist attraction that enhances colorful tourism for the country.
