BIG WIND COMING TO THAILAND

Wind Energy plans 800-MW projects; 80,000 rai required for wind farms
Yuthana Praiwan, 19 March 2010 (Bangkok Post)

"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…

"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…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 Thai government has big plans for New Energy. (click to enlarge)

"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…[has] a purchasing contract with Siemens Wind Power Co, a unit of Siemens AG, which will supply wind turbine equipment for the two projects."

Wind is just the beginning for Thailand. (click to enlarge)

"Demco…[will build] the Huay Bong 1 and 2 wind power turbines worth 2.6 billion bath…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 will also build] the 900-million-baht… Khao Kho project, due to start construction in the third quarter this year and to operate from mid-2011.

"…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 [is also planning] its second renewable project, a biomass power with projected capacity of about 10 MW…[and is] conducting a feasibility study for solar power facilities at an expected investment of between 1 billion and 2 billion baht…"