BANGKOK: Thailand’s renewable power pipeline is gathering pace, with 449 projects licensed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and investment expected to reach up to US$2.61bil.
The expansion comes as businesses and industries respond to the global energy transition and evolving international trade and sustainability standards.
Renewable power is increasingly being used to strengthen energy security, reduce electricity costs and support long-term competitiveness.
According to data collected by the ERC from 2024 to the present, licences have been issued for 449 renewable electricity projects that are either under development or construction.
Together, they represent 1,607.58 megawatts (MW) of capacity and are expected to generate total investment of around US$2.10bil to US$2.61bil.
Solar power accounts for the largest share of the pipeline, with 400 projects.
These include 386 solar rooftop projects with combined installed capacity of about 587.30MW and 14 solar farm and floating solar projects with combined installed capacity of 562.83MW.
Based on average investment of US$592,000 to US$740,000 per MW, the solar portfolio alone is expected to draw at least US$681.08mil to US$851.35mil.
Major players include WHA Solar, under the WHA group, which has 12 solar rooftop projects with combined capacity of 45.155MW.
The projects mainly cover warehouse and large industrial factory rooftops in industrial estates.
Gulf1, under Gulf Development, has 11 projects in progress with total capacity of 33.631MW. These consist of nine solar rooftop projects totalling 23.791MW and two ground-mounted solar farms totalling 9.840MW.
Gulf MP WHA1, a joint venture between Gulf and WHA, is also building five solar rooftop projects with combined capacity of 26.170MW.
BGrimm’s activity includes Insee BGrimm Solar, which has four projects under development with combined capacity of 69.415MW.
Three are ground-mounted solar farms totalling 63.04MW, while one rooftop project accounts for 6.375MW.
The electricity will supply Siam City Cement.
Amata BGrimm Power Service has another four projects under development with total capacity of 7.125MW, including three rooftop projects totalling 6.025MW.
Gunkul Engineering has positioned itself in southern Thailand, with three solar farm projects representing combined capacity of 176.60MW, as well as solar rooftop projects. Foreign energy groups are also expanding their solar portfolios in Thailand.
BECIS Energy (Thailand), a Singaporean-backed company, holds seven projects with combined capacity of 24.530MW.
These include five rooftop projects totalling 11.190MW, one ground-mounted project of 8.140MW and one large floating solar project of 5.200MW.
Singapore Power Energy (Thailand), or SP Group, has seven projects with total capacity of 12.495MW.
Six are rooftop projects totalling 11.295MW, while one ground-mounted project has capacity of 1.200MW.
Kansai Energy Solutions (Thailand), a Japanese energy investor, has 12 solar rooftop projects under construction with combined capacity of 41.570MW.
Its focus is on Japanese factories in industrial estates. Waste-to-energy is another growing investment area.
The ERC has licensed 12 industrial waste-to-energy projects now in progress, with combined capacity of 118.8MW.
Each project has capacity of 9.9MW and is mainly located in industrial zones and estates with heavy volumes of factory waste.
With average investment estimated at US$4.44mil to US$5.33mil per MW, these 12 industrial waste-to-energy projects could generate around US$527.10mil to US$630.74mil in investment.
Municipal waste-to-energy is also expanding, with 12 licensed projects in progress and combined capacity of 99.8MW. The projects are spread across municipalities in several provinces to help ease urban waste pressure.
Biomass power remains active, particularly in agro-processing industries.
Nine projects are currently in progress, with combined capacity of 130.16MW.
The biogas portfolio is smaller, with four projects in progress and combined capacity of 6.919MW.
Based on average investment of US$1.63mil to US$1.78mil per MW, the projects are expected to attract around US$11.25mil to US$12.29mil.
Industrial energy-saving technologies are also being used to produce electricity from waste heat, or hot exhaust air, from production processes.
Four waste heat recovery projects have been licensed and are in progress, with combined capacity of 71.75MW. — The Nation/ANN
