WHAUP Invests THB25 Million in Solar Rooftop Project with Energy Storage System

WHA Utilities and Power Public Company Limited (WHAUP) demonstrates its leading role in providing fully-integrated utilities and power services in industrial estates. The company recently launched an 820-kWp Solar Rooftop project, with a 550-kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to supply power to the utility system in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate (Rayong). After commercial operations (COD) commenced in November, WHAUP indicated that it will help reduce energy costs by approximately THB 4 million per year and lessen CO2 emissions by up to 10,500 tons.

Dr. Niphon Boondechanan, Chief Executive Officer of WHAUP, revealed that the solar project with an energy storage system on the company’s rooftop and in the area of its water purification plant is an important part of the utility system in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate (Rayong). The THB 25-million project, which started its commercial operations (COD) in November, has a power production capacity of 820 kWp and an energy storage capacity of 550 kWh.  The solar cell and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) were installed to produce and supply power to the water purification plant. It will store excess power and reuse it when the solar energy system cannot generate enough power to satisfy the plant’s demand. With this system, solar energy can be utilized optimally and reduce energy costs, providing WHA Industrial Estate’s utility system with better energy security and stability.

This solar energy project with BESS also helps save approximately THB 4 million in energy per year, while lowering CO2 emissions by 10,500 tons, in line with the industrial sector’s aim to reduce global warming and green-house effect. The solar rooftop project is considered a good solution to protect the environment, with easy installation and low costs. It also fits Thailand which enjoys long hours of sunlight.

Given Thailand’s constraints of the solar energy storage system, users cannot rely solely on solar power production. They have to use fossil-fuel power. As the battery ESS technology has become more developed with lower costs, these constraints have been reduced.

WHAUP is confident that the BESS system will play a bigger role in the near future, by convincing many more business operators to turn to solar power. Foreseeing the potential growth of this power storage system, WHAUP has accelerated the development of solar rooftop and BESS investment to answer its customers’ needs.

WHAUP’s CEO added that the company has continuously been in discussion with customers in WHA industrial estates regarding solar rooftop and BESS installations. Customers with highest potential are those with high-cost production processes and require high energy stability. Simultaneously, WHAUP has been conducting a study on the smart microgrid system with the use of solar and BESS systems towards increasing reliability and reducing energy cost for factories in WHA industrial estates.

In line with its commitment to enhance energy stability for business operators in WHA industrial estates, WHAUP is gearing up investment opportunities in solar energy projects. At the end of the third quarter of 2021, the company started supplying over 50 megawatts, out of 85-megawatt solar power purchase contracts. It targets to increase solar power purchase contracts to 90 megawatts by the end of 2021, and to 300 megawatts in 2023, demonstrating its expertise in providing fully integrated power and utility services for industrial customers.