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Cleantech Solar Enters Into Clean Energy Supply Agreement with Tata Steel Thailand

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Cleantech Solar (Thailand) Limited (CST) and Siam Construction Steel Company Limited (SCSC), a subsidiary of Tata Steel Thailand, have entered into a long-term energy supply agreement.

As part of the agreement, CST will deploy, monitor and maintain a 1.4 MWp Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) system on the roof of SCSC factory in Rayong. SCSC will enjoy clean renewable solar electricity generated from a Solar PV system over the duration of the agreement. Ingenero (Thailand) Corporation Limited, a local Solar PV integrator, worked closely with Cleantech Solar to develop the project and will be installing the Solar PV system. The Solar PV system is expected to generate over 32 GWh of clean solar electricity over its lifetime.

Mr. Rajiv Mangal, President and CEO of Tata Steel (Thailand) said, “Tata Group places high importance on sustainability and the deployment of solar photovoltaic systems is a testimony to this drive. The Rayong plant will host our first solar PV project in Thailand and this initiative will noticeably reduce our carbon footprint.”

Mr. Raju Shukla, Chairman and CEO of Cleantech Solar said, “We are excited to work with Tata Steel on this project in Thailand. Tata Steel’s adoption of clean energy is a reflection of their leadership in reducing carbon emissions. We look forward to working together over the lifetime of the project.”

The top view of the proposed 1.4 MWp Solar PV system.

In addition, Mr. Pornchai Thangworakulchai, Vice President – Rayong Plant at SCSC mentioned, “We were interested in solar photovoltaic technology for some time but until recently we found that the project was not financially attractive. The proposal offered by Cleantech Solar for an attractive tariff structure made the Solar PV system attractive and we look forward to working with Cleantech Solar and Ingenero towards the successful deployment of this project.”

The Rayong Solar PV project will use 4,320 modules installed over the north and south facing sides of the roof. The layout is optimised to allow easy maintenance of the roof and the Solar PV system, avoiding any obstructions. In addition to the economic savings, the panels will shade the roof and this is expected to reduce the ambient temperature of the plant.

Sunseap Receives $15 Million Loan Funding for Solar Projects In Singapore

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Sunseap has more than 160 megawatts of contracted solar project capacity in Singapore.

Sunseap Group Pte Ltd, one of Southeast Asia’s largest sustainable energy providers, has received a $15 million loan from United Overseas Bank (UOB) for a series of solar projects in Singapore.

These include the 9.5-megawatt peak (MWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Jurong Port, the world’s largest solar PV system installed in a port, and the 2.4 MWp solar PV system at consumer electronics company Panasonic.

Mr Lawrence Wu, Co-Founder and Director of Sunseap, said: “We are delighted to have received the support of a forward-thinking organisation such as UOB, one that is known for their strong support of SMEs. The loan demonstrates UOB’s confidence in the solar industry in general and Sunseap in particular. “We are optimistic of the prospects for renewable energy in Singapore and the region, and believe that more enterprises in Singapore will embark on green initiatives.”

Mr Eric Tham, Head of Group Commercial Banking, UOB, said, “As a leading bank in Asia, UOB is committed to supporting investments, such as clean technology projects, that contribute to the sustainable development of economies and communities. We are pleased to be funding solar-powered initiatives that will help reduce the carbon footprint of companies in Singapore.”

To-date, Sunseap has more than 160 megawatts of contracted solar project capacity in Singapore, which has been deployed or is in the course of being deployed. Some of its clients include Apple, Housing Development Board, Singapore American School, Raffles Institution, the United Technologies Group and ABB.

Sunseap also has a pipeline of overseas projects in Cambodia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Australia. In Cambodia, Sunseap has received the backing of the Asian Development Bank to build the country’s first large-scale solar power farm. The farm is expected to begin operations in August this year.

ADB Backs Sunseap’s Plan to Build Cambodia’s First Large-Scale Solar Farm

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Electricity tariffs in Cambodia are higher than those in neighbouring countries.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has backed Singapore’s Sunseap Group’s project to build Cambodia’s first large-scale solar power project under a long-term agreement with Electricité Du Cambodge (EDC).

ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) will provide Sunseap Asset (Cambodia) with a debt-financing package of US$9.2 million. The package includes co-financing from a private sector financial institution through ADB’s B Loan program and a concessional loan from the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CFPS). The CFPS loan was instrumental in assisting the sponsors to overcome some of the early mover risks and cost premiums associated with a first-of-its kind project such as this.

The project is located near Bavet, a special economic zone in the Svay Rieng province, and is being implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. As part of the project, Sunseap entered into a 20-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with EDC.

Sunseap, one of the largest sustainable energy providers in Southeast Asia, won the tender last year. It was Cambodia’s first competitively bid renewable energy IPP (Independent Power Producer) project. This marks Sunseap’s third foray into the international market after developing projects in India and Malaysia.

The solar farm is expected to begin operations in August 2017. Once completed, it will have an installed capacity of 10 megawatts and be able to meet roughly a quarter of Bavet City’s local energy demand, half of which is currently being met through power imports from neighbouring Vietnam. The project will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5,500 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2) annually. In addition to providing more reliable power supply in rural areas, the project is expected to generate a range of new skilled and unskilled jobs for the local community.

“We are honoured to have received the support of ADB as we embark on this large-scale project. Cambodia is a fast-growing market with vast potential for solar development,” said Frank Phuan, Founder and Director of Sunseap Group.

“While electricity consumption in Cambodia has increased significantly over the years, almost half of the country’s population currently has no access to stable, affordable electricity. Through this partnership, people in rural Cambodia will gain access to a precious commodity that many in the urban developed world take for granted.

“This project marks our entry into the rapidly developing Greater Mekong Subregion market. Our focus is on developing projects in the region that are sustainable in the long term at grid parity. We hope this project will help pave the way for future utility-scale solar projects as well as greater collaboration between the ADB and Sunseap in the region.”

“ADB is committed to working with companies like Sunseap to support our strategic agenda for environmentally sustainable inclusive growth,” said Christopher Thieme, ADB’s Deputy Director General for Private Sector Operations.

“ADB’s leading role in financing this project will help demonstrate the benefits of increasing Cambodia’s power supply through PPPs using local, renewable energy sources. It will also signal to the government, investors, and international financiers that private sector-led infrastructure investments can be undertaken successfully in a transparent manner, at a competitive price, and with a sound financing package.”

In Cambodia, the electrification rate grew to 55 percent in 2015, up from 20 percent in 2007. However, electricity coverage is a challenge especially for those in rural areas. Electricity tariffs in Cambodia are higher than those in neighbouring countries, mainly due to the high cost of fossil fuel-based generation and the fragmented power supply system in the country.

Jordan’s largest solar PV plant completed

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– Phoenix Solar & Mustakbal Clean power the Ma’an Development Area with 1MWp of solar PV

– Lower electricity bills and favourable returns in Jordan thanks to solar PV

Ground mounted solar panels

Ground mounted solar panels

Phoenix Solar Pte Ltd (“Phoenix Solar”), a photovoltaic system integrator and Mustakbal Clean Tech (“Mustakbal”), Jordan’s leading PV installer have completed a 1.028MWp solar photovoltaic (“PV”) plant at the Ma’an Development Area in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

 

The solar PV plant is located within the Residential Community adjacent to the King Hussein University, one of the clusters of the Ma’an Development Area and is owned by the Ma’an Development Company (“MDC”), responsible for the development of this special economic zone.

 

Phoenix Solar and Mustakbal successfully installed 4’032 Trina Solar modules and 56 SMA inverters in an area of 14’000sqm. The solar plant comprises two 514kWp subsystems, each connected to the LV side of the transformers.

 

The PV plant will generate approximately 2’000MWh of electricity annually, to meet 100% of the student dormitory’s power consumption, turning the Residential Community into Jordan’s first zero-energy dormitory and an excellent showcase for PV technology.

 

The project, the first MW-scale PV project in Jordan, was completed within schedule and with no disruption to student life at the Residential Community.

 

The effective combination of skills and experience of Phoenix Solar and Mustakbal delivered the best results in this project and set a great precedent for future project partnerships. “It took well coordinated teamwork to deliver this project on time without compromising on quality or performance”, said Christophe Inglin, Managing Director of Phoenix Solar and “we look forward to many more projects in Jordan with our partner Mustakbal.”

 

“The installation was completed and commissioned on time, thanks to the outstanding support and partnership with MDC (the owner), The National Energy Research Centre (the project consultant), and our suppliers and implementation partners that were instrumental to the project success resulting in a high quality installation. We are proud to be the first utility scale installer in Jordan”, said Ala Qubain, CEO of Mustakbal MDC will benefit from the net-metering regulations introduced through the Jordanian net metering renewable energy law. This will reduce its electricity bills from day one and will result in a payback time of 3 years; showing the clear economic benefits of solar PV in a country with high electricity prices and excellent solar resources.

 

“The Phoenix/Mustakbal consortium has exceeded our expectations in delivering a high-performance PV solar plant on time and to the highest quality standards” said Dr. Atef Odibat, Chairman of the Board of MDC.

 

The Ma’an Development Area is considered a solar hub in Jordan with plans to build over 100MW of PV systems by 2015 through solar purchase agreements.

Delhi Metro to install solar power plant at Dwarka station

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NEW DELHI –  In its attempt to conserve environment, Delhi Metro has become the country’s first mass transit system to begin installing solar power plants on the roofs of its stations.

The first 500 kwp ‘Roof Top Solar Power Plant’ is being installed at Dwarka Sector 21 metro station and is expected to be functional in six months.

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for installing the plant was signed between Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the developer, a multinational firm engaged in the installation and production of solar power worldwide, in the presence of DMRC’s Managing Director, Mangu Singh and other officials.

This is the largest roof top plant with such capacity in Delhi-NCR region under RESCO model.

Under this model, DMRC will pay for the units generated by the plant and the capital investment shall be provided by the developer. The power produced from this plant will be used to cater to the power requirements of DMRC at this station.

“After the installation of this roof top plant, Delhi Metro will also explore the possibility of installing more such plants at its stations, depots, parking lots as well as residential complexes,” Executive Director, Corporate Communications, Anuj Dayal said.

Efforts are also being made to integrate such solar plants with the station structures of Phase II, he added.

Delhi Metro has already taken up a slew of measures oriented towards the conservation of environment and the use of renewable means of energy.

In 2011, DMRC was certified by the United Nations (UN) as the first Metro Rail and Rail based system in the world to get Carbon Credits for reducing Green House Gas Emissions as it has helped to reduce pollution levels in the city by 6.3 lakh tons every year thus helping in reducing global warming.

DMRC’s first Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project on regenerative braking had also achieved many international firsts apart from earning valuable foreign exchange for the country.