Thread: Thailand now generating electricity at world’s biggest hydro-solar farm

As part of Thailand’s push to become a carbon-neutral country by 2050, the world’s largest hydro-solar hybrid energy farm has officially gone online and is now generating electricity. The solar farm floats atop the Sirindhorn Dam in Ubon Ratchathani and is as big as 70 football fields.


The massive installation floats on Sirindhorn Reservoir along Lam Dom Noi River, about 660 km east of Bangkok. The farm generates electricity both by harnessing the power of the sun in its solar panels, and generating electricity from the water that it’s floating on with 3 turbines converting the water’s flow into energy.

The energy-generating complex is the largest hybrid system of its kind in the world. 7 solar farms have been built over 300 acres using 144,417 solar panels. The platforms were originally predicted to produce 45 megawatts of electricity. This launch is part of 16 projects in the works on Thai reservoirs around the country that are forecast to create a combined total of 2.7 gigawatts of electricity.


The project cost 1.11 billion baht to complete and officially joined the electrical grid on October 31. The government department the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand confirms that the world’s largest hydro-solar hybrid farm will begin to move energy production away from the current largest source in Thailand, natural gas, with the hopes of massively reducing Thailand’s reliance on non-renewable energy.


Thailand actually set the deadline to become a carbon-neutral country and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2065, but PM Prayut Chan-o-cha made a pledge at the United Nations Climate Change Conference this month to reach the goal by 2050. Last year, hydropower, solar, and wind combined made up less than 10% of the power generation in Thailand, while almost two-thirds of the country’s power was generated by natural gas.

Thailand now generating electricity at world's biggest hydro-solar farm | Thaiger

I suppose they did a full environmental impact st.....

Well one thing is for sure the fish will have a good place hide.

Be cool as heck if the thing works. I sure hope it does. I have seen those solar farms driving back from Vegas to LA.

Well, at face value, I reckon it's a ripper.

This one is worth watching from the 2.30 mark (cuts out the marketing crap and the presenter doing his David Attenborough impersonation)

That is really good news, great that these types of projects are really moving forward.

Innovative idea. Nice for Thailand to have a success now and then.

Interesting perspective, and consider the source ... Environmental Justice Atlas

Sirindhorn hydropower dam was built by EGAT (Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand) for the purpose of hydropower and irrigation and is in operation since 1971. It is located in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchatani, Thailand. It impounds the Lam Dom Noi River, and its reservoir is the province's largest water resource. The electricity is generated for domestic markets . However, a proposed irrigation canal for improved agriculture was never built. Protests began by the affected villagers after the beginning of the construction period in 1968 through establishing an anti-dam village opposite the dam entrance. Compensation provided on behalf of the government was in the form of resettlement of houses and land. However, land was of poor quality. In 1995, the Assembly of the Poor (AoP - a grassroots social movement) was established and some of the memberships were villagers affected by the Sirindhorn Dam asking for fair compensation for their lost land and livelihoods. Villagers have still only received partial compensation, estimated to cover approximately 80% of lost land but no compensation for livelihood loss. Protests continue to seek fair compensation and for the dam floodgates to remain open permanently

Sirindhorn Dam, Thailand | EJAtlas

It would be interesting to know how it affects the lake ecologically with lack of sunlight, water temperature and oxygenation. The problem with solar power is the amount of land it takes up and panel disposal at end of life. While covering a lake solves land use to a degree, I wonder if it brings more problems than it solves.
The last time I looked at silicone for solar panel production it took 1 kg of coal to purify 1kg of silicone to the required grade of purity. Nothing is as easy as it sometimes appears. Although ther may be an overall benefit shown with a solar panel life cycle analysis (which should include panel disposal/recycling) I worry we may throw the baby out with the bath water. I am hoping the top TD scientists/ecologists/climatologists can allay my fears.

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

Although ther may be an overall benefit shown with a solar panel life cycle analysis (which should include panel disposal/recycling) I worry we may throw the baby out with the bath water. I am hoping the top TD scientists/ecologists/climatologists can allay my fears.

From what I've read, they used the Chinese Sungrow Inverter and Panels.

Sungrow are a decent company ... the 'Toyotas' of the Soiar Industry.
Not the most expensive, not the most reliable ... but a decent, reliable, cost effective option.

I'd be happy to have their panels on my roof and Inverter in my garage.


Re the solar panel life, most are rated only up to 25 years as their efficiency wanes with time.

The industry standard for a solar panel’s productive lifetime is 25-30 years.
However, a solar panel won’t die after 25-30 years, rather, their output will decrease a significant amount below what the manufacturer projected.

How Long Do Solar Panels Last? '-' Solar Power Now

So, after 25 years the panel could be still be at 85% efficiency. I'd take that.
What they need to do is test the panels and replace the dud ones which typically go open circuit and potentially bring the array down.
Bypass diodes can help with that.

That's the next generation from what I have on my roof.
I just grab the older panels 2nd hand which the rich list let go for a song.
I don't pay more than USD $15 a panel ... and that's only for the better quality 260w panels

Modern panels are up to 400w in a domestic situation, but I'm happy putting more, older panels up there.
More panels mean more roof shading, meaning less heat buildup in the attic/ceiling void and less of a hot thermal bank reradiating in the evening.

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Originally Posted by panama hat

Thailand is doing better than many other countries in this area . . . only 20% is coal-generated

They are indeed. Credit where credit is due. A country blessed as Thailand is with so many rivers has an advantage in producing non carbon electricity. This is the first of more solar hydro facilities to come. Good stuff EGAT. Keep it up.

Yes. We complain often about various things Thai. It is nice to give them some applause for getting things right. Then beauty of installing in conjunction with a hydro project id the electrical infrastructure is already there and will incure far less transmission costs than at a greenfield site.

Just a little reading for some, that are applauding the recent developments of Egat

Contested Waterscapes in the Mekong Region: "Hydropower, Livelihoods and ... - Google Books

Originally Posted by Chico

that are applauding the recent developments of Egat

1971 Sirindhorn damn completed.

You do realise they have just developed a project, that your posting about.

Pity Jim Mc Collister ain't around any more, right up his neck of the woods.

Originally Posted by OhOh

Originally Posted by David48atTD

Re the solar panel life, most are rated only up to 25 years as their efficiency wanes with time.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

So, after 25 years the panel could be still be at 85% efficiency. I'd take that.

If maintained as per manufacturer's schedule.

Well, TBH ... there is little to no maintenance to undertake.

The main offenders are bird poo and dust. And some decent rainfall takes care of that.

If it doesn't rain for a few months I hose mine.
Mine have been up on the roof for 12+ years.

Snow and salt build-up could affect them, but snow is highly unlikely and they are a long way from the salty sea.

All, IMHO

Originally Posted by David48atTD

The main offenders are bird poo and dust

and hail

Originally Posted by David48atTD

This one is worth watching

I didn't watch the video , but I am guessing they are in a substation from the first screen of the vid - so the fcukers should be wearing safety glasses and have their sleeves rolled down and buttoned

Originally Posted by David48atTD

Well, TBH ... there is little to no maintenance to undertake.

There is a substantial difference in size of the task, IMHO. But maintenance on both are essential and possibly create CO2 emissions.

Which should be included.

Originally Posted by OhOh

There is a substantial difference in size of the task, IMHO.

Do you have any links?

Originally Posted by OhOh

But maintenance on both are essential and possibly create CO2 emissions.

Expand on this as well. I have never heard of maintaining solar cells causing CO2 emissions? Thanks. If you put it up back it up.

Originally Posted by aging one

I have never heard of maintaining solar cells causing CO2 emissions?

they do when hoho is there talking about it