Community power plant project to open for registration in Feb
The committee tasked with preparing draft regulations for planned projects will speed up their work with completion expected in January ahead of their auctions in February, said Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong.
These projects will help stimulate the grassroots economy, especially the community-based power plant scheme.
The power plant project will open for registration and auction in February. It will generate a total of 700 MW from private producers at a combined investment of Bt70 billion.
“After official opening, investors under the "Quick win" initiative can start plant construction in provinces rich in natural resource for power generation driven by renewables, such as Ubon Ratchathani," Sontrirat said.
With 256.9 MW of power generating capacity planned in three southern provinces, the ministry will decide on the type of investment in view of previously-approved projects, such as the Pracharath power plant.
The ministry will promote diesel B10 as a main source of energy, in place of diesel B7, as a means of stabilising palm oil prices. Currently, raw palm price stands at Bt6 per kilogram compared to Bt33-34 for crude palm oil per kilogram. In March, it will promote sugarcane and cassava in fuel production through the mix of ethanol and gasohol.
After the community-based power plant project, he said, the ministry will turn to promote waste-to-energy plants under Power Development Plan 2018. It will buy 400MW from waste-to-energy community plants and 44MW from waste-to-energy industrial plants. “However, the plan needs extensive study, especially the volume of purchase”.
