Bangkok 300MWh Energy Storage Project

Why is energy storage important in Thailand?

Sungrow noted that the Thai government has accepted that energy storage is vital to making renewable energy sources reliable and dispatchable. This led Sungrow and Super Energy, already partnered on a number of renewable energy projects in Southeast Asia, to proceed with the new plant’s development.

Does Thailand need a battery energy storage system?

Thailand may lack the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) necessary to navigate supply and demand challenges. The 2024 PDP draft included 10,000 MW of BESS, but this may see the country struggle to fulfil carbon neutrality and Net Zero commitments over the coming decades.

What is a battery energy storage system?

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are essential for buildings and renewable power generation facilities to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply. Renewable sources like solar and wind power are intermittent, and influenced by weather patterns. BESS mitigates this issue by storing electricity for future use.

What is Thailand's 2024 Power Development Plan?

Thailand’s 2024 power development plan (PDP) aims to increase renewable energy use, highlighting the importance of BESS alongside solar panels and wind turbines. This could create new business opportunities for entrepreneurs if prices decrease or new technologies emerge for stationary batteries.

Why is battery storage a problem in Thailand?

This is partly due to a lack of clarity on how battery storage fits into existing electricity infrastructure. In 2022, the Thai government approved 24 BESS projects, all of which were located alongside solar operations. Their total combined storage capacity was 994 MW.

Is Southeast Asia a good place for energy storage?

At an industry event hosted by our publisher Solar Media earlier this year, Alexander Lenz, regional Asia-Pacific CEO for Aquila Capital, said that Southeast Asia has excellent potential for energy storage.