A row of solar panels float on sparkling water in a reservoir in northeastern Thailand, symbolizing the country's push for clean energy in its quest to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
A row of solar panels float on sparkling water in a reservoir in northeastern Thailand, symbolizing the country's push for clean energy in its quest to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Covering 720,000 square meters of water, the large facility is a hybrid system that converts sunlight into electricity during the day and generates hydropower at night.
Considered by authorities to be "the world's largest floating solar farm", the Sirindon Dam project in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani is the first of 15 farms Thailand plans to build by 2037.
The country is stepping up efforts to ditch fossil fuels, and at last year's COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha set a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, followed by net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065.
Sirindon Dam Farm, which started operations last October, has more than 1,44,000 solar cells and can generate 45MW of electricity over an area the size of 70 football fields.
The deputy governor of the Power Generation Authority told AFP it was the world's first and largest project, combining more than 45 megawatts of hydropower with solar and hydropower energy management systems. Electricity Thailand (EGAT), Prasersak Cherngchawano.
According to EGAT, the hybrid power plant project aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 47,000 tonnes per year and support Thailand's efforts to generate 30 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2037.
But achieving this goal will require a major overhaul of electricity production.
According to the Ministry of Energy's Office of Energy Planning and Policy, Thailand still relies heavily on fossil fuels, with 55 percent of its energy coming from natural gas as of last October.
EGAT plans to gradually install floating hydropower plants in 15 dams in Thailand by 2037, with a total power generation capacity of 2,725 MW.
Construction of the $35 million Sirinhorn project took nearly two years, including Covid-19 delays caused by late deliveries of solar panels and sick technicians.
Most of the electricity generated by the floating solar power plant is channeled to the Provincial Electricity Authority, which supplies electricity to homes and businesses in Thailand's low-lying northeastern province.
In addition to generating energy, officials hope the giant solar power plant will attract tourists.
A 415-meter long sunshine-shaped "nature walkway" has been installed to provide beautiful views of the floating solar cell and tank.
"When I found out that this dam has the largest hydrosolar park in the world, I knew I had to see it with my own eyes," tourist Dungrat Mezit, 46, told AFP.
Some local residents object to floating hydro-solar ponds, complaining that fishermen are being forced to move to where they cast their nets.
"The number of fish caught is decreasing, so our income is reduced," village head Tongphon Mobmai, 64, told AFP.
"But local people have to accept the community development mandate given by this country." But the power generation authority insists the project will not affect agriculture, fishing or other activities in the community.
We only use 0.2 to 0.3 percent of the dam area. People can use the land for agriculture, housing and other purposes,” said Prasertsak from EGAT.
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