WHAUP signed with AAT

Editorial Staff

WHAUP signed with AAT to purchase power 8-MW from the floating solar.

WHA Utilities and Power Plc (WHAUP) signed an agreement with AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co (AAT), an automobile assembly firm for Ford and Mazda, to purchase power 8-MW from the floating solar.

The floating solar will generate and distribute electricity from solar panels installed on a floating buoy in a raw-water reservoir covering 60,000 square meters of installation area in WHA Group’s Eastern Seaboard (Rayong) Industrial Estate. The project is expected to start commercial operations by September 2024.

Mr. Somkiat Masunthasuwun, chief executive officer of WHA Utilities and Power PLC (WHAUP), revealed that on 30 October the company and the AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co have reached a power purchase agreement from the 8-MW floating solar.

The project will generate and distribute electricity from solar panels installed on a floating buoy in a raw-water reservoir in WHA Group’s Eastern Seaboard (Rayong) Industrial Estate. It will start commercial operations by September 2024.

The 270-million-baht floating solar has an electricity-generating capacity of 8 MW. This project will help the customer lower energy expenses and use clean energy up to 9.6 million units per year.

“This agreement is flexible to serve customer demand with the contract term from 5 to 20 years. AAT signed an agreement with WHAUP for 5 years + 5 years. Besides, the customer will be able to offset emissions of greenhouse gas more than 5,400 tons of CO2 per year, following our mission to lower greenhouse and carbon dioxide gas emissions in the long term. We aim to do business with sustainability in all aspects of economic, social, and environmental,”. Said Mr. Somkiat.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kenichiro Saruwatari, president and CEO of AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co(AAT), said that this collaborative agreement with WHAUP marks the third phase of collaboration, following of the successful installation of solar panels on AAT’s factory rooftops in 2021.

Upon the completion of floating solar, AAT expects to have total solar electricity-generating capacity of 14 MW within the next three years.

The power purchase from the floating solar helps AAT achieve its energy cost reduction and environmental conservation goals, which the company has consistently upheld. Furthermore, it allows a reduction in production cost for the entire 10-year contract period. As a result, AAT will be able to utilize clean energy totaling 96 million units within the span of 10 years.

Simultaneously, the project will also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2 offset) released into the atmosphere by up to 54,000 tons, in line with the company’s policy on global warming and greenhouse gas emission reduction. AAT has a policy of producing new energy to move forwards becoming RE100 (Renewable energy 100%) by 2035.