SENA is preparing to apply for permission for the residents to participate in “Solar Rooftop for People Sector” Project after the Energy Regulatory Commission accepts the purchase of excess power of 100 MW to the system with a 10-year contract at the rate of 1.68 Baht per unit. This causes consumers to be alerted because they can receive double benefits, money saving and income from electricity sales. It aims to expand the solar business to the private sector in the form of Private PPA to respond customer groups, enhance electricity consumption efficiency, and reduce energy costs in the business operations.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Kessara Thanyalakphak, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SENA Development (Public) Company Limited or SENA, the first operator of the solar power residential estate project (Solar Cell) in Thailand, revealed that, SENA, as a property developer applied technologies and innovation of solar rooftop installation to all residences in every project. It had been operated from 2016 until now, which could help residents save their electricity bills and still have the opportunity to sell the excess power into the system through the Solar Rooftop for People Sector Project.

Recently, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), cooperating with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), accept the application to participate in the project from May24, onwards. The Company has prepared to apply for permission for the residents of 6 projects, consisting of Sena Park Grand Ramindra Project, Sena Park Ville Ramindra – Wongwaen Project, Sena Ville Borommaratchachonnani Sai 5 Project, Sena Grand Home Rangsit Tiwanon Project, Sena Shophouse Phaholyothin Khukot Project, and Sena Shophouse Bangkhae Phase 1 and Phase 2. The Company is confident that the there will be more than 164 applicants, accounting for 394.40 kilowatts.

“SENA will submit the application for all residents and transfer the ownership to them. SENA is considered the only property developer that constructs the residential estate with solar roof installed in all residences. Such installation is operated by SENA Solar Energy Company Limited, which provides integrated services. Currently, there are 400 houses installed with solar roofs, approximately 1,000 kilowatts. We have operated for a long time since the Solar Roof Seri Pilot Project. At that time, there was no need to pay installation fees but the purchase of electricity into the system was not available. Today, the solar project for the people sector is established by the government under the Power Development Plan (PDP 2018) which will accept the purchase of electricity of 100 megawatts per year for the first 10 years (2019 - 2028). The excess power will be purchased into the system at the rate of 1.68 Baht per unit. This will play an important role in stimulating the worthwhileness of such installation.”

Asst. Prof. Dr. Kessara said that, regarding the power generation from solar rooftop installed in residences, although the government did not purchase electricity into the system now, it is an issue in which consumers are interested increasingly, especially the specified target groups, 1) elderly and children, 2) freelancers, 3) full-time employees (Not working on Saturdays-Sundays). However, the group that could use solar power worthwhile would be the group 1 and 2. This responded the need of the solar panel installation that can generate electricity for useful consumption because the daytime sunlight cause saving on electricity bills. Regarding the group 3, it will be worth if they sell electricity to the government because this group does not use electricity during the daytime (on weekdays). When there is the solar rooftop for people sector project which purchases the excess power into the system, this group will receive the most benefits. Meanwhile, the solar rooftop for people sector also plays an important role in assisting the gap where the energy storage system is the technology under the trial process for quality and economic value. As a result, this Project causes the worthwhileness rather than unused power generation.

SENA has collaborated with energy business partners to study and search for suitable technologies to provide services to customers for the higher benefits in the future. In addition, the Company also prepares to penetrate the energy market. SENA Solar Energy Company Limited has planned and set the sales target of 600 million Baht this year, including the installation capacity of 24 megawatts, which will expand the market among entrepreneurs such as factories, warehouses, etc., totaling 13 locations. Particularly, the Company will enter the market in the form of direct electricity distribution to operators or Private PPA, which is the installation of solar panels on the roof and the distribution of electricity during the daytime directly to operators. Since the daytime is the period with the high price of electricity distribution (ON PEAK), the cost of energy consumption reduces because the cost of electricity generated from solar energy is lower than the electricity price purchased from the Electricity Authority.