News and Updates

The Central Administrative Court is being asked to examine a 3.7-billion-baht lawsuit filed by the listed solar farm developer SPCG Plc against the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) for allegedly unfairly discontinuing the company's solar farm project in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

The PEA was asked by the EEC Office in 2019 to plan for a supply of clean energy in the three provinces covered by the EEC, which led to cooperation between the state utility, its wholly owned subsidiary PEA Encom International and SET-listed SPCG.

They jointly set up Set Energy Co, with SPCG as the largest shareholder, to develop and operate the solar farm with a power generation capacity of at least 500 megawatts.

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by SIPET as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: Bangkok Post

The Philippines can access a potential export market of $788.4 million for its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules if it properly addresses the non-tariff barriers hindering the trade, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. said.

“For specialized solar components, the solar PV modules, the Philippines has room to expand its exports to the US ($189.4 million), China ($171.6 million), the Netherlands ($64.7 million), Vietnam ($46.4 million), and Germany ($43 million),” the export group said.

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by SIPET as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Thai Cabinet relaxed regulations on solar rooftop installations with the introduction of the Ministerial Regulation Re: Designation of Type, Kind, and Size of Factories (No. 3), B.E. 2567 (2024) (the “Ministerial Regulation”). The Ministerial Regulation does away with the need to obtain a factory license from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) or Department of Industrial Works (DIW) for all solar rooftop power generation installations located outside of industrial estates, irrespective of their production capacity. This relaxation came into effect on December 28, 2024.

Previously, the installation of such solar rooftops with a generating capacity exceeding 1,000 kW required a factory license. This move specifically targets solar power generation installations located on rooftops, terraces, or any part of buildings that can be occupied or used. It is noted that solar ground mounted and floating projects are not affected by the Ministerial Regulation.

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by SIPET as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Researchers from the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi used radiation data from global climate models available under the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) to analyse the twin impacts of climate change and air pollution on SPV performance. The CMIP6 is a leading group of models that uses different data sets to project the future impacts of climate change under various emission scenarios.

The study, using data from 1985 to 2014 as a baseline to predict a change from 2041 to 2050, concludes that SPV’s efficacy may decrease by 3.3% by the middle of the century. Based on current solar power production levels, the study estimates a loss of 600 to 840 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually.

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by SIPET as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

​The U.S. has imposed record-high tariffs on solar panels from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, with rates up to 3,521%. These measures disproportionately impact smaller Southeast Asian manufacturers and workers, while larger Chinese firms had already relocated operations to avoid such penalties. 

Masdar has strengthened its partnership with Indonesia’s PLN to develop Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar power plant, advancing Indonesia’s net-zero goals. The 145 MW Cirata Floating Solar PV project showcases Indonesia’s clean energy potential and Masdar’s commitment to accelerating renewable energy deployment across the region through innovative, scalable solutions.

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by SIPET as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: ESG News

Thailand is making a significant shift towards a green economy, with individuals and households playing an active role in the transition by installing rooftop solar panels. According to research by Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research), the adoption of solar rooftops is expected to continue growing steadily, driven by their cost-effectiveness and increasing marketing efforts by solar providers. Banks in Thailand are also now offering green financial products, including solar rooftop loan packages, to encourage households to embrace sustainability and reduce energy costs.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is continuing with its ERC sandbox by promoting a new pilot renewable power trade project between Gulf Energy Development Plc and Pandora, a Danish jewellery company.

The project focuses on a "virtual power purchase agreement", also known as a VPPA, with Gulf and Pandora jointly pioneering the VPPA.

The two companies recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a one-year project to study, develop and implement this renewable power trade.

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by SIPET as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: Bangkok Post