Wind energy in Thailand: wind farm gets go ahead

The 207 MW wind power plant is being developed by Wind Energy Holding Co. Ltd, in the hillside area of Korat Province in central Thailand, 150km north of Bangkok. It will comprise ninety 2. 3MW wind turbines with a blade diameter of 101 metres which is appropriate for Thailand’s moderate wind speeds. The wind power plant will sell electricity for a 25-year period to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.

Mott MacDonald reviewed the technical and commercial robustness of the plant design, interconnection arrangements and projects contracts prior to financing of the project. As Thailand’s forerunning wind farm, the project financing process faced a number of regulatory and interconnection challenges, inevitable with first-of-a-kind development, which Mott MacDonald supported the lenders to overcome.

Dr Duncan Barker, Mott MacDonald’s project director said: “Mott MacDonald has worked for Kasikorn Bank and Siam Commercial Bank on a number of power related projects, most recently on one of the world’s largest solar farms in Thailand. With our global wind power experience we reviewed and advised on the wind energy yield performance and the effective technical structuring of terms under the project contracts.”

The total investment in the project is US$222 million. Mott MacDonald has an ongoing role in construction and operations management for the lenders covering works quality, environmental and social management, cost and schedule control.

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