Thailand adding 1,000MW of Solar PV by 2014

In Renewable Energy sector, Thailand is known to be more aggressive than any of its Southeast Asia counterparts. Within the next one and a half years, the kingdom plans to install 1,000 MW of solar photovoltaic - 200 MW for individual rooftops, and 800 MW for community-owned installations.

Table 1: Thailand's Feed-in Tariffs for Solar PV. There is currently 400 MW of PV installed in Thailand.

Table 2: Malaysia's Feed-in Tariffs for Solar PV


Aggressive move by Thailand

Since Thailand launched its aggressive feed-in tariff program in 2006, the country has installed nearly 1,000 MW of renewables and has a portfolio of signed contracts of more than 4,000 MW, nearly half of that for solar PV.

Unlike Malaysia, contracts were for a limited time period of 10 years or less. But that has changed recently - Thailand’s National Energy Policy Commission (NEPC) has approved new feed-in tariffs for both rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV with contract terms of 25 years.

This brings the Thai program into alignment with similar programs in Germany, Great Britain, and Ontario, Canada. According to a release by Thailand’s Energy Research Institute, the new feed-in tariffs for solar PV will be differentiated by size and application. There will be three size tranches for rooftop solar PV, and a separate tranche for community-owned, ground-mounted installations.

NEPC has set aside 200 MW for rooftop solar PV, but it must be installed by the end of the year (2013. 100 MW is set aside for systems less than 10 kW in size, and another 100 MW is set aside for systems from 10 kW to 1 MW. The remaining 800 MW is reserved for community-owned projects and must be installed by year end 2014.


Source: REW

Bank Muamalat launches rooftop Solar PV financing

Interested individuals have been hoping that more commercial banks will help finance the installation of solar PV on their rooftops. It seems that they are getting what they've been wishing for.

This week on Thursday, Bank Muamalat became the second bank in Malaysia to offer financing for solar PV under the Home Solar Rooftop Programme by the SEDA.  The first was Alliance Bank, which announced its solar PV loan program in June 2013.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Mahdzir Khalid launching the smart financing. Photo credit: Bernama

Smart Green Mortgage for Solar PV FiT plan

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd has launched the "Smart Green Mortgage for Solar Photovoltaic Feed-in Tariff Plan", offering financing services to its customers to purchase and install solar systems in their house. The plan will be the first Islamic financing package which is fully Shariah compliant, offered to the market.

"Bank Muamalat is assisting the government to develop green technology via introducing this innovative service as it will help boost investment and awareness on green technology in Malaysia."
- Deputy CEO, Musa Abdul Malek at the launch.

The plan was in line with the implementation of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) mechanism administered by SEDA which enables Malaysians to generate electricity from renewable sources while earning a fixed income for up to 21 years by selling electricity to Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).


Features (visit your nearest branch for more information)

• special deal via refinancing of customer's existing home financing facilities with Bank Muamalat,
• easy moving cost feature with legal and valuation fees absorbed by the bank,
• limited period of special financing package to reduce financing cost, resulting in affordable monthly installments,
• expected return on investment of up to 16% annually, with estimated average revenue of RM580 on the solar PV system, depending on installation type and location.

The income will be generated monthly for the next 21 years and it will be credited directly by TNB into the customers savings or current accounts maintained by the bank.


TheGreenMechanics: Participation from more financial institutions buds well with public/investors' confidence in the viability of the Rooftop Solar PV program. This investment would be a good source of income during retirement years. - 21 years of passive income.


Source: Bernama

Hari Raya: Electrical safety tips by TNB

Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) yesterday advised the public to take safety precautions while using electrical appliances during the Aidilfitri season.

Image credit: redbeacon.com

Tenaga Nasional Berhad outlined some basic safety measures that could be adopted by you and me in order to prevent any mishap:-

• Avoid making wiring extensions on your own.


• Obtain the services of electrical contractors registered with the Energy Commission for installation of additional wiring in your premises and to notify the TNB.


• Do not to use too many electrical adaptors to avoid the wire getting heated up.


• Avoid wearing metal ornaments such as watches, chains or rings when installing electrical gadgets.


• Keep the extension wire away from wet areas in the case of electrical gadgets installed outside the house,


• Ensure that the Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) sockets, plugs and other electrical appliances were functioning.


• Switch off and remove plugs from the power source when they are not in use or before leaving the house.

The public were told not to go near TNB restricted areas.

Consumers can contact TNB for feedback:

1. Call, by phone or text to 15454 - for power outages and faulty street lights
2. Call 1300-88-5454 - for inquiries on electric bills and related matters. For SESB, SMS to 33154, and the toll-free line is 1-800-88-1355
3. e-mail to tnbcareline@tnb.com.my or visit www.facebook.com.my/tnbcareline.
4. SESB can be reached at this e-mail: crm@sesb.com.my

TheGreenMechanics: This does seem like the usual safety measures we're being fed every now and then, but you've got to take this seriously. You don't want your iron left on the ironing board, switched on during the long weekend.

Source: Bernama