GE wind turbine selected for Thai project

GE will supply 36 2.5-MW wind turbines to the Thep Sathit Wind Farm in the Chaiyaphum province of Thailand. Located about 250 kilometers northeast of Bangkok with GE, the 90 MW is being built by German wind developer Pro Ventum International.

GE is also looking into a potential equity investment in the project. It will be the first wind project in Thailand for both Pro Ventum and GE and when operational, could potentially be one of the first wind farms of this scale in Thailand and the greater ASEAN region.

“This project will support the Thai government’s policy to promote cleaner energy, which calls for the country to use renewable resources for 20 percent of its power generation by the year 2020,” said Dr. Wannarat Charnnukul, minister of energy for Thailand, during the signing of an MOU between the two companies.

“This is an important milestone for our company, and signals our commitment to invest in Thailand’s clean energy future,” said Reiner Zoller, CEO of Pro Ventum.

Supportive government policy will encourage more investments in the renewable energy industry.

“Thailand’s multi-year incentives have made wind energy development a competitive proposition for potential investors. This MOU is testimony to how long-term policies that match the life cycle of an investment, are driving the growth of renewable power generation,” said Kovit Kantapasara, GE Energy’s country executive for Thailand and Indochina. “Renewable energy is important to Thailand as the country diversifies its power generation portfolio and reduces its dependence on imported fossil fuel.”

The 2.5-MW wind turbine is the largest GE wind turbine available for onshore applications and is the most advanced wind turbine commercially available today in terms of efficiency, reliability and grid-connection capabilities.