Thailand is making floating hydro-solar power plant

 The mammoth installation, masking 720,000 square metres of water surface, is a hybrid machine that converts sunlight to strength with the aid of day and generates hydropower at night time.

A large array of sun panels floats on the shimmering waters of a reservoir in northeast Thailand, symbolizing the kingdom's drive towards smooth electricity as it seeks carbon neutrality via 2050.

The significant set up, masking 720,000 square metres of water surface, is a hybrid gadget that converts sunlight to electricity via day and generates hydropower at night time.

Touted through the government as the "international's largest floating hydro-sun farm," the Sirindhorn dam assignment within the north-jap province of Ubon Ratchathani is the primary of 15 such farms Thailand plans to build through 2037.

the dominion is stepping up efforts to wean itself off fossil fuels, and at the COP26 climate convention in Glasgow last 12 months, prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha set the target of carbon neutrality through 2050 accompanied by way of a net-0 greenhouse emissions by way of 2065.

The Sirindhorn dam farm -- which began operations final October -- has greater than one hundred forty four,000 solar cells, covering the identical region as 70 football pitches, and can generate 45 MW of energy.

"we will declare that thru forty five megawatts mixed with hydropower and electricity control device for solar and hydro powers, this is the first and biggest assignment within the world," power producing Authority of Thailand (EGAT) deputy governor Prasertsak Cherngchawano told AFP.

The hybrid energy task pursuits to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by using forty seven,000 tonnes consistent with 12 months and to support Thailand's push closer to producing 30% of its energy from renewables with the aid of 2037, according to EGAT.

Thailand still relies closely on fossil gas, with 55% of energy derived from natural gas as of October remaining yr, compared with 11% from renewables and hydropower, according to the power coverage and making plans office, a department of the ministry of power.

EGAT plans to gradually install floating hydro-solar farms in 15 more dams throughout Thailand through 2037, with a complete energy era ability of 2,725 MW.

The $35 million Sirindhorn task took almost two years to build -- along with Covid-19 preserve-u.s.resulting from delays to solar panel deliveries and technicians falling unwell.