Hitachi ABB Power Grids Provides Battery Storage Tech to Thailand

Switzerland-headquartered Hitachi ABB Power Grids Ltd. recently announced its selection by Impact Solar Limited, a subsidiary of Impact Solar Group, to provide Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and controls technology to a “smart industrial park” project in Thailand, which is a part of the country’s largest private microgrid at Saha Industrial Park in Sriracha.

Once commissioned, the park will have a total generation capacity of 214 MW from a combination of co-generation gas turbines, rooftop solar, floating solar, and battery energy storage systems.

The advanced microgrid is digitally-enabled to integrate the electricity produced from distributed energy resources (DERs), including solar, and simulates a utility scale power system. Using real-time automation information, the microgrid will manage and optimise the power output of DERs from across the entire industrial park. The microgrid also balances energy fluctuations resulting from the intermittent availability of sunshine and will provide back-up power to the park’s data centre and other tenants who rely on grid stability for their businesses.

Yep Min Teo, senior vice president, Asia Pacific, Hitachi ABB Power Grids, Grid Automation, says, “Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ battery energy storage system (BESS) is a critical part of Impact Solar Group’s plans to develop a more sustainable and resilient industrial park.”

Teo also adds that the model balances generation from various distributed energy sources, builds in redundancy for future data center demand and lays the foundation for a peer-to-peer digital energy exchange platform among the industrial park’s customers. He believes that the project is a prime example of the energy transformation underway across Thailand, as the nation sets a new renewable target of 30 percent of total final energy consumption by 2036 in its Alternative Energy Development Plan.

Mr. Vichai Kulsomphob, president and CEO of Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Public Company Limited, hopes that this project in Saha Group Industrial Park Sriracha will be a model for the public and private sectors.

This project builds on Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ global Grid Edge Solutions footprint of more than 500 MW and 200 references. The business’ technology has enabled customers to create economic, social and environmental value by unlocking new revenue streams, maximizing renewable integration, and lowering carbon emissions.

In November last year, Hitachi ABB Power Grids India, Ashok Leyland and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) announced a partnership to run an electric bus (e-bus) pilot to support sustainable in-campus commuting by IIT-M’s students and staff.