Gulf Group launching solar projects in Vietnam

June 24, 2019 - 14:42

On 19th June 2019, Gulf Group held the inauguration ceremony of TTC No. 01 and TTC No. 02 Solar Power Plants in Thanh Thanh Cong Industrial Zone, An Hoi hamlet, An Hoa commune, Trang Bang District, Tay Ninh Province, 57.1 km from Tay Ninh City and 48.3 km from HCM City.

On 19th June 2019, Gulf Group held the inauguration ceremony of TTC No. 01 and TTC No. 02 Solar Power Plants in Thanh Thanh Cong Industrial Zone, An Hoi hamlet, An Hoa commune, Trang Bang District, Tay Ninh Province, 57.1 km from Tay Ninh City and 48.3 km from HCM City.

TTC No. 01 and No. 02 Solar Power Plants in Thanh Thanh Cong Industrial Zone, An Hoi Hamlet, An Hoa Commune,
Trang Bang District, Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam

Accordingly, TTC Solar Power Project No. 01 was built on an area of ​​69.5 hectares, solar PV panels installed on 42.53 hectares, and has a capacity of 68.8 MWp.

The project broke ground on May 25, 2018, and cost approximately US$65 million. Due to the effective support from management, staff and contractors, within just 10 months the project was put into operation on March 6, 2019.

A total of 208,500 solar panels have been installed, each with a capacity of 330W.

The plant supplies around 106 million kWh per year to the national grid, meeting the electricity needs of around 87,347 households and reducing CO2 emissions by 85.45 tonnes a year.

Situated next door, TTC Solar Power Project No. 02 has been built on an area of 50ha, with PV panels occupying 39.2 hectares, and has a capacity of 50 MWp.

Construction began on August 10, 2018, with a total investment cost of approximately $50 million.

It has 151,500 panels, each with a capacity is 330 W.

Construction took only eight months and the plant began commercial operation on April 19, 2019. It provides 78 million kWh/year, meeting the needs of 63,669 households and reducing CO2 emissions by 62.29 tonnes a year.

The ribbon cutting to inaugurate TTC No. 01 and No. 02 Solar Power Plants

In order to achieve the schedule, Gulf Group have selected competent and highly experienced contractors in the field of renewable energy.

Specifically, JGC Vietnam Co., Ltd. was selected as the EPC contractor, Artelia Vietnam Co., Ltd., and Thanh Thanh Cong Investment JSC were the construction supervision consultants.

TTC No. 1 had Hoang Viet Hung Ltd Company as an additional contractor for installing 110 kV transmission lines.

Speaking at the ceremony, a Gulf Group representative said: "Gulf expects to engage in environmental protection, and contribute to climate change mitigation, energy conservation and generation of green energy sources - especially in Vietnam. We want to maintain continuous growth in Vietnam because the country is one of the fastest-growing economy in Asia and the demand for energy is forecasted to increase at a rapid rate.

“We always focus on developing synchronous forms of energy, especially renewable and environmentally-friendly energy sources, thereby improving the value chain of production and business activities and strengthening national energy security. Therefore, the official inauguration of these two projects will help minimise the negative impacts on the environment.”

Sarath Ratanavadi, director and CEO of Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited, says Gulf focuses on developing various forms of energy, especially renewable and environment-friendly ones.

"Gulf Group is pleased to be a joint venture partner to deploy these two solar power plants in Vietnam. As a co-investor, we undertake technical site monitoring and solar project management. Gulf staffs are rotated from the headquarters in Thailand to work full-time in Vietnam to maintain a constant workflow and ensure quality control in the construction and operation phases.

“At the same time, based on the practical experience of implementing successful projects, we are committed to using the best resources to operate the two plants safely and effectively, and this will be a premise for long-term cooperation.

“Our success today is driven by our people and their commitment to achieving results - by using state-of-the art technology to maximise power efficiency, responsible operating standards, and securing new opportunities for profitable growth.

“We aim to create and develop high-value resource opportunities by aligning our business strategies through disciplined operational excellence, capital stewardship and cost efficiency.

“We plan to grow earnings across the value chain and make targeted investments to lead the industry in terms of returns.”

Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited is a holding company with a portfolio of electricity, steam and chilled water generating projects and other related businesses.

It also provides management services to power projects in the group from the development and construction to management stages after commencement of commercial operations.

It is working towards providing energy efficiency solutions and developing energy resources of the future, including bio-fuels and other renewables.

Gulf is one of Thailand’s largest private power producers and expanding internationally. It has 21 power projects in operation, including two gas-fired IPPs, 15 gas-fired SPPs (Cogen) and four rooftop solar VSPPs, and seven under construction and development, including two gas-fired IPPs, four gas-fired SPPs (Cogen) and one biomass SPP, in Thailand.

Apart from the two solar projects with TTC, it also has other overseas projects including three under construction and development (a captive power plant in Oman and a solar and off-shore wind project each in Vietnam).

As of December 31 last year its total installed capacity - including both that have begun commercial operations and under development and scheduled for completion by 2024 – was 11,910.4 megawatts, with an equity installed capacity of 6,877.8 megawatts.  

Under their agreement, Gulf Group and TTC Group are planning to develop another wind project (310 MW) and a solar farm (30 MW) in Ben Tre Province.

Thus, through TTC No. 01 and TTC No. 02 Solar Power Plants, Gulf Group expects to help create jobs, enhance electricity security and contribute to the Green - Clean Energy campaign, which is being embraced by countries all over the world.

To foster the rapid growth rate of Viet Nam's economy from now through 2030 the energy sector needs to grow at 10 per cent annually to supply 500 billion kWh of commercial electricity by that year.

This is a big concern, especially since coal, petroleum and hydropower resources have been fully exploited for a long time. 

Amid the global trend of environmental protection and developing green - clean energy sources, renewable energy is considered an inevitable solution for the future.

 

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