Thailand: PS&S and Mahindra setting up solar learning centre for Southeast Asia

Thailand: PS&S and Mahindra setting up solar learning centre for Southeast
Asia

Two companies are constructing a 1MW solar PV plant in Thailand using
various combinations of technologies in order to set up a learning centre
and advisory board to help solar developers across the Southeast Asia
region.

Sam Yamdagni, chairman and chief executive of Thailand-based developer PS&S
spoke to PV Tech at the Solar & Off-Grid Renewables Southeast Asia event in
Bangkok. He said the solar industry is moving so fast that new benchmarks
need to be created while current software packages for analysing PV systems
can be "archaic".

PS&S won the 1MW plant located in Singburi, near Ayutthaya, through
Thailand's 'lucky draw' system. After some hesitation about whether to build
a plant of this small scale, PS&S realised it could create a learning centre
out of the project.

It will include six technologies, all using separate SCADA systems, in order
to compare performance. These include monocrystalline, bi-facial and
thin-film modules, along with both fixed tilt mounting and trackers. It will
also explore combinations of distributed and central MPPT tracking as well
as comparing central and string inverters.

Manish Singhal, head, business development of Indian EPC firm Mahindra
Susten, explained that Susten will set up the project and partner PS&S for
conducting training and learning programmes.

Yamdagni added: "With all the changes of dynamics that are happening, it is
essential for us to actually have a common benchmark [and] it is also very
important in the industry that we don't destroy engineering standards,
because what's really happening is the engineering standards are becoming
worse."

An advisory board of 10-12 people with various areas of expertise in
Southeast Asia will also be created in order to have quarterly meetings on
technology and the learning centre. The board will also discuss how best to
dissipate best practice around the region. At least 30% of the board will be
rotated each year to ensure more expertise coming in.

Yamdagni said the learning centre will be an "open platform" for other
renewable energy firms to come in and see the results and make their own
decisions about benchmarks and technology combinations. Furthermore, all
data will be published in the internet.

The learning centre will conduct courses on engineering, operation and
construction and there are plans to move into installer training for rooftop
systems at the same location.

The plant is due to be complete before the end of the year and opening is
likely to take place in Q1.

Speaking to delegates in Bangkok, Yamdagni said: "Anyone interested we will
welcome you to participate with us."

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.pv-tech.org/news/pss-and-mahindra-setting-up-solar-learning-centr
e-for-southeast-asia

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com