Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding PCL has announced it will invest AUD $232 million in developing two solar farms in Australia.
According to the Bangkok Post, the two solar farms will have a combined capacity of 53 megawatts and will replace the recently shuttered coal-fired Collinsville power station.
Earlier this month we reported Whitsunday Regional Council had approved an application by Ratch for the development of a solar farm at the Collinsville Power Station site.
Ratch chief executive Pongdith Potchana says the two new facilities will increase Ratch Australia Corporation’s (RAC’s) capacity to 870 MW and Ratch’s renewable capacity to 209 MW, representing 3.3% of its total of 6,303 MW portfolio. Mr. Potchana “sees more investment opportunities in Australia, particularly in wind and solar power.”
Thailand-based Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc was formed in October 2000. Its major shareholder is the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT); which holds a 45 percent stake.
EGAT is Thailand’s state-owned power utility, responsible for electric power generation and transmission for the entire country. EGAT has 15GW capacity in its portfolio, but only 4.5 MW of that total is renewables based (excluding hydro – 3.4GW).
Earlier this month, it was also announced Ratch was in talks with potential Japanese partners with regard to investing in two solar farms in Japan with a combined capacity of 240MW.
RATCH-Australia has a portfolio of power generation assets currently totalling 815 MW; consisting of four thermal fired power stations and three wind farms – Starfish Hill (34.5MW), Toora Hill (21MW) and Windy Hill (12MW). A further two wind farms projects are currently undergoing feasibility studies.
RATCH-Australia is 80 per cent owned by Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding PCL and 20 per cent owned by Transfield Services Limited.
