WHAUP secures Ford Motor’s Solar Carpark installation with 7.7 Megawatt capacity, worth 235 million baht

Bangkok – WHA Utilities and Power Public Company Limited (WHAUP) has sealed a Solar Carpark installation deal representing a generation capacity of 7.7 MW with Ford Motor Company. With a total rooftop space of 59,000 square meters and an investment of THB 235 million, it is considered the largest in Thailand. WHAUP CEO Mr. Somkiat Masunthasuwan is delighted with outstanding signed contracts for buying and selling electricity, coming from 77 solar projects with a combined capacity of 127 MW. Forty-six projects have already started commercial operations (COD) for 40.2 MW. This year, the company expects signed solar contracts will reach 150 MW.  

Mr. Somkiat Masunthasuwun, Chief Executive Officer of WHA Utilities and Power Public Company Limited (WHAUP), revealed that the company is moving forward with its plans to expand its renewable energy portfolio, especially solar projects both inside and outside WHA Group’s industrial estates. It recently signed an agreement with Ford Motor Company to install a Solar Carpark system on the parking lot’s rooftop area of Ford Motor Thailand’s manufacturing and assembly plant located in WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate 1 (WHA ESIE 1). This solar project highlights WHAUP’s ability to provide fully integrated solar rooftop installation services.

Called Ford Solar Carpark, this signed solar rooftop system installation contract will cover 59,000 sqm and have an electricity-generating capacity of 7.7 MW, requiring an investment of THB 235 million. The project will be implemented in accordance with the NEC2020 standard, which will enhance power security and reduce energy costs for the customer. At the same time, the solar rooftop will enable Ford to use clean energy and provide shade for the car park, which will benefit and extend the lifespan of car rubber parts and equipment. This project has already started and is expected to be completed in 2023.  

This year, WHAUP signed another 15 electricity buying & selling contracts for a combined capacity of 33.8 MW, bringing the company’s total outstanding portfolio of 77 electricity buying & selling contracts to 127 MW. Forty-six projects with a capacity of 40.2 MW have already started commercial operations (COD) and 6 projects with a capacity of 7.68 MW are in the preparation stage to sign contracts. It is forecast that WHAUP will be able to exceed its 2022 target of signed electricity buying & selling contracts with a total capacity of 150 MW.  

Mr. Silvio IIIi, Director of Manufacturing, Ford Asean, said “We aim to run a sustainable business to help build a better world, where all people are free to move and pursue their dreams. Ford is committed to develop its car production process worldwide while using 100% clean energy within 2035 and reaching carbon emission neutrality by 2050. It targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 143,000 tons during the contract’s 25-year term.”

At present, two Ford production and assembly plants in Rayong under Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) and AutoAlliance (Thailand) (AAT) have switched to solar power. The AAT plant installed its 5-MW solar power system in 2021 while the FTM plant began the installation of its 7-MW solar power system in 2022, expected to be completed by early 2023. Both solar power projects have received good support from WHAUP for the design and structural work to install the solar power systems. The switch to solar power will help WHAUP drive the use of clean power and lower carbon emissions to create sustainability for the environment and the company’s business at the same time.