PTT Group's electricity business leader Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited (GPSC) and its subsidiary Combined Heat and Power Producing Co., Ltd. (CHPP) have unveiled the G Float, an innovative solar farm floating platform solution. The G Float offers highly efficient electricity generation, a long lifespan of 25 years, and the environmental friendliness of a recyclable material. This "new normal" product contributes to emission reduction and is safe for the marine ecosystem. The material has passed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's food contact inspection. It not only meets the clean energy demand but also helps its developers move toward the new S-curve industry.
Rosaya Teinwan, GPSC's Executive Vice President of Business Development and CHPP's President, revealed that GPSC and its partners had developed the G Float, an innovative floating solar farm solution for "new normal" commercial operation. This first floating photovoltaic (PV) system in Thailand has been designed to target factories, industrial estate customers, and government and private agencies with a large body of water suitable for a floating solar farm.
GPSC's collaboration with world-leading allies to innovate and meet customer needs will lead to efficient energy management with greater eco-friendliness and better safety standards. GPSC focuses on the idea of "Smart Energy for Evolving Life" to support the growth of the new S-curve industry, a core business strategy that it shares with the rest of PTT Group to support the emerging global energy shift toward better care for the environment. GPSC will continue to expand its investment in clean energy businesses through CHPP, its wholly-owned subsidiary. CHPP will play a crucial role in applying energy innovations to optimize electricity management on various platforms that can improve the reliability of renewable energy.
Teinwan said that the G Float had been designed to increase the efficiency of electricity generation. Solar panels are installed on a floating platform made from high-density polyethylene, a specialty product of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC). This polymer has been developed to be highly flexible, strong, and durable. It can be mixed with an additive to improve its resilience against UV damage. This material is easily molded into a floating platform with long service life. CHPP has also designed the connecting points to be stronger and better withstand weather conditions, including high wind and volatile waves. The G Float's high stability improves the power generation capabilities of the solar panels installed on it. The design also takes into account the ease of assembly and maintenance.
"The G Float can accommodate solar panels of various sizes from standard to large, which are heavier, including the necessary equipment. In the near future, the G Float will allow floating solar farms to generate electricity even more effectively and reliably. It has a promised lifespan of 25 years and is environmentally friendly since its material can be recycled, effectively reducing emissions. It is also safe for the marine ecosystem, having passed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's food contact test," Teinwan added.
The G Float has been successfully piloted at various projects, such as the Smart City project of the Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC). Our solar rooftop and floating solar farm solutions are installed at the Suranaree University of Technology. We are integrating smart energy solutions, such as BESS, peer-to-peer energy trading, and artificial intelligence, to increase our generation efficiency. We have also partnered with PTT Group to install a 100 kW floating solar farm at sea within the premises of PTT Tank Terminal Co., Ltd. (PTT Tank) in Map Tha Phut, Rayong.
