Khon Kaen, Thailand – The “Cycling for Solar Hospitals” campaign kicked off at the Warin Chamrab train station in Ubon Ratchathani province on the 17th October and finished at the Chum Phae Hospital, Khon Kaen, with the group of cyclists joining along the 550 kilometer route.

The Thailand Solar Fund began its crowdfunding campaign with the goal of installing solar rooftop panels in seven hospitals in Thailand by the end of 2019 [1]. The installed solar energy generation are on-grid systems which require no battery but connect directly to the government’s power grid, allowing the  hospitals to save on energy costs which altogether approximates THB 18 million per year [2]. It would also reduce impacts from mega fossils energy projects around the country proposed under Thailand Power Development Plan[3]. 

Duangporn Asawarachun, M.D., Director of Chum Phae Hospital, Khon Kaen said:

“Hospitals spend millions of baht of their annual budget on electricity bills to maintain health-care and life-saving services. Donations from people around the country for the installation of 30kW Solar PV systems in the three hospitals in Ubonratchathani, Si Sa Ket, and Khon Kaen provinces will allow each hospital to save at least THB 200,000 annually, throughout the lifespan of the solar panels. We aim to raise more funds to continue installing more solar panels.” 

Saree Aongsomwang, committee member of Thailand Solar Fund said:

“Hospitals and public health care facilities are spending at least one-third of their allocated annual budget to pay for electricity bills — these are money from taxpayers. If public agencies place importance on energy self-reliance and start producing their own solar energy, it could significantly reduce energy costs and save millions of baht on government budget each year. Therefore, the Thailand Solar Fund will continue to work together to mobilize crowfunding and support to meet our goal of seven Solar Hospitals by the end of this year. This can be a model for hospitals in other provinces.” 

Thailand needs a Net Metering measure in order to buy electricity produced from residential solar rooftop systems at a fair price [4]. This is necessary to secure the rights of people to access clean renewable energy system and can transform citizens from energy users, who bear the burden of monthly electricity bills, into energy producers who can sell electricity to the grid.

Chariya Senpong, Climate and Energy Campaigner for Greenpeace Thailand said:

“Current measures to buy electricity from residential solar rooftop systems demonstrates the lack of ERC’s determination to actively promote household electricity generation from clean renewable energy sources and allow them to sell to the grid at a fair price. Their ignorance reflects the energy management scheme which still forces capital costs upon the people.”

 

Note:

[1] ‘Thailand Solar Fund’ receives donation through bank transfer at Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), Center One Shopping Plaza branch, Account Name “Thailand Solar Fund by Foundation for Consumers”, Account Number 429-017697-4. More information about online donation and how to send bank transfer documents are available at www.thailandsolarfund.org. Donation is tax-deductible, Foundation for Consumers is a public-interest organization registered number 576 under the Ministry of Finance’s Notification.

[2] Thailand Solar Fund was founded from collaboration among diverse civil society organizations including those who work on consumers protection, child development, environment and sustainable development. It aims to mobilize resources to install rooftop solar systems and campaign to expand residential solar rooftop systems for agencies and institutions in government, private, and business sectors; based on people participation in energy reform; with hands-on implementation on targeted areas; toward changes in renewable energy policy. www.thailandsolarfund.org Thailand Solar Fund network includes: Subcommittee on Public Services under the Independent Committee for Consumer Protection (ICCP); Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University; Foundation for Consumers; Network of Consumers Organizations; Chumporn Civil Society Association; Forest and Sea for Life Foundation; Engineer Incubator Center; Solarder; Sisaengtham School; Foundation for Child Development (FCD); Four Regions Slum Network; Green Southern Region Foundation; Lanta Goes Green; Thai Holistic Health Foundation; Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

[3] Thailand Power Development Plan (PDP) 2018-2037, Energy Policy and Planning Office, Ministry of Energy. 

[4] Sign online petition to demand Net Metering measure at https://act.gp/2PizTpx

 

Contacts:

Chariya Senpong Tel.l 081 692 8978 Email [email protected]

Somrudee Panasudtha Te. 081 929 5747 Email. [email protected]