SET-listed developer Sansiri Plc (SIRI) plans to have solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftops installed at the clubhouses of all new housing projects launched from next year to reduce the electric bill by 15%.

Uthai Uthaisangsuk, chief operating officer, said all new projects involving single houses, duplex houses and townhouses that the company will launch in 2019 will have a solar PV rooftop installed at the clubhouse to save power costs at the projects.

The system being installed at the new projects, including existing ones developed by Sansiri, will be invested in and managed by SET-listed renewable energy firm BCPG Plc, which will also provide blockchain-based energy trading technology.

“This will be the world’s largest real-time blockchain-based, peer-to-peer energy trading platform for residential projects, and Southeast Asia’s first public-private-people partnership model for self-sustained energy management,” Mr Uthai said.

The blockchain-based application lets users trade electricity from a renewable source in real time with a peer-to-peer network, in a secure and transparent manner. As a result, consumers can make use of electricity at a lower price.

The electricity trading pilot project is at Sansiri’s township project, Town Sukhumvit 77 (T77), located on a 50-rai site of Sukhumvit Soi 77.

With total power-generating capacity of 635 kilowatts (kW), the project will start operations next month.

At T77, solar rooftops are installed on Sansiri’s Habito Mall, which will generate 54kW; Bangkok Prep International School (413kW); and Park Court Condominium, an apartment for rent owned by SET-listed M.K. Real Estate Development Plc (168kW).

Mr Uthai said energy generated from the pilot project will represent up to 20% of the total electricity used in T77, helping to reduce electric bills by 15%.

“Consumers will turn to prosumers as they both consume and produce electricity and can sell excess solar energy to others in the community at a lower price than they pay [to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority],” he said.

Sansiri has also installed the system at its precast factory on 100 rai in Pathum Thani, with a capacity of 150kW. That instalment can help save up to 50% on electric bills.

There is also the clubhouse of the townhouse project Siri Place Suksawat and Satit Pattana School in Khlong Sam Wa, before expansion to 20 additional projects by the end of 2018.

By 2021, the company plans to install solar rooftop panels with blockchain-based energy trading at 31 new projects with total power-generating capacity of 2 megawatts.

Mr Uthai said BCPG will help seek funding for Sansiri’s existing customers at single-house, duplex-house and townhouse developments who want a solar PV rooftop system on their unit.

The system, which can generate 20kW, costs about 100,000 baht for a single house or duplex house and 50,000 baht for a townhouse. The break-even period is roughly seven years.

“It’s quite difficult for a condo unit, but in Australia there is a solar window coated with a solar cell,” Mr Uthai said. “It’s under a test.”

SIRI shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 1.63 baht, down one satang, in trade worth 60.1 million baht.

Source: Bangkok Post