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PRIME ROAD GROUP AND FIRST SOLAR COMPLETE 18MW OF SOLAR FARMS IN THAILAND

The Sena 1 solar installation is one of four solar farms included in a group of power generation assets completed across the Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces in Thailand by Prime Road Group. First Solar, Inc. supplied 18MW of thin film PV modules for the projects. (Photo: Business Wire)

Prime Road Group and First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) welcome the completion of four solar farms totaling 18 megawatts (MWDC) of capacity in Thailand. Located across the Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani Provinces, the Prime Road Group Co-Op Project (Project) utilizes more than 158,500 First Solar thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules to produce approximately 29,600 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean electricity in the first year of operation. Developed under Thailand's Governmental Agency and Agricultural Cooperatives Program, the completion marks an important milestone for the country as it continues to grow its installed solar PV capacity and target 30 per cent renewable energy by 2036.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170207006607/en/

Thailand-based developer Prime Road Group has partnered with First Solar as the module supplier and Bouygues-Thai Ltd - a subsidiary of the French Bouygues Group - as the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor for the delivery of the Project. The Project will produce enough clean solar energy each year to power 12,000 homes in Thailand and displace approximately 14,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

"We have developed a broad range of renewable energy projects in Thailand and Japan, and the Prime Road Group Co-Op Project adds to our growing regional portfolio of high-quality solar farms developed, owned and operated by our group," said Surachet Chaipatamanont, Prime Road Group's Director. "First Solar's thin-film technology was selected for Prime Road Group Co-Op Project because of its superior energy performance attributes compared to traditional solar modules, making it suitable for the hot and humid conditions in Thailand."

The First Solar Series 4 thin-film PV modules deployed at the four sites are ideally suited to the local environmental conditions in Southeast Asia, due to their superior temperature coefficient, better shading response, and better spectral response. This performance advantage allows for optimal performance and over the course of the Project's operational life will translate into significant gains in power output.

"The completion represents a significant installation of First Solar modules in Southeast Asia, and we congratulate Prime Road Group and Bouygues-Thai on the successful delivery of this milestone project today," said Robert Bartrop, First Solar's Director of Business Development in Southeast Asia and China. "First Solar's partnership with the Prime Road Group Co-Op Project reflects the value of First Solar technology in hot and humid climates such as Thailand, and we look forward to supporting future projects and the country's renewable energy targets."

"Bouygues-Thai is very proud to have contributed to this project, committing to a higher level of performance to the Prime Road Group project thanks to the technical advantage of the thin-film modules developed by First Solar," said Patrice Bard, Managing Director of Bouygues-Thai Ltd.

The electricity from the Prime Road Group Co-Op Project will be sold via a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand at a rate of THB 5.66 per kilowatt hour.


In the future, bigger DESERT power plants will be set up on Brazilian soil, and together with existing turnkey production systems, they intend to take up a large share of the products and assets this sector will possess locally. J.v.G. Thoma plans to build up a local network of sales agents that can extend a premium offering to neighbouring countries in South America. Eventually, the company hopes to be able to expand its customer base to clients in North America.

Hans Thoma, general manager from the Thoma-group, is eager to acquire a substantial market share in Brazil, a growing country with tremendous potential for solar energy output. Having complied with local official procedures (Inmetro, TÜV, Fraunhofer CSP) and cleared the way for future business collaboration, he expresses his hope that the solar industry will henceforth expand quickly.

”Being able to introduce Brazil to the infinite opportunities of a solar industry is a privilege for J.v.G. Thoma GmbH, and one that we are extremely grateful for. At the same time, this placed the ball squarely in our court, and the pressure to get the ball rolling quickly was high. Now that the lengthy initial formalities are out of the way, we can focus on making this project a success.“

The first DESERT solar module production in BRAZIL! Lets go ....
J.v.G. Thoma GmbH is delivering a DESERT turnkey production line to Brazil, the first of its kind and hopefully the first in many breakthroughs to leave the factory floor on their way to the largest country in South America. With a capacity of 30 MW, this is a small semi-automatic DESERT production line, but still a flagship in terms of DESERT solar module production and electricity generation in the country, now fully functional and ready to start with operation.

The machinery consists of DESERT production machines for high-efficiency DESERT solar modules built specifically for extreme hot climate, such as can be seen in deserts or in tropical areas. Made solely in Germany and built using the latest in DESERT and TROPIC module production, the systems inlcudes all cutting-edge technology.

Certified DESERT solar modules, DESERT containers, DESERT power plants and DESERT manufacturing machinery built using pioneering DESERT and TROPICS technology are now fully set up, and ready to perform. But powering on the machinery has been a long time coming. Up until recently, this advanced piece of equipment had been waiting for clearance at a port in Brazil. Now that the formalities have been dealt with, both J.v.G. Thoma and its customer in Brazil can get production under way.

J.v.G. Thoma GmbH is a company whose vision has always been to harness the infinite power of the sun and convert it into an inexhaustible supply of energy. But a vision such as this requires global reach, and this project has opened new doors. Brazil is not only a gateway to South American cooperation, but also the launchpad to international reach and expansion.

Following the delivery of this initial order, J.v.G. Thoma GmbH will be looking forward to an ongoing collaboration with the Brazilian company. From setup and initial training to setting the scene for a ramp up, J.v.G. Thoma will be there to provide expertise and assistance. Moreover, the company will be jointly responsible, along with the client, for the successful integration of the DESERT solar module factory.

In the future, bigger DESERT power plants will be set up on Brazilian soil, and together with existing turnkey production systems, they intend to take up a large share of the products and assets this sector will possess locally. J.v.G. Thoma plans to build up a local network of sales agents that can extend a premium offering to neighbouring countries in South America. Eventually, the company hopes to be able to expand its customer base to clients in North America.

Hans Thoma, general manager from the Thoma-group, is eager to acquire a substantial market share in Brazil, a growing country with tremendous potential for solar energy output. Having complied with local official procedures (Inmetro, TÜV, Fraunhofer CSP) and cleared the way for future business collaboration, he expresses his hope that the solar industry will henceforth expand quickly.

”Being able to introduce Brazil to the infinite opportunities of a solar industry is a privilege for J.v.G. Thoma GmbH, and one that we are extremely grateful for. At the same time, this placed the ball squarely in our court, and the pressure to get the ball rolling quickly was high. Now that the lengthy initial formalities are out of the way, we can focus on making this project a success.“

The first DESERT solar module production in BRAZIL! Let
Source: First Solar, Inc.