Food conglomerate contracts Gunkul for Thailand’s ‘largest’ rooftop solar project

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Thailand does not currently allow solar plants used for self-consumption to export excess power back into the grid. Flickr: Johan Fatenberg

Thai agro-industrial and food conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has signed an agreement with local clean energy firm Gunkul Engineering to install a 40MW rooftop solar project at CPF’s manufacturing plants for self-consumption.

Thailand does not currently allow solar plants used for self-consumption to export excess power back into the grid, but the cost of power means that commercial and industrial (C&I) solar providers can often still provide significant cost savings to such consumers in Thailand. It has been said that corporates could account for one-third of all renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs) in the next three-to-five years.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The ‘CPF Solar Rooftop’ project is expected to be the largest collective solar rooftop project to date in Thailand, with 34 PV systems spread across four business units including livestock, aquaculture, food processing and ready-to-eat meal plants and a total install area of 230,000 square metres.

The project value is estimated at THB1.4 billion (US$42 million). Gunkul will make 100% of the investments for the project including design, construction, and system maintenance through to the end of a 15-year PPA contract.

Read Next

August 28, 2025
State-owned firm Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has launched a tender for the construction of a 280MW floating PV (FPV) project.
July 18, 2025
Companies have signed 4.22GW of solar PV power purchase agreements in the first half of 2025, according to Swiss consultancy Pexapark.
Premium
June 18, 2025
Aesolar and Fraunhofer CSP are developing segmented solar modules optimised for rooftops with partial shading.
Premium
April 8, 2025
"With the advent of AI, we’re able to take that 15-minute turnaround, at best, and take it down to 30 seconds," claims Sunnova's Jake Wachman.
April 3, 2025
US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping global tariffs on imports to the US, which have heavily impacted major solar PV manufacturing regions.
March 25, 2025
Speakers at the Large Scale Solar Europe event in Lisbon discussed the future of Europe's PV market and ongoing economic shifts.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines