Cambodia will have its first 10 MW solar farm project developed by a Singapore based developer. Sunseap Group Pte Ltd has won the tender to build the first ever large scale solar farm project in Cambodia through its subsidiary Sunseap (Asset) Cambodia Co. Ltd. Sunseap will be working on the project with state-owned limited liability utility Electricite Du Cambodge (EDC), which will buy the solar power for a period of 20 years.
The tender was launched on February 3, 2016. Out of the five companies that submitted proposals, only three were found technically qualified to carry out the project. Sunseap won the entire capacity tendered offering the lowest tariff of 9.1 US cents per kWh.
The plant will be built in Bavet City of Svay Rieng Province in Cambodia. The region requires 40 MW of electricity, out of which Cambodia ends up importing 20 MW from neighbouring Vietnam. "The solar farm will supply solar energy to residents in Bavet City and Svay Rieng Province," says Sunseap, adding, "This will alleviate the demand from the load center in the region and reduce Cambodia's carbon footprint with the supply of clean renewable energy from the solar farm."
The Asian Development Bank is expected to pitch in for this project, which is estimated to cost $12.5 million.
Expected to complete in the first half of 2017, the project is anticipated to generate enough solar energy to power 2,600 homes in the region. Spread in an area big enough to cover 10 football fields, the project falls under the country's plan to improve energy security as well as provide power to 100% of villages by 2020.
As of now, only 66% villages and 55% homes have access to grid quality electricity in the country with a majority located in the developed areas of Cambodia. Power is majorly sourced through fossil fuels, biomass, hydro and coal.
More than 100 jobs will be created during the installation time of the project. Sunseap also plans to offer a training program to concerned personnel on operating
solar systems.
Sunseap also successful in India
A solar energy project developer, operator and owner in Singapore, Sunseap is also active in South East Asian and Pacific regions, specifically in Malaysia, Australia, Philippines and Thailand.
Earlier this year, Sunseap also won a 140 MW tender in India along with another Singapore company Charisma Energy Services Limited through its subsidiary Sunseap International Pte Ltd. A joint venture of the two won the Rajasthan tender in Bhadla Solar Park of Rajasthan. The entire tender capacity was 420 MW and was tendered by Indian Utility National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). This tender made headlines with Finnish company Fortum winning 70 MW capacity for record low tariff of 4.34 INR per kWh ($0.06). Sunseap and Charisma will work on the project together with their Indian partner Rising Sun Energy Pvt Ltd. This project is expected to come online by Q2/2017.
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