Cambodia Lights Up 60 MW Solar Power Capacity

• 60 MW solar PV capacity out of 100 MW National Solar Park in Cambodia has been grid connected
• It was awarded via a competitive procurement process to Prime Road Alternative
• Remaining 40 MW will be completed by China's Trina Solar that secured the capacity in March 2022

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says 60 MW solar PV capacity out of the planned 100 MW National Solar Park in Cambodia has been connected to the grid in the Asian nation, marking a milestone for the project that back in September 2019 attracted the lowest tariff of $0.03877 per kWh (see SE Asia's 'Lowest' Solar Bid Of $0.0387/kWh In Cambodia).

The 100 MW solar power project in Kampong Chnang province was tendered under 2 phases of 60 MW and 40 MW. The 60 MW capacity was awarded to Norfund backed Prime Road Alternative which was a subsidiary of Thailand based Prime Road Group. Phase II of the facility was tendered in 2020 and awarded to China's Trina Solar for $0.026 per kWh winning bid in March 2022.

Having provided end-to-end support to realize the project for national utility Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), the bank stated, "The National Solar Park Project has demonstrated the potential to develop large-scale solar PV in a cost-effective manner in Cambodia by mobilizing both public and private resources."

Previously, Cambodia brought online 10 MW grid scale solar farm with the ADB support to help the country expand the share of solar PV in the national energy mix to 1 GW by 2030 and to 3 GW by 2040 under the Power Development Masterplan (2021-2040).

Recently, the bank signed transaction advisory services mandate with EDC to help it develop 2 GW solar and storage capacity (see Cambodia Plans GWs Of Solar Plus Storage).