University becomes test ground for alternative energy use

The solar-cell technology solution was developed by a research team at NSTDA's Institute of Solar Energy Technology Development (Solartec). The team has developed what it calls a Photovoltaic/Thermal Solar System (PVT) to utilise solar energy to produce electricity and thermal water.

The university president Mathana Santiwat said it is hoped the project will help the university produce alternative energy for its own use and then move toward a new green campus.

Under the project, Solartec has installed 12 PVT panels at the university's bio-diesel production plant. The PVT solar-cell panels produce electricity at about 2.5 units a day and 750 litres of thermal water.

Solartec's senior researcher Chatree Tangamatakul said that the main objective of the programme is to use the energy produced from solar technology to run the university's bio-diesel plant.

Initially, it would use all thermal water generated from the solar plant to replace the heater used in the bio-diesel production process.

The university earlier this year worked with the National Metal and Materials Centre (Mtec) to implement Mtec's bio-diesel production system to produce bio-diesel fuel used for the university's internal transportation system.

The system, so far, can produce about 90 litres of bio-diesel at a time and the university runs the production process four times a day.

Mathana said that by using bio-diesel, the university saves about Bt30,000 a month.

Chatree said the electricity generated from the solar-cell panels will be used in the university's grid.

"Even though the capacity to generate electricity from solar panels is low, it can help the university reduce some costs of power consumption that it would otherwise pay to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority each month," Chatree said.

Chatree said that apart from the cost reduction, the project will also explore how much electricity is required for bio-diesel production .

The project is expected to develop a stand-alone solar energy system for bio-diesel production especially made for use in remote areas where there is no electricity supply.

"The Bangkok University campus will be our starting point for the development of the solar-energy system for bio-diesel production.

"After we have a running prototype, we will install the system in remote areas. It will work as a new source of energy as well as a source of alternative fuel to be used in the community," he said.

To push for more widespread use of solar technology in the country, Solartec also plans to work with a local solar-cell manufacturer and establish a plant to produce solar panels that use Solartec's technology

solutions.

NSTDA is already in talks with a few manufacturers and hopes to finalise the arrangement soon.

The new plant, which is expected to require an investment of about Bt400 million to Bt500 million, will produce solar-cell panels which can generate electricity at 80 watts from each 0.8 square-metre panel. The plant will have a production capacity at 10-megawatts per year and is expected to reach the break-even point within five years.