B.Grimm chosen by U-tapao

SET-listed B.Grimm Power Plc has been selected by the Royal Thai Navy as the operator for power plants and a cooling water project at the U-tapao airport.

On Sept 10, B.Grimm submitted a proposal to the airport’ s selection committee.

President Preeyanart Soontornwata said it plans to operate a hybrid power plant that creates the most power system stability for the airport. It consists of two phases. The first phase is a 80-megawatt (MW) co-generation power plant, a 15MW solar photovoltaic (PV) farm, and a 50MWhour energy storage system.

The second phase consists of a 80MW co-generation power plant and 55MW of solar PV systems comprising a farm, rooftops and a floating farm.

Development and construction of the first phase is from 2018-21 and the second phase 2021-23.

Under B.Grimm’s proposal, it expects the commercial operation date of the first phase to be January 2021, covering a primary responsibility area at U-tapao airport and a secondary responsibility area at the Royal Thai Navy’s electric welfare concession, including distribution of cold water to the airport.

For construction of the solar PV systems, B.Grimm is prepared to further collaborate with the selection committee, the Royal Thai Navy and other relevant authorities to identify and procure suitable areas for project development.

U-tapao airport, which is operated by the Royal Thai Navy, serves several domestic airlines such as AirAsia, Nok Air and Bangkok Airways, and a few international airlines such as Qatar Airways.

Its two terminals can accommodate a maximum of 1,600 people across an area of 5,610 square meters.

The airport’s revamp is part of the government’s Eastern Economic Corridor scheme. The government introduced terms of reference for a high-speed railway linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-tapao airports worth 224.54 billion baht.