National Energy Trading Platform to be developed

BANGKOK, Sept 20 (TNA) – Three electricity agencies join forces to develop the National Energy Trading Platform (NETP) to serve the trading platform for solar power, produced by the private sector. Deputy governor of Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), Technology and Material Management, Kirapat Jiamset กีรพัฒน์ เจียมเศรษฐ์ said the MEA, the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) hired the Naresuan University to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of the National Energy Trading Platform (NETP) with the budget of 30 million baht. The result of the study is expected next year. The new platform will serve the new energy trading trend that consumers produce the electricity from solar rooftops or solar farms and sell the surplus power to the three electricity agencies. The NETP will be a mechanism to for surplus power management. MEA governor Chaiyong Puapongsakorn said the project will serve the government’s open market on energy trading. Power trading between individuals or the private sector may slightly affect the MEA’s revenue. However, he said there will be more new demand for electricity and earning from electrical grid service will offset income from selling electricity. It will also promote using clean energy and effective power management. The MEA yesterday signed an agreement to provide solar rooftops for 17 Institutes of Vocational Education in the South with the long-term investment of 200 million baht for the total production capacity of 2.6 megawatts. (TNA)