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On a rooftop , larger than 18 football fields in the heart of Thailand ’ s high-tech Eastern Economic Corridor , a recordbreaking renewable energy project is under construction by international investors . Kansai Electric Power Co ., Japan ’ s second largest electricity supplier , is creating the world ’ s biggest stand-alone rooftop solar panel installation atop a factory that manufactures high-performance Falken tires for the European market .
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WORLD ’ S BIGGEST STAND-ALONE ROOFTOP SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION
T ogether with a gas co-generation system and additional electric power fueled by biomass from surplus rubber trees , the 40,000-panel , 100,000 square metre rooftop in 2025 will have a total output of 22MW , reduce CO 2 emissions by 38,000 tonnes and ultimately enabling the factory ’ s owner , Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd , to function entirely on renewable energy .
For the companies involved and independent experts alike , the rooftop within the Amata City Rayong industrial park , 135 kilometres southwest of Bangkok , is further evidence that Thailand is now the clean energy frontrunner among the 10 countries that comprise the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) – a region with a $ 3.2 billion economy and 660 million consumers .
“ In terms of the promotional force of the country , we think Thailand is the most advanced in the ASEAN region ,” said Katsuhisa Yamamoto , Managing Director of Kansai ’ s Thai unit .
As part of a sweeping national sustainability strategy known as the Bio-Circular Green economy , the Thai government has successfully packaged a raft of subsidies , tax breaks and other incentives to lure investors to finance and build renewable energy-related projects . There has been much enthusiasm for this support from investors that in the first six months of 2023 ,
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