Pyae Phyo Tun International Company and Myanmar Solar Power Trading Company are jointly implementing a project to install a 3.77MW floating solar plant at Pahtaw Dam in Kyunsu Township’s Pahtaw Village in Thanintharyi Region, Global New Light of Myanmar reported on 19 February.
An official in charge of the project told the outlet that they plan to install 6,384 solar panels on 7 acres of the dam’s water surface.
The electricity generated from the installation will be used to power cold storage facilities, workplaces, factories, and residences on Pahtawpahtat Island, the official added.
It was also reported that the companies are planning to develop a second floating solar plant in Pahtat Village, which will power a palm oil refinery.
The refinery, which has also not yet been completed, will be capable of producing 60 tonnes of oil per day.
Floating solar potential, projects
According to a July 2023 report published by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Myanmar’s floating solar potential on reservoirs ranges from 18–35GW, while on natural bodies of water the figure is between 21GW and 47GW.
When excluding locations more than 25km from the nearest transmission line, the number falls around 2% for installations on reservoirs and around 10–15% for those on natural water bodies.
Still, the potential capacity of floating solar far exceeds the country’s current total installed capacity of around 7.1GW.
The report notes that with the proposed expansion of hydropower, floating solar/hydropower hybrid plants could be an option to meet the country’s renewable energy targets.
There have been sporadic reports of planned floating solar power projects in Myanmar over the last few years, although it appears that none have yet been implemented.
In March 2023, military-appointed Chief Minister for Bago Region Myo Shwe Win met with the director of Golden Sunshine Kaung Htet Wai Yan to discuss a potential floating solar project.
The director presented plans to implement a 100MW floating solar project at Mazin reservoir in Bago in collaboration with Chinese company Central Southern China Electric Power Design Institute (CSEPDI).
In December 2022, military-appointed Minister of Electric Power Thaung Han led a delegation to visit the Thae Phyu and Chaung Ma Nge dams to see the site and discuss whether floating solar projects could be developed at the dams.
In May 2021, Kayin State government officials met with representatives from True World Trading company to discuss development of a 150MW floating solar power project to be built on Yay Bote dam in Kayin State’s Hlaing Bwe Township.
It was reported at the time that the company had completed some ground surveys, and the project was expected to take about one year.
In September 2019, a firm called UAC Ventures met with the Bago Region Government to discuss potential floating solar power and small-scale hydro projects, although no details were provided about the specific projects under discussion.