The new company, First Solar (Thailand) Ltd, will enable First Solar to further its strategy to expand the market for utility-scale solar PV plants in the region, it says.

The long-term prospects for solar power in Thailand are good, according to Won Park, Senior Manager in First Solar’s Business Development office. “The long-term energy fundamentals in Thailand are very favorable,” he said. “We will continue to invest here as part of our strategy to develop sustainable, utility scale solar markets.”

Thailand is expected to become an important solar market in Southeast Asia because of its strong economic growth, significant energy demand and abundant sunlight. First Solar first entered the Thai market in 2011, with over 12MW of its advanced thin-film module solar PV technology installed or under construction in the country since then.

First Solar isn’t the only solar company to express interest in the Thai market. Proinso has also established a presence in the country, opening a PV centre earlier this year to serve the local market. Meanwhile, Assyce and Sonnedix have completed building a 7.5MW plant in Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province in the north-west of the country.

Written by Robin Whitlock