Comparative analysis of community solar projects between Thailand and Japan

Abstract

Community-solar (CS) has appeared as a new solar PV ownership model in the word, in which the business model of CS should vary depending on each country’s context. Various unique factors of each country such as the design of the government’s support, characteristics of the community, and business custom may have an impact on how community members benefit from CS projects. The objective of this research is to compare the implemented CS projects in Thailand and Japan and to provide policy recommendation on CS for both countries based on comparison for contribution to further development of CS. The selected case study in this research was conducted in the CS projects at Chon Buri and Prachuap Khiri Khan in Thailand and Kitakyushu and Awaji in Japan. Here, I performed comparative analysis on business models and financial parameters on the current existing two CS projects each in Thailand and Japan considering own energy situation. Also, interviews with the CS projects relevant people were conducted. The economic indicators of CS projects were evaluated by the System Advisor Model, which can calculate net present value, levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and so on. From the data collected through the interviews, it is clarified that the investments in Thailand's CS projects are only about one-third of the investments in Japanese CS projects. The main reasons are the difference in the labor cost, the price of the instruments. As the results of analyses, policy recommendations to both Japanese and Thailand government were made. For the Japanese government, the extension of project lifetime is suggested. Regarding Thailand, FiT price and lifetime should be determined carefully.