Published on 03/09/2014
Solar firms ask for protection Ekarat Solar Co, Thailand's top maker of solar modules, is urging the new government to adopt measures to shield the local industry from unfair competition. Wiwat Sangtian, managing director of the wholly owned unit of the country's biggest transformer maker, SET-listed Ekarat Engineering Plc (AKR), said Ekarat was joining with other solar module companies in making the request. Mr Wiwat said the energy regulator should at least require the next round of licence seekers to use locally made modules. In line with other manufactured goods, cheap Chinese products have become the first choice of Thai users — to the detriment of local producers. Since 2009, solar modules and solar farm components have been hit hard by imported Chinese substitutes. "We hope that the next round of solar power operating licences granted by the Energy Regulatory Commission will consider those operators that use locally made parts and components as a first priority," Mr Wiwat said. He was adamant that the Chinese equipment's low cost comes with lower quality, less efficiency and poor durability, but solar power operators tend to opt for cheap prices over quality. Ekarat Solar, founded in 2007, is shouldering a debt of 400 million baht. Kietphong Noichaiboon, an adviser to parent company Ekarat Engineering, said Chinese solar modules lasted no more than four years and suffered diminished production capacity by then. Many Thai producers blame their debt-ridden performance on the dumping of cheap modules from China. Since 2009, a combined solar capacity of 1,240 megawatts has come online, with an additional 300 MW under construction.