Picture taken on April 20 at the Villanueva photovoltaic (PV) power plant operated by Italian company Enel Green Power in the desert near Villanueva, a town located in the municipality of Viesca, Coahuila state, Mexico. Alfredo ESTRELLA/AFP
A solar power plant worth more than $58 million, which is under construction in Kampong Speu province, will start installing 200,000 solar modules in January next year and begin operating late next year, said solar panel supplier JinkoSolar Holding Co Ltd.
New York Stock Exchange-listed JinkoSolar, which is the world’s largest producer of solar panels, said it collaborated with SchneiTec Group to build a 60MW solar power plant in Kampong Speu province.
JinkoSolar global sales and marketing vice-president Gener Miao said it is a great honour to work with SchneiTec Group on this landmark project.
“The 60MW solar installation is just the first step towards an abundant and vibrant renewable energy future in Cambodia. We have great expectations for the entire region."
“The region’s booming populations, strong economic growth engines and abundant sunlight represent an exciting opportunity for solar power and for JinkoSolar,” he said.
The project is developed by SchneiTec Renewable Co Ltd, a joint venture between Cambodian and Chinese investors on 200ha adjacent to National Highway 51 in Kampong Speu province’s Oudong district.
It was approved by the Council of Ministers in May and by the Council for the Development of Cambodia in early November.
SchneiTec Group project director Say Sotheara said that with the company’s decision to work with JinkoSolar, hopefully the momentous project will remain one of the largest-scale utility solar plants in Cambodia.
The Kingdom generated 2,650.26MW of electricity this year, of which 442.50MW was imported from neighbouring countries.
Next year, the Kingdom plans to increase power supply to 2,870.65MW, of which renewable energy is planned to expand to 163.77MW – up from 64.77MW this year.
Kampong Speu provincial governor Vy Samnang said on Sunday that he did not have details of the solar plant construction, but knew it had begun early in November after the environmental impact assessment.
He claimed that the solar power plant would significantly contribute to economic growth and environmental protection.
“It’s great that Cambodia has a solar power plant because it not only fills the growing demand for electricity in Cambodia but also helps protect the environment,” he said.
Economic growth and technological progress, he said, had increased demand for electricity. “If Cambodia is rich in electricity, cutting wood for firewood will also decline,” he added.
