Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has reached an agreement with Gunkul Engineering Public Company Limited, to install the “CPF Solar Rooftop” project with a total capacity of 40 megawatts, making it the largest solar rooftop project to date in Thailand.
Sooksunt Jiumjaiswanglerg, CEO – agro industrial business and co-president, and Sukhawat Dansermsuk, CEO – food business and co-president of CPF, jointly signed a memorandum of cooperation with Gunkul Dhumrongpiyawut, chairman of Gunkul Engineering Public Company Limited, to set up the solar rooftop at CPF’s manufacturing plants to generate electricity as part of its self-consumption plan to ensure energy saving sustainability.
As one of the world’s leading food manufacturers, CPF is committed to conduct a sustainable business with environmental safe policy in accordance with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
CPF, in a press release, stated that it has strived toward a long-term environmental development policy. The company has enforced not only energy saving, but also has maximized efficiency of its resource consumption.
The installation of solar rooftop will enable CPF to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which will directly benefit Thailand’s environment as well as the company’s renewable energy food manufacturing.
Sukhawat said that using clean energy, like solar power, is a strategic move that will promote CPF’s sustainable growth at the global stage. CPF is looking forward to continuously increasing new eco-friendly energy sources to response to its sustainable growth goals, he added.
Gunkul said his company has been operating with more than 36 years of experience in the field of renewable energy and solar power plants, which generates more than 300 megawatts of solar grounds and solar roofs. The cooperation with CPF includes the installation of solar roof for 34 projects with 40 MWs, which is the largest solar roof in Thailand now. This cooperation will mark an important step of Gunkul and prove that solar energy can be used commercially in the industry.
"CPF Solar Rooftop” is the cooperation program in the form of a power purchase agreement with the project value costs THB1.4 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Gunkul will invest 100 percent of the whole project including design, construction, and system maintenance through the end of 15-year contract. The construction will install around 120,000 solar cells on roofs covering four businesses units --livestock, aquaculture, food processing and ready-to-eat meal plants -- with the total installment area of 230,000 square meters. This project plans to generate total electricity of 40 megawatts.