The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has announced a tender for the engineering, procurement, and construction of a 205 MWp/158 MWac floating solar PV (FPV) array on the reservoir impounded by the Bhumibol hydropower dam in Tak province. The project, which is scheduled to start commercial operation by 2027, will operate in hybrid mode with the existing hydropower plant. The tender is open to individual companies, joint ventures, or consortia until July 14, 2025.

The project involves the design, procurement, fabrication, supply, delivery to site, insurance, project management, construction, installation, testing, commissioning, on-site training, and guarantees for plant and equipment. It includes a 205 MW crystalline silicon solar plant along with a floating PV system, anchoring and mooring system, 33 kV electrical system, transmission lines, control and monitoring systems, and related software. The total medium cost value of the project is THB 4 billion (US$118 million), funded by EGAT’s own funds.

The Bhumibol Dam is the largest concrete arch dam in Southeast Asia and was commissioned in 1964. It has a height of 154 meters and impounds a reservoir with a surface area of 300 km² and a maximum storage capacity of 13.462 x10⁶ m³. In addition to its installed generation capacity of 779 MW for power generation purposes, it also stores water for irrigation and provides flood mitigation.

EGAT's hybrid solar-hydro plans align with Thailand's Power Development Plan. By 2037, EGAT aims to install 16 FPV projects totaling 2725 MW to be operated in hybrid mode with hydro on nine of its major reservoirs. Two projects are currently in operation: a 45 MW project on the Sirindhorn dam reservoir since 2021 and a 24 MW project on the Ubol Ratana dam reservoir since March 2024.

Interested bidders must obtain a License to Practice the Controlled Engineering Profession issued by the Council of Engineers of Thailand if they are single bidders or joint ventures. Bidding documents are available for purchase from EGAT up to April 18 at an non-refundable fee of $1000 or THB 30000 via bank transfer or telegraphic transfer to EGAT’s account no. 109-6-01958-2 (Swift code KRTHTHBK), Krung Thai Bank Public Company Limited.

For further information or inquiries about this tender process, interested parties can contact EGAT's International Procurement Department at Room No.303 on the third floor of Building No. TOR 082 at Charansanitwong Road in Bang Kruai District.