TDED, Thailand

Chiang Mai University (CMU) has a strong vision to become a leading university in Thailand in terms of sustainable development utilizing innovation. With hundreds of university buildings across three campuses, it grasped the vision of self-supplying the majority of its energy needs through rooftop solar. 

Utilizing the Powerledger platform, CMU alongside BCPG and Thai Digital Energy Development (TDED) designed a P2P trading project across its campuses with the aim of maximizing the use of local clean energy. 

Collaborators:

• Powerledger: Pioneering blockchain-backed platforms to facilitate secure and transparent peer-to-peer (P2P) energy transactions.
• Thai Digital Energy Development (TDED): A joint venture engaged in renewable power production, energy-saving and other businesses in digital energy.
• CMU: A research university based in Chiang Mai in Thailand engaged in innovative solutions for sustainable development.
• BCPG: A leading renewable energy generator committed to providing sustainable solutions to communities.
• Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA): The regional electricity utility in Thailand operating the network and delivering electricity to customers.
  

Expansion and Impact:

The project incorporates over 150 users sharing energy with each other with priority given to a specific participant aiming at becoming the first net-zero building. With the pilot progressing, the configuration has been able to direct 97% of the building’s energy used to come from solar. Across the whole university, an average of 58 % of its energy needs is provided by locally generated energy, reducing the grid reliance to a minimum. Additional measures to increase this value are currently being explored. 

The solar PV systems are owned by BCPG, a renewable energy generator, with over 150 buildings having coverage of solar energy. The success of the trial has resulted in the project expanding solar generation even further to a total of 15 MW from 12 MW currently.

P2P energy trading use cases:

• Over 150 university buildings across three different CMU campuses
• A specific university building receives priority to consume a maximum of solar energy. 

Key Features:

• Visualization of self-consumption: Participants first use the solar energy  generated by each building’s respective solar panels. 
• Surplus Energy Trading: Powerledger’s P2P technology allows each participant to trade excess energy available in the system with another participant who has a load deficiency. 
• Billing Integration: The P2P trades are seamlessly integrated into the utilities billing system and reflected on final invoices.

   

Benefits:

• Better Financial Returns: Solar system owners receive beneficial alternatives to usual feed-in-tariff rates improving investment returns.
• Energy Cost Reduction: Energy consumers receive access to lower energy prices, leading to overall reduced energy bills.
• Meeting Sustainability Goals:  The use of renewable energy is verified and prioritized leading to greater adoptance of sustainable energy sources.

   

Ongoing Innovation:

The project successfully accelerates the net-zero goal of a specific university building by providing this building with a priority to consume solar surplus energy from other prosumers. This ensures the building receives a maximum of renewable energy.