Global Energy in Action | MP Metal Factory in Thailand

A 334.8 kWp rooftop PV project developed by SKYWORTH Solar at MP Metal Factory began operating in August 2026. Designed around the factory’s daily electricity use, the project combines on-site solar generation with a renovation of the existing roof. It gives the factory access to electricity below the grid tariff while also improving the roof’s thermal and waterproofing performance.

Thailand’s NDC 3.0 sets a broader direction for reducing emissions from energy use and manufacturing, targeting a 47% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared with 2019 levels. Whether that transition takes hold at factory level, however, also depends on whether cleaner energy makes commercial sense. For a metal manufacturer such as MP Metal, electricity is a significant recurring production cost, and changes in grid tariffs feed directly into operating expenses.

An Energy Project Shaped by the Factory

The brief for the project began with two practical issues: electricity costs and roof performance. MP Metal wanted to reduce the cost of powering its operations, but its existing roof also offered limited protection against heat and water ingress—an important consideration for a factory operating in Thailand’s hot climate.

Rather than treating the two issues as separate projects, the solution brought them together. The PV plant was sized to reflect the factory’s daily electricity profile instead of being configured as a standard rooftop package. Over the 15-year cooperation period, the 334.8 kWp system is projected to generate a cumulative 6,615,741 kWh of electricity.

The roof was renovated as part of the wider project scope to improve waterproofing. Once installed, the PV modules also provide shade above sections of the roof, reducing direct solar exposure and helping limit heat gain inside the building. The upgrade therefore supports both the factory’s electricity needs and its working environment, without requiring additional land for the power plant.

“Electricity is a major recurring cost in metal manufacturing, so changes in grid tariffs have a direct impact on our operating expenses,” said Mr.Warrut, CEO of Mirco Precision. “We wanted to reduce that burden without tying up capital in building a solar plant ourselves. The project has also addressed the roof’s heat and waterproofing issues, helping to improve conditions inside the factory as well as the way we manage our electricity costs.”

SKY-INVEST: From Capital Project to Energy Service

The project was implemented through SKY-INVEST, SKYWORTH Solar’s PPA investment model. SKYWORTH Solar invested THB 33 million in the PV equipment and installation, removing those upfront costs for MP Metal Factory. The customer instead pays monthly for the solar electricity supplied over the 15-year agreement.

The energy price is set at 70% of the applicable grid tariff. Rather than fixing the absolute electricity price, this structure maintains a 30% discount against the grid tariff for each unit of solar electricity supplied under the agreement. The commercial benefit therefore begins when the factory starts using electricity from the rooftop plant, rather than after it has recovered an initial investment in the system.

Long-Term Value after Commissioning

“Commissioning is only the beginning of a 15-year industrial solar project,” said Zhenyu Fu, Deputy General Manager of SKYWORTH Solar’s Overseas Business Division. “The plant has to fit the customer’s load and site conditions, and the team behind it has to remain present throughout its operating life. With our local team in Thailand, we can stay close to the project, respond to operational needs and support the customer’s long-term interests well beyond installation.”

MP Metal Factory is one of six C&I solar projects SKYWORTH Solar has delivered in Thailand, with a combined installed capacity of 4.154 MW. The company is using this local experience to adapt system design, investment structures and ongoing support to the circumstances of individual businesses.

For factories that see the value of solar but are reluctant to commit capital upfront, SKY-INVEST provides access to a dedicated on-site power plant without the initial cost of PV equipment and installation. The plant is designed around the site’s actual demand, while local support continues after it begins operating. At MP Metal Factory, this approach has turned an existing industrial roof into a productive asset—generating lower-cost electricity, supporting the building’s performance and contributing to Thailand’s longer-term transition toward lower-carbon manufacturing.