Mae Hong Son smart grid development pilot project was established from collaboration between Mae Hong Son Province, DEDE, Ministry of Energy, EGAT, and PEA. This project had the objectives to reduce uncertainty in the grid system, to enhance energy security for the province, and support transformation of the existing power grid infrastructure into a smart grid through the ‘4 SMART’ energy development approach:

        Smart Energy: Creating environmentally friendly power generation sources by installing solar farms and storing electricity in battery energy storage systems to enhance power system stability.

        Smart System: Developing power control and management systems to enable efficient electricity production and distribution.

        Smart City: Promoting electric vehicles, including EV buses, along with installing charging stations, smart billboards at key locations, LED street lights powered by solar systems, and solar rooftop installations for different buildings.

        Smart Learning: Establishing learning centers to disseminate knowledge in clean energy

        The project comprised of a ground-mounted solar power plant with a capacity of 3 MW, with 4 MW BESS (Fig 4.6). This facility had been supplying electricity to the grid since June 2023. Additionally, 200 kW solar rooftop systems and electric vehicle charging stations (EV Charging Stations) had been implemented.

        In the future, this learning center will serve to disseminate knowledge in terms of both technical and cultural aspects. This project aimed to promote tourism, to strengthen local economy, and to exemplify Mae Hong Son as a green city model with energy security, in order to establish Mae Hong Son to become sustainable city in the near future.