DKSH Thailand: pioneering renewable energy solutions

Sharing Success

The solar water heating business is very promising, especially in Thailand, where the average intensity of solar radiation can reach up to 18.2 megajoules (or 5.0 kilowatt hour) per square meter. This means that there is an abundance of free and clean energy just waiting to be used. When the Sarita Chalet & Spa, a hotel chain of the Grand Jomtien Palace in Pattaya, set out to renew its water heating systems, DKSH Thailand drew on its powerful global network and expert knowledge to provide a design solution that would enable the hotel to meet highest quality hospitality standards in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way.

Challenge

Sarita Chalet & Spa is the only luxury hotel that provides its guests a sunset view over Pattaya’s popular Jomtien Beach. With customer sensitivity to water quality at an all-time high, the design solution for the hotel’s new water heating system required a more hygiene-oriented working mechanism. This was particularly important because the hotel managing director requested that her guests receive the best quality hospitality service. Consequently, the hot water produced had to be within a temperature range that would ensure it is free of bacteria.

Approach

DKSH Thailand cooperates with Ravotek, which produces high-efficiency solar thermal collectors certified by national and international third-party organizations. In addition, DKSH is the exclusive distributor of high-quality water pumps. The bundling of both product lines has allowed DKSH to become an environmental-friendly solution provider. In close collaboration with its partners, DKSH Thailand’s renewable energy department developed a “Hybrid Solar Water Heating” solution, which was designed to completely replace both boiler and electrical water heaters while increasing reliability.

The two most important components of the solution are the evacuated tube solar thermal collectors and the electrical heat pump, which back up each other automatically to ensure hot water is supplied continuously at the required temperature range. Electric heat pumps are proven energy-savers with their best attributes being that they generate cold air waste that can be used to ventilate corridors or as an air curtain for an elevator or a main door.

Results

With its “Hybrid Solar Water Heating” solution, DKSH Thailand’s renewable energy department not only helped win over a new client, but also saw the inception of its first solar water heating project.

Market Expansion Services at work

The future of solar water heating applications is bright. Apart from the hospitality segment, DKSH is expanding this solution to other fields which need large amounts of hot water, such as the Fabric & Textiles industry. With DKSH’s powerful network and expertise, we can help turn the country’s abundance of sunlight into viable business solutions that play a key part in reducing global warming.