PSU and MEA Join Forces to Advance Smart Solar Grid Across Five Campuses Project Expected to Save Over 20 Million Baht Annually, Supporting PSU’s Net-Zero Ambition
Prince of Songkla University, or PSU, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, or MEA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on academic cooperation and officially launched the PSU Smart Solar Grid Project, or PSSG, on September 14, 2026, at PSU Hat Yai Campus.
The collaboration aims to strengthen energy management across PSU’s five campuses by improving energy efficiency, reducing electricity costs, and expanding the use of clean energy.
Associate Professor Dr. Wasin Suwannarat, Vice President for Hat Yai Campus, explained that PSU’s activities in education, research, academic services, and community engagement have contributed to growing energy demand across the university. The PSSG project therefore goes beyond the installation of solar photovoltaic systems. It is designed to establish an intelligent energy management system, integrating smart grid and digital technologies to monitor, analyze, and manage energy generation and consumption across all five campuses.
Assistant Professor Dr. Niwat Keawpradub, President of Prince of Songkla University, said the partnership with MEA represents an important step in strengthening PSU’s sustainable energy management. By integrating clean energy, smart grid technology, and digital systems, the university hopes to improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of its long-term transition toward a low-carbon and net-zero university.
Meanwhile, Ms. Pattra Suwandej, Deputy Governor of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, highlighted MEA’s role in contributing its expertise and technology in solar power and intelligent energy management. MEA will also work with PSU to monitor the project and help ensure that the systems are appropriate for the different needs of each campus.
The PSU Smart Solar Grid Project covers all five PSU campuses — Hat Yai, Pattani, Phuket, Surat Thani, and Trang — with a combined installed capacity of 11.28 megawatts.
The project is expected to reduce electricity costs by an average of approximately 20.8 million baht per year, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 7,840 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.
By combining rooftop solar power with smart grid and digital technologies, the project will support more effective monitoring and energy management, while providing useful data for future energy-related decision-making.
Beyond its environmental and economic benefits, PSSG is also intended to serve as a learning platform for clean energy and smart energy systems, providing opportunities for students, researchers, staff, and the wider community to build knowledge and further develop research, technology, and innovation.
Through the PSU Smart Solar Grid initiative, PSU and MEA are taking another step toward developing a practical model for smart energy management at the university level, while supporting a gradual and sustainable transition toward clean energy, a low-carbon university, and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.