Singapore-based GoRental has installed a modular solar-plus-storage microgrid in northern Thailand, as rising fuel costs and energy security concerns drive interest in decentralised power systems across SE Asia.
The project, located in Huay Nam Rin Village near Chiang Mai, provides off-grid electricity to all households in the rural community using a combination of portable battery energy storage units and photovoltaic panels. The deployment forms part of the company’s Energy Resilience Initiative under its GoImpact programme.
The system comprises 31 portable battery units and 60 solar panels, delivering around 40kW of distributed mobile microgrid capacity alongside 8kW of installed solar generation. It is designed to meet basic daily energy needs such as lighting and mobile device charging, while displacing diesel generators and kerosene lamps.
The launch comes as Thailand adjusts fuel subsidy mechanisms and introduces energy-saving measures in response to higher global oil prices, reflecting broader regional concerns around supply security and cost volatility.
GoRental: a practical demonstration of modular microgrids
GoRental said the Chiang Mai installation is intended as a practical demonstration of how modular microgrids can be deployed rapidly in areas with weak or inconsistent grid infrastructure. The company has adapted systems originally developed for temporary power applications – such as events and construction sites – for use in rural electrification.
“Reliable electricity changes more than a room after dark,” said Colin Peh, founder and managing director of GoRental Global. “If we already have technology that works, the question becomes where else it should go.”
Over a projected 10-year period, the company estimates the system will generate approximately 127MWh of renewable electricity and avoid more than 360 tonnes of carbon emissions. It also projects fuel and maintenance savings equivalent to more than US$250,000 compared with diesel generation, with electricity costs reduced by up to 60%.
On a per-household basis, this equates to around 4.4MWh of electricity supply and approximately 12 tonnes of avoided emissions over the same period.
The project also includes user training for residents, aimed at building local capability in operating and maintaining the system—an increasingly important factor in decentralised energy models.
The deployment reflects wider regional trends. According to the International Energy Agency, electricity demand in Southeast Asia grew by more than 7% in 2024, significantly above the global average, while investment in clean energy continues to rise. This is increasing demand for systems that can be installed quickly and operate reliably in challenging environments.
GoRental is positioning its modular microgrid offering as a bridge between temporary power and longer-term infrastructure, targeting both commercial and community applications. In addition to the Thailand project, the company is developing microgrid deployments in Sarawak and showcasing self-sustaining energy systems in Singapore.
The Chiang Mai installation is intended as a replicable model for other off-grid communities in the region, particularly where conventional grid expansion is slow or uneconomic.
Photo: Villagers and community leaders together with the GoRental team after the deployment of a modular off-grid solar and battery system in Huay Nam Rin Village, Chiang Mai Credit: GoRental
