Samui residents worry about frequent power outages as cloud server investments rise, affecting tourism and businesses

Residents and business owners on Koh Samui have expressed concern about frequent power outages in recent times. Energy and water demand have increased due to data centre investments and the expansion of tourism; if not managed carefully, this could affect livelihoods and tourist services.

Sources in both government and private sectors say Koh Samui is becoming attractive to digital investors and medium-sized data centres because of good communications links and available land. Recent reports point to risks in electricity supply that could increase reliance on backup generators, raising water and fuel demand and putting pressure on the local power grid if energy use rises beyond the island’s current capacity.

Small tourism businesses — hotels, resorts and restaurants — say outages affect safety and the island’s image, for example hotel backup systems, payment systems and air conditioning during the hot season. Frequent outages lead to guest dissatisfaction and negative online reviews. Ms. Saifahen, manager of a mid-size resort on Chaweng Beach, said, “We have had to cancel small group bookings because guests worry about power cuts, and the cost of backup fuel has risen sharply.” Outages also affect food safety and services for elderly guests who rely on medical devices.

Local authorities, the Electricity Generating Authority and private companies have begun discussions on long-term solutions: increasing generation from renewables such as solar and wind, installing large battery storage systems, and planning load control during peak times. Proposals also include setting energy-use standards for data centres so systems are designed to be resource-efficient, for example cooling systems that reduce water and electricity use.

Communities are campaigning for businesses and households to cut peak consumption and promote energy-saving technologies, such as switching to LED lighting and installing automated energy management, to ease grid strain. Urban planners propose making energy-impact assessments a condition for approval of large projects. All parties agree on the need for clear regulations to prevent communities from bearing the burden of commercial investments.

The power issue on Koh Samui is tied to the sustainability of tourism and residents’ quality of life. Solutions will require coordination among government, private sector and community. If a balance can be found between attracting digital investment and maintaining sufficient energy infrastructure, Koh Samui can accommodate economic growth without damaging local resources and livelihoods.