On March 4, 2023, Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, and Nishimura Yasutoshi, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry , witnessed the signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to study and develop full-cycle clean hydrogen and ammonia.
MOU between the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) was signed by Nitus Voraphonpiput, EGAT Deputy Governor - Fuel and Tomoaki Ichida, Executive Officer of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.; Kimiho Sakurai, Associate Director of Chiyoda Corporation; and Shoichi Ogiwara, President of Mitsubishi Company (Thailand) Ltd.
And MOU to study and develop biofuel production technologies was signed with Hironobu Iriya, Chairman of the Board of TTCL Public Company Limited, and the MOU to develop Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technologies was signed with Koji Takeda, Managing Executive Officer of IHI Corporation, during the 1st Asia Zero Emission Community Ministerial Meeting held by the Japanese and Thai Governments at Tokyo, Japan.
The event was also attended by Prajuab Doncommul, EGAT Assistant Governor - Mae Moh Mine and Narin Phoawanich, EGAT Assistant Governor - Fuel Management.
EGAT Deputy Governor-Fuel revealed that as EGAT has placed importance on the global energy transition trend, it seeks alternative fuels for power generation to lessen CO2 emissions.
Hydrogen and ammonia are future fuels with zero carbon emissions during combustion, while biofuel is a clean and eco-friendly energy.
Moreover, BESS is a technology that improves the stability of energy storage management for electric power generated from renewable energy.
The cooperation under these three MOUs will enable technology exchange between leading international companies, which enhances clean energy technologies, increases business opportunities, supports technology deployment for power generation in Thailand, and ensures energy security, a good environment, and sustainability for the global climate in the future. Therefore, these MOU signings mark an essential step toward the energy transition of Thailand.
EGAT aims to support the government’s policy, driving Thailand toward Carbon Neutrality by 2050 and Net Zero Emissions by 2065 with ‘Triple S’ strategy as follows:
1) Sources Transformation: increase renewable energy share in the generation mix, overhaul power plants and the power system with new technologies to support renewable electricity generation, and deploy BESS
2) Sink Co-creation: increase sources for carbon sequestration, implement One-Million-Rai Reforestation Project, and conduct the study to use new technologies for capturing carbon
3) Support Measures Mechanism: enhance public participation in greenhouse gas reduction through Energy-Saving Label No.5 Project, promote EV deployment, etc.