EGAT - Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand

02/08/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/08/2023 01:40

EGAT ensures Thailand’s high-quality electricity and strives for development of generation and transmission technologies to support economic growth and attract foreign investors

EGAT ensures Thailand's high-quality electricity and strives for development of generation and transmission technologies to support economic growth and attract foreign investors

8 February 2023

EGAT has affirmed that Thailand's electricity quality exceeds the target in line with a survey by World Bank on electricity quality and Fitch Ratings at BBB+ level to boost investors' confidence. EGAT will proceed with electricity generation from combined renewables, development of clean energy model city, and grid modernization to support an increase of green energy, in order to enhance the competitiveness of the country.

Mr. Prasertsak Cherngchawano, Deputy Governor - Strategy as the spokesperson of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) said that by realizing a global energy trend toward clean energy transition for climate change mitigation, EGAT has promoted a balance between power system security with fuel diversification and environmental sustainability by increasing a share of renewable energy in the generation mix. An example of renewable energy projects is the hydro-floating solar hybrid coupled with battery energy storage system to reduce power fluctuation from renewable energy sources and grid modernization to support the integration of renewable energy into the system by establishing renewable energy forecast center and developing battery/hydrogen energy storage system. All of these reinforced confidence in electricity quality according to the World Bank's survey on the quality of Thai electricity service which shows that System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) always exceed the target.

Moreover, to comply with Thailand's greenhouse gas reduction roadmap to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050 and Net Zero Emissions by 2065, EGAT has operated its business under Triple S strategy and collaborated with partners to promote the potential areas to be a model city of clean energy, a source of electricity generation from renewable energy, to drive Thai industry sector to achieve the use of 100% renewable energy. An example project is "Green Kan Model" in Kanchanaburi Province where the large hydropower plants, both Srinagarind Dam and Vajiralongkorn Dam, are located. In the future, there will be the development of a hydro-floating solar hybrid to supply electricity around 1,100 MW and a pumped storage hydropower plant for round-the-clock electricity generation from renewable energy at Vajiralongkorn Dam. Areas in Lampang Province will also be developed under "Mae Moh Model" to be solar farms and biomass power plants.

Presently, EGAT is testing the mechanism of trading electricity from renewable energy in the form of green energy procurement under the Utility Green Tariff which can specify the source of renewable electricity generation. It also provides convenience to the industrial sector to use green electricity with the aim to reduce carbon border tax, boosting the investors' confidence in EGAT at BBB+ level of Fitch Ratings and ability in green energy procurement in accordance with the world's industry trend.

"EGAT is ready to develop Thai economy with the stable electricity system and high-quality electricity with competitive price and environmental friendliness so that Thailand will be a hub for investment in ASEAN, while the quality of life of Thai people is improved sustainably," ended Mr. Prasertsak Cherngchawano.