Thread: Nation Group joins carbon neutral group

• Joint effort leads to one-stop EV service for Rayong drivers

EV motorcycle drivers in the Eastern region can now access complete one-stop service, with EV car owners able to get a preliminary checking service, thanks to an arrangement between a vocational college and a power company.

To cater to the rising trend of electric vehicles (EVs) and energy sustainability, Global Power Synergy Pcl (GPSC) has joined hands with Rayong Industrial Estate Technical College (RIETC) to establish the first EV one-stop service centre in the Eastern region.

The centre originated from a vocational training facility of RIETC that offered courses on EV motorcycle maintenance to cope with increased usage in Rayong, said Weerachai Sombatkamrai, the RIETC director.

With cooperation from GPSC, the college was able to upgrade the training facility into one stop service centre that provide EV services to communities in a 20km radius of RIETC in Muang district. As well, courses are being developed on EV car maintenance, providing career futures for EV technicians.

The centre offers two charging stations, the first at the entrance and the other in front of the Quinine Café which serves as a rest area for travellers visiting attractions in the eastern province.

GPSC has also installed 5.5 kW solar panels on the centre’s roof, saving over 37,000 baht per year in electricity cost and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 3,912 kilograms per year.

Prinda Maimjai, the acting executive vice president of corporate administration at GPSC, said the centre is a product of GPSC’s commitment to its corporate goal of achieving net zero emissions by the year 2060.

Apart from financial support and clean energy equipment, the company will also send its experts to help train students and college personnel in renewable energy technology.

At the moment, the EV one-stop service centre offers full maintenance service for EV motorcycles and a preliminary checking service for EV cars. With the help of GPSC and partners, RIETC believes it could provide full-scale EV car maintenance services in the near future, with technicians whose skills are on par with those of large EV manufacturers.

• EV Board gives businesses new tax incentives for using electric commercial vehicles

The National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee (EV Board) has agreed to grant tax concessions to businesses that procure electric buses and trucks, an official said.

Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary-general of the Office of the EV Board, said on Wednesday that the board has also given the go-ahead to new measures promoting the use of e-buses and e-trucks in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and help Thailand achieve its net-zero goal.

Narit was speaking to reporters after the EV Board met at Government House, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin chairing the meeting.

He said the board expects the measures to also promote the manufacturing of large commercial electric vehicles.

As for the latest tax benefit, he said the board agreed to let corporations write off the purchase of e-buses or e-trucks. The write-off can be worth two times the value if the vehicle is procured locally, and 1.5 times the value if imported, he said. The board has not set a price ceiling for the purchases.

Separately, the Revenue Department has been tasked with drafting new regulations for implementing the measures, which will be in use until the end of next year.

Narit explained that these measures were being added to the existing EV3 and EV3.5 measures that were introduced earlier to promote the use of electric cars, pickups and motorcycles.

“The board believes the new measures will lead to the use of some 10,000 large commercial electric vehicles and this will make a significant dent in carbon emissions,” he added.

The board has also approved a measure promoting the making of EV battery cells in Thailand, which would bring the country closer to becoming a regional EV manufacturing hub.

Under this measure, foreign investors will be allowed to seek financial support and investment privileges from the Competitiveness Enhancement Fund under the Board of Investment (BOI).

This measure would encourage foreigners to invest in manufacturing EV battery cells, which would be a primary part of the EV industry.

Preliminary conditions for foreign investors to receive financial support and investment privileges are:

• Must be a leading brand used by EV makers
• Must have operational plans for manufacturing battery cells as well as be able to produce battery cells for energy storage system (ESS)
• Must be capable of producing batteries with a capacity of 150 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg)
• Battery cells must have more than 1,000 recharging cycles
• Must apply for support within 2027

Narit added that the panel in charge of the fund will draft detailed guidelines for battery manufacturers to seek support from the government.

“Batteries are key to the EV industry. Currently, there are battery modules and battery pack makers, but we lack primary battery cell makers,” Narit said.

He explained that manufacturing battery cells requires advanced technology and the industry will support other industries that require an energy storage system.

The EV board has also agreed to revise the EV3.5 measures in the second phase of enforcement such as extending the measure to cover 10-seat passenger cars.

E-bikes that have less than 3kWh capacity will also be granted privileges, provided they can cover more than 75 kilometres per full charge.

Narit added that the EV3 and EV3.5 packages had led to the registration of 76,000 electric vehicles last year, reflecting a 6.5 times increase from the year before.

The BOI, meanwhile, has approved 103 EV manufacturing projects as of the end of last year with a combined investment value of 77.19 billion baht, he said. These include 18 EV manufacturing projects worth 40 billion baht, nine e-bike makers worth 848 million baht, and three e-bus and e-truck-making projects worth 2.2 billion baht.

The BOI also approved 39 ESS projects worth a combined 23.9 billion baht.

• Forum addresses Thailand’s potential to become leader in green energy

Thailand will become the leader in green energy in Southeast Asia and one of the world's top five green economies, Thailand's trade representative and advisor to the Prime Minister ML Chayotid Kridakon said on Thursday.

His confidence is based on the government's framework for the country's transition to clean power, which will see Thailand rely on more than 50% renewable energy by 2040 from a variety of green sources, including solar cells.

Speaking to participants at the “Green Economy: Next Growth and Survive” forum, he stressed that his statements were not exaggerated, adding that the government has already implemented several supportive measures and is taking action to secure the country's renewable energy production.

The forum was co-hosted by the Stock Exchange, the Thailand Institute of Justice, the World Wildlife Fund, Gold Standard, and USAID to provide an overview of government regulations and a green roadmap for listed companies to prepare and implement.

ML Chayotid highlighted Thailand's advantages in gradually reducing its reliance on coal and oil over the last several decades, while also laying the groundwork for renewable energy to be scaled up and stabilise.

With increased global decoupling and the high demand for environmental responsibility, industries are not just looking to relocate their manufacturing bases to neutral countries with supportive regulations but also seeking a location that can consistently provide clean energy for production.

“I can say that Thailand can already meet the demands of global businesses. Our current renewable energy supply is sufficient to meet both domestic consumption and manufacturing needs. Nonetheless, the government has already taken steps to increase the country's capacity to produce, store, and distribute renewable energy nationwide," he said.

Thailand is set to increase its renewable energy mix from 28% to 52% by 2040 while reducing its use of coal and oil from 11% to 7%. The remaining energy source is natural gas, accounting for 40%.

"Various countries already regard our roadmap to that goal as achievable so it comes as no surprise that foreign direct investment exceeded 860 billion baht last year. This is just one piece of the evidence that Thailand will emerge as a rising star during this transition period when entrepreneurs all over the world are deeply concerned about their carbon emissions," ML Chayotid noted.

Citing the ongoing floating solar cell study and establishment at several reservoirs across the country as an example, he noted that the government is working on many related projects to help the country become more reliant on renewable energy sources.

He added that Thailand's strong foundation in renewable energy benefits not only domestic investment and employment but also the country's digitalisation strategy.

"The world's leading tech companies like AWS, Google, and Microsoft have decided to invest in building data centres in Thailand and part of the reason for that is down to the kingdom's renewable energy capacity," he said.

He explained that having a data centre in Thailand will allow the country to tap into the vast potential of the digital economy. For example, with seamless data integration, Thai farmers can look into potential solutions to increasing productivity.

"Thailand's economy, which is primarily powered by green energy, will also meet the preferences of global consumers seeking environmental sustainability in all aspects of their experiences and activities. The country's goal of promoting soft power, tourism, and wellness will undoubtedly meet this demand," he said.

Kittipong Kittayarak, executive director of the Thailand Institute of Justice and member of the Thai Stock Exchange's committee, expressed his support for the government's renewable energy practice and green economy strategy.

He pledged to educate and encourage all listed companies, as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to adopt green practices, particularly in terms of carbon emissions.

The move, he said, will not only help Thai companies integrate more smoothly into the global supply chain, but will also demonstrate their qualifications to access global green funds worth approximately US$200 billion. At present, only 30% of the total green fund is being used.

However, Veerawit Tianchainan, director of the World Wildlife Fund's Mekong for the Future project, Ingo Puhl, co-founder and managing director for Southeast Asia of the South Pole Group (Thailand), and Kavya Bajaj, government relations manager of Gold Standard, expressed concern about the lack of strong measurement and verification of carbon credits in Thailand.

They agreed that to lead in the green economy, the Thai government should accelerate the development of a central system, technology, and foundation for businesses to measure, disclose, and verify their carbon credit accounts.

Given that there is no global standard for carbon emission measures, Thailand should collaborate with the private sector and social agencies to develop its own and demonstrate its credibility so that other countries can place their trust in it.

• EA signs MOU with FTI Phuket to jointly create Green Island; Low Carbon City, a prototype world-class eco-tourism destination

Energy Absolute Public Company Limited (EA) has signed an MOU with the Federation of Thai Industries Phuket (FTI Phuket) to jointly support the creation of a low-carbon green city. Somphote Ahunai, EA’s CEO, announces moving forward with cooperation in all sectors. Pushing Phuket to become a prototype world-class eco-tourism destination, along with applying the Green Business Platform used there to other provinces, aiming to accelerate Thailand's journey to become a leading country in the world to achieve Carbon Neutral ahead of schedule.

Mr. Somphote Ahunai, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Energy Absolute Public Company Limited or EA, revealed that the EA group has signed an MOU with the Federation of Thai Industries Phuket to collaborate on "Supporting Phuket to Become Green Island; Low Carbon City, to promote the expansion and growth of tourism and business industries in Phuket." The goal is to make Phuket a green island, a low-carbon city with the best environment in all aspects, ready to welcome tourists from all over the world.

The EA group is committed to helping Thailand move towards carbon neutrality and sees Phuket as particularly suitable for promoting such initiatives due to its world-renowned tourist destination status. Therefore, Phuket is the first and the prototype province that EA will support to promote carbon neutrality comprehensively.

For the strategies to support Phuket to become the Green Island; Low Carbon City, the EA group is ready to collaborate with the public sector, private sector, and the Federation of Thai Industries Phuket to support and invest in Green Logistics and Green Electricity on the Phuket island, consisting of:

1. Promoting Phuket International Airport to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by using Green Electricity to produce electricity from hybrid solar and batteries, converting airport vehicles to EVs, and installing EV chargers at the airport. Promoting the use of public EVs at the airport in collaboration with Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited through the establishment of a joint venture company, named Airports Energy Absolute Co., Ltd.
2. Promoting the sale and use of EVs for commercial and public purposes in Phuket through local private companies via Nex Point PCL.
3. Installing EA Anywhere electric vehicle charging stations, both AC and DC systems, at main points of transportation in Phuket.
4. Promoting water tourism by using E-Ferry in collaboration with local private sectors for transportation and tourism between islands.
5. Investing in a high-efficiency waste-to-energy power plant with a capacity of 9.9 MW in the project to dispose of solid waste with an incinerator system with a capacity of not less than 500 tons per day at the Phuket Municipality Waste Disposal Center.
6. Consulting and investing in Smart City, new city, or large mixed-use communities, promoting Green Logistics and Green Electricity.

The EA group expects to start multiple Carbon Neutral projects simultaneously within this year, as the public and private sectors of Phuket support the promotion of actual operations to push Phuket to have a good environment, leading to the goal of Green Traveling in Green Island. The EA group also expects to apply the Green Business Platform developed in Phuket to other provinces, making Thailand one of the leading countries in the world to achieve Carbon Neutral ahead of schedule.

“The EA group supports Phuket to become Green Island; Low Carbon City to promote the expansion and growth of tourism and business industries in Phuket to a World Class level. We are ready to collaborate with the public sector, private sector, and the Federation of Thai Industries Phuket to support and invest in Green Logistics and Green Electricity in all aspects of Phuket. The EA group also expects to apply the Green Business Platform developed in Phuket to other provinces to make Thailand one of the leading countries in the world to achieve Carbon Neutral sooner than scheduled," said Mr. Somphote Ahunai.

• Transforming Thailand's rice sector toward low emissions

Bangkok, Thailand (25 April 2024) - As global attention turns towards sustainable agricultural practices, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has organised the Policy Forum titled "Strengthening Thailand’s Low-Emission Rice Market: Learnings from the Thai Rice NAMA Project" at Asawin Grand Convention Hotel in Bangkok.

The policy forum aims to address and deliberate on the critical developments and challenges in the transition towards low-emission rice production in Thailand, and represents a pivotal moment for stakeholders invested in sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation strategies for a transformational change in the Thai rice sector.

This essential gathering brought together over 80 key stakeholders, including policymakers, scientists, and representatives from various sectors such as the Rice Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Kasetsart University and representatives from the private sector.

Dr. Bjoern Ole Sander, IRRI Representative to Thailand, stated, “Agriculture ranks as Thailand's second highest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, following the energy sector. Notably, rice cultivation accounts for approximately 55% of the agricultural emissions, predominantly methane, making it a crucial target for low-emissions development. Launched in August 2018, the Thai Rice NAMA Project is spearheading the transition to low-emission rice production in Thailand, demonstrating that large-scale application of GHG-reducing technologies is possible. This initiative deploys a tri-fold strategy encompassing low-emission rice production technologies, mitigation technology services, and the development of supportive policies and measures.”

“Building on the successes of the Thai Rice NAMA project, the upcoming project ‘Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming’ funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is slated to begin in 2024. Advancing the objectives of its predecessor, the ‘Thai Rice GCF’ project aims to drive transformative change within the Thai rice sector with a dual purpose adaptation-mitigation strategy. This project focuses on empowering smallholder farmers, who are particularly vulnerable to climate change, by enhancing their decision-making capabilities and providing access to climate-smart agricultural technologies. Expected outcomes include a substantial reduction in methane emissions and water consumption in rice farming, higher profits for Thai rice farmers and increasing climate resilience,” Dr. Sander added.

Dr. Chitnucha Buddhaboon, Deputy Director of The Rice Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives expressed, “This event is an important milestone for the impactful collaboration between the Department of Rice, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), GIZ and partners from various ministerial agencies, universities, and the private sector. Our goal is to enhance Thailand's rice production efficiency and transition towards low-emission rice cultivation by utilising an array of climate-friendly rice production technologies. By doing so, this gathering is an important opportunity to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and offer suggestions, with a particular focus on the systematic development of a Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system.”

“The MRV system is envisioned to provide better insights in rice production practices, facilitate linkages with the market, and add value to rice production through greenhouse gas savings. Significantly, today's forum featured a series of seminars on the MRV system in the context of rice production, supporting Thailand’s ambition to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions,” Dr. Buddhaboon emphasised.

The Thai Rice NAMA project can be regarded as a showcase initiative for transforming rice production systems in Thailand. Insights and lessons from the project are expected to significantly inform and enhance the forthcoming Thai Rice GCF project. The MRV system and advanced low-emission rice farming technologies demonstrate the project's commitment to sustainable agricultural progress and climate-smart practices for transforming Thailand’s rice sector.

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• Mitr Phol Group Tops as World’s No.1 Sustainability Ranking by S&P Global

Steering the organization towards Net Zero goals, from sustainable agriculture to social and environment

Bangkok, 25 March 2024 – Mitr Phol Group has stepped up as the world's sustainable leader, ranking first in the food products industry category in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) Score 2023. Over 9,400 companies worldwide across 62 industries underwent the assessment. Additionally, Mitr Phol Group has been selected as a member of 'The Sustainability Yearbook Member 2024' for the fifth consecutive year, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to sustainable development alongside business operations.

Mitr Phol Group has consistently climbed up the ranks through the years by setting goals and achieving sustainable outcomes in the Thai agricultural, social, and environmental sectors. This marks the company’s readiness to advance towards becoming a Net Zero greenhouse gas emission organization by 2050.