EGAT launches Balance Energy project to raise awareness about responsible energy consumption for sustainability
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), represented by Mr Thatree Riwcharoen, Assistant to EGAT's corporate social responsibility Director, said that EGAT is gravely aware of the issue regarding Thailand’s energy sustainability. Power Development Plan or PDP 2015 clearly states that there needs to be an adjustment to balance the use of fuel in generating electricity. By the end of the plan in 20 years’ time, Thailand’s electricity structure will be 37% natural gas, 17% imported coal, 18% renewable energy, 15% water energy (imported), 2% local water energy, and 5% imported electricity. Balancing fuel usage will help strengthen the country’s energy stability, resulting in continuous economic growth and drawing foreign investors to conduct business in Thailand. The result is better quality of life for the Thai people.
At present, 66% of Thailand’s electricity production uses natural gas, with production cost at 3.39 baht per unit. Water energy contributes to 2% of the local electricity production, with production cost at 1.24 baht per unit. Solar energy contributes to 1% of the local electricity production, with production cost at 10.55 baht per unit. Wind energy contributes to 0.6% of the local electricity production, with production cost at 6.83 baht per unit. Clean coal technology contributes to 9% of the local electricity production, with production cost at 1.33 baht per unit.
Average electricity cost is 3.06 baht per unit, and the distribution and transmission cost is about 0.90 baht per unit. Electricity is sold to the public at 3.86 baht per unit on average (not inclusive of VAT). EGAT plans to increase the use of alternative energy following PDP 2015. In 2014, alternative energy produced 7,279MW of electricity, and the number is expected to increase by 62.93% to 19,635MW in 2036.
Mr Thatree Riwcharoen added that EGAT has initiated the Balance Energy project to educate the general public about the various sources of energy, their pros and cons, and EGAT’s electricity generation plans in the long run. Creating a balanced energy structure will offer stability to the general public and the people can benefit from reasonably priced electricity. Balance is the key to everything, just like how a balanced and happy life has to consider work, family, health, and nutrition.
The branch ambassador of the Balance Energy project is “Job” Niti Samutkojorn, who will help raise awareness about balancing energy sources for the public. There will be a video contest titled “BALANCE ENERGY CLIP CONTEST (Viral Video)”, which invites the general public to participate. There are two contest categories. The student category (high-school to undergraduate students) offers 40,000 baht scholarship and a certificate to the winner, while the runner up will receive 20,000 baht and a certificate, and the second runner up will receive 10,000 baht and a certificate.
The public category offers the winner a chance to visit Vietnam (Hanoi – Halong) for three days for two persons, worth 31,800 baht. The runner up will have a chance to attend an energy field trip in Loei province (Phu Rua – Chiang Kan) for three days for two persons, worth 11,800 baht. The second runner up will have a chance to participate in a trip to Phetchaboon province (Khao Kor – Phu Thub Berk) for two days for two persons, worth 7,800 baht. Finalists in both categories can also win a special prize, Most Viewed, which offers 5,000 baht.
Register today at
balanceenergyth@gmail.com until Aug 7, 2015. Ten finalists will be announced on Aug 10, and the winners of BALANCE ENERGY will be announced on Aug 22 at Atrium 1 Central World. For more information, visit http://สมดุลพลังงาน.com or
www.facebook.com/BalanceEnergyThai.
