Samut Prakan/1 April 2021 — The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the Electrical and Electronics Institute (EEI) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH have joined forces to organise the “Opening Ceremony and Demonstration of Testing Facility for Air-Conditioners for Natural Refrigerant Technology” event at the Operation and Standards Center, EEI. The aim is both to launch the newly upgraded facility, which was supported by the RAC NAMA Fund, and to inform the public and private sectors of the new TIS 1529-2561 standard on the safety of air-conditioners using flammable refrigerants. As Thailand is an important industrial hub in the global refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector, producers need to be well prepared to adjust to the changing trends and regulations to remain competitive.

Mrs. Sriwan Buranachokepisal, Assistant Governor – Power Plant Planning, EGAT, said: “EGAT’s mission is to maintain security of the electricity system as well as support the Thai government in reaching its energy saving and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation targets. EGAT embraces the introduction of innovations and modern cooling technology which is energy efficient and climate friendly. In assuming responsibility for managing the RAC NAMA Fund, with a total budget of 8.3 million Euro (approximately 300 million Baht), EGAT has promoted the production and use of climate-friendly natural refrigerant. At the same time, we also place great importance on upgrading the testing facilities to prepare for market introduction of these new cooling technologies in the future. The partnership with EEI focuses on our efforts to further enhance the existing equipment and system of the current facility to be able to conduct testing according to both Thai and global standards.”

Dr. Philipp Pischke, Director of the Thailand Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (RAC NAMA) project, GIZ, underscored the important role Thailand plays in the global RAC landscape, saying: “Thailand hosts one of the largest RAC industries in the world, with approximately 12% of global market share. With more than 60% of electricity consumption, cooling is the largest electricity consuming technology sector. The RAC NAMA project is the country’s most significant climate action in the cooling sector, aiming at the introduction of climate-friendly and energy efficient cooling technologies. For the past 4 years, RAC NAMA has been working to build up capacities of local manufacturers, stimulate market demand, develop strategies to remove barriers and showcase business cases.”

“By 2021, Thailand plans to ratify the Kigali Amendment. Under the Amendment, the Royal Thai Government will gradually begin the phase-down of HFCs and replace them with more environmentally friendly alternatives.” Dr. Pischke added.

In his keynote address, titled “Roles of the Electrical and Electronics Institute in enhancing competitiveness of the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector towards green industry”, Mr. Narat Rujirat, President of the Electrical and Electronics Institute (EEI), stated: “For the past two decades, EEI has been supporting Thailand’s electrical and electronics industry in increasing its competitiveness on the international trade arena as well as to adjust to the changing technological trends.

Today’s event reflects our strong commitment and our organisation’s strategy to expand our services and enhance our capacities, particularly in the air-conditioning sector. Through this partnership with EGAT and GIZ, EEI is proud to play a part in preparing local Thai manufacturers for future technology adoption and legislation, namely the TIS 1529-2561 standard on safety of air-conditioners using flammable refrigerants. We believe the new regulation will open up new business opportunities and research and development while keeping Thailand at the forefront of green cooling technology.”