On 12 May 2022, Mrs. Sriwan Buranachokepisal, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)’s Assistant Governor–Power Plant Planning and Chairman of the Cooling Innovation Fund (CIF) Committee, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Cooperation on Promotion and Enhancement of Green Cooling” under the Green Cooling Initiative III (GCI III) project in Thailand with Mr. Reinhold Elges, GIZ Country Director of Thailand and Malaysia and Ms. Denise Andres, the project director, at EGAT 50th Anniversary Building, EGAT Headquarters, Nonthaburi Province. Under the agreement, sustainable transformation for climate-friendly and energy-efficient cooling technologies using natural refrigerants will be promoted and enhanced.

Pointing to the key objectives of the collaboration, Mrs. Sriwan Buranachokepisal, EGAT’s Assistant Governor–Power Plant Planning and Chairman of the CIF Committee, said: “EGAT has been collaborating with GIZ since 2017 on the Thailand Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (RAC NAMA) project which was completed in 2021. To continue the cooperation on Thailand’s sustainable cooling and to support the contribution of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector to national climate mitigation and energy efficiency goals, EGAT through the Cooling Innovation Fund (CIF) and GIZ have mutually agreed to further implement collaborative activities, resulting in the signing of this MoU which will be in effect until June 2024. To complement each other on the green cooling approach in Thailand, concrete cooperation areas between EGAT and GIZ within the MoU under the GCI III project in Thailand have been drawn up. The main focuses are on (1) the development and implementation of innovative demonstrations and partnerships; (2) ensuring the sustainability of training for RAC technicians in responding to the green cooling approach; (3) organising joint events on green cooling for stakeholders to enhance awareness and networks; and (4) exchanging information on relevant financial schemes. These will drive the RAC sector in the country to achieve carbon neutrality and net zero-emission goals.”

Mr. Reinhold Elges, GIZ Country Director of Thailand and Malaysia, emphasised the significance of this cooperation, saying: “The GCI is a global project principally promoting the green cooling approach in order to reduce the negative climate impacts from the cooling sector, which causes significant and rising amounts of GHG emissions worldwide. The project is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) to provide support for the end-user uptake of green cooling technologies through technical and policy instruments, as well as to promote knowledge dissemination in the country. In addition, the project also aims to establish Thailand as a regional hub in Asia that can promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences within the region.”