27-28 May 2024, GIZ, through the Green Cooling Initiative (GCI) III Project, and the Department of Skill Development (DSD) jointly organised a workshop to enhance the existing curriculum on the use of natural refrigerants, by adding theoretical content on flammable refrigerants and technical safety to equip technicians with skills and knowledge that meet international standards.

Participants included experts, trained refrigerant instructors from training supported by the Thailand Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (RAC NAMA) project for the air conditioning and refrigeration industries, and the Cooling Innovation Fund (CIF), as well as relevant officials from the Training Development Division and the Curriculum Development and Training Technology Division.

During the two-day workshop, the participants revised the Skill Upgrading Training on Environmentally Friendly Natural Refrigerants Management and created the Instructor Handbook for future DSD training courses. The updated curriculum will be used for further training between June and July 2024, with an 18-hour (3-day) training duration.

In 2025, the Department of Skill Development plans to implement the ‘Transforming Thai Workforce Productivity: Elevating Competency in Green Cooling and Air Conditioning’ project. Using this new curriculum, the project aims to train more than 1,400 technicians in the electrical and electronics sectors, raise awareness of safety when handling environmentally friendly refrigerants, and ensure proper use of tools and equipment for installing and testing refrigeration and air conditioning systems utilising natural refrigerants.

The Green Cooling Initiative (GCI) III in Thailand and the Asia region is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV) of the Federal Republic of Germany. The project operates in Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kenya, Uganda, Colombia, and Honduras.

In Thailand, the project collaborates with the Department of Climate Change and Environment, the Department of Skill Development, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, and the Cooling Innovation Fund (CIF) through the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. The aim is to promote the use of natural refrigerants and enhance energy efficiency through the Green Cooling Approach to mitigate climate impacts from the cooling sector, encourage the transition to green cooling technologies, and support Thailand in becoming a regional hub for knowledge exchange in Asia.

Watch this video to learn more about the workshop: