(From left) Dr Dominika Kalinowska, GIZ; Tim Nees, GIZ; Dr Robert Himmler, EGS-Plan Co., Ltd. (Bangkok); and H.E. Dr Ernst Reichel, Ambassador of Germany to Thailand

On 28 November 2024, at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Thailand, GIZ Thailand, together with German Engineering for Sustainable Building Co., Ltd. (EGS-plan), organised a kick-off event to formally demonstrate their commitment on the new public-private partnership (PPP) ‘Green Hydrogen for Energy Self-Sufficient Hotels, Resorts and Islands’. This new partnership under the International Hydrogen Ramp-Up Programme (H2Uppp) aims to explore the potential and use of solar PV, batteries and green hydrogen for off-grid hotels and resorts on islands in the context of Thailand and Southeast Asia. Approximately 30 participants attended the event, with representatives from project partners (both public and private) in Thailand.

Diesel generation or submarine cable remains the primary source of acquiring energy for off-grid islands. Providing a cheaper and more sustainable option (in combination with solar energy and storage) offers promising solutions for promoting decarbonisation, sustainable alternatives, and the reduction of pollution in remote areas. Through cooperation with GIZ, EGS-plan and local sectoral companies, the new PPP can provide opportunities to explore new pathways and innovations to supply remote areas with renewable energy.

The signing ceremony between GIZ Thailand and EGS-plan

H.E. Dr Ernst Reichel, Ambassador of Germany to Thailand, in his opening remarks, highlighted Thailand as one of Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) strategic partners, playing a significant role in expanding the economy of renewable energy among key drivers towards the country’s climate goals.

“Thailand’s ambitious climate goal requires transformation from a hydrocarbon-based economy to a renewable energy economy, with energy efficiency and a massive expansion of renewable energy. With this, my sincere congratulations to all partners for their commitment in this important common project.”

H.E. Dr Ernst Reichel, Ambassador of Germany to Thailand

Dr Dominika Kalinowska, Director of Transport Project, GIZ Thailand, underscored the importance of green hydrogen in the efforts on sustainability and energy efficiency in Thailand’s tourism and transport sector: “Tourism in Thailand wants to become cleaner and more sustainable, and it has a very clear setting for decarbonisation and net-zero. Green hydrogen can play a specific role in these niche situations that are very important throughout.”

Dr Dominika Kalinowska, Director of Transport Project, GIZ Thailand

Following the signing ceremony, Tim Nees, H2Uppp Project Manager, together with Chatchanis Kasemwong, Senior Advisor for H2Uppp, presented a comprehensive overview of the H2Uppp project as well as the background of this new collaboration.

(From left) Tim Nees, H2Uppp Thailand Project Manager, together with Dr Pramote Puengjinda and Chatchanis Kasemwong, Senior Advisors for H2Uppp

During the introduction to the H2Uppp project, Tim Nees reaffirmed the aim of the H2Uppp project to promote the development of a market for green hydrogen and Power-to-X (PtX) through bilateral public-private partnerships: “As the idea is to make it a global market, we always try to connect German or European companies with local companies. In the case of this project (with EGS-plan), it would certainly be hotels that we would be working with. Later, they will become the key beneficiaries of this new green technology.”

Dr Robert Himmler, Managing Director, EGS-Plan Co., Ltd. (Bangkok)

Dr Robert Himmler, Managing Director of EGS-plan Co., Ltd. (Bangkok) and representing the key implementor of the project, introduced the concept and tentative workplan of this new PPP on ‘Green Hydrogen for Energy Self-Sufficient Hotels, Resorts and Islands’. Dr Himmler remarked on several challenges that hotels and resorts face in the prospect of implementing green hydrogen and PtX as renewables in off-grid remote areas.
“We are looking into hotels and resorts that are offered and are willing to cooperate with us on this project. So, the questions for us now would be: How feasible is it to buy green hydrogen technical systems? How easy is it to maintain them? What happens if the system needs repair? How fast can we get a technician to these remote areas? And of course, there would be the question about the investment costs.”

Following the plenary session, further discussion and networking sessions also opened the floor for the speakers, who engaged with the event participants on questions, topics and potential activities arising from this new partnership.

Financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the H2Uppp programme is being executed globally by GIZ. Implemented in partnership with the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC), Thailand is H2Uppp’s regional hub for Southeast Asia. H2Uppp aims to support the policy and market development for green H2 and Power-to-X through studies and training, the identification and initiation of public-private partnerships (PPP) and projects, and the promotion and dissemination of knowledge through the identification and connection of local and international H2 specialists, in particular, vis-à-vis the German private sector.