Renewable Energy Conference in Bangkok discusses project opportunities in Thai communities with German private sector involvement

The Thai Ministry of Energy (MoEN) and GIZ in the context of the “renewables – Made in Germany” initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) signed an Implementation Agreement in order to jointly pursue activities that strengthen decentral renewable energy (RE) and community-based projects in cooperation with German companies in Thailand.

In this context MoEN and GIZ in cooperation with the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC) and the Cooperatives League of Thailand organized the “Thai-German Renewable Energy Community Conference“, October 20-21 in Bangkok. About 280 representatives of Thai communities, government institutions, utility companies and the private sector representing all regions in Thailand discussed how communities and citizens can profit from decentral RE projects.

At the “Innovation Roadshow” Thai communities and German companies presented innovative ideas and projects for the deployment of RE in community contexts.

During the Solution Workshops on the second day, experts from Germany and Thailand consulted eight communities on their concrete project proposals in regard to planning, technical solutions and questions of financing. Among the German experts who shared their knowledge and experience gained by developing the German market were representatives from the biogas sector (Farmatic, North-Tec Biogas, Project Team Jühnde), the PV sector (TÜV Rheinland, Conergy, Juwi, SMA Solar), a biomass gasification provider (Spanner Re²) and experts for hybrid and off-grid solutions (Lorentz, ILF Consulting Engineers, German Water Technologies, BAE Batteries). In the following two years, GIZ and MoEN will support the communities further with technical advice and especially with designing suitable community-based business models that are necessary to trigger investment in projects on the ground.
Conference Documents:

• Background Information
• Programme
• Speaker and Panelist Profiles Day 1
• Speaker and Expert Profiles Day 2

Conference Presentations:

• RE Community Development in Thailand, Kanapong Tepakorn, Office of Public Pacipatory Promotion, Ministry of Energy
• Community-Based Renewable Energy Partnerships, Thomas Chrometzka, GIZ
• Framework Conditions & Status Quo for Community-based RE Development in Thailand, Chaowarat Thongkaew, Ministry of Energy
• The interest of Thai Cooperatives and Local Stakeholders in RE Development, Dr. Kouk Donsumran, Cooperatives League of Thailand
• The Role of Communities in the German Energy Transition, Sarah Rieseberg, Arepo Consult
• Bioenergy Village Jühnde – A German Success Story, Gerd Paffenholz,  Project Team Jühnde

Further Links:

Press Release
TV coverage of the conference
Article on the website of the “renewables – Made in Germany” initiative (in German only)