Lieutenant Dr. Wichai Thavornwattanayong

FDI Spotlight: Your sector is known for its competitiveness, what is your strategy for future expansion?

Nearly 10 years ago I was interested in climate change and wondered about what would happen in the future. I starting reading about renewable energy, especially solar and wind. When I first started out in energy we started very late compared to other companies. There was already a lot of competition in the industry. All of the licenses had already been taken and the new licenses were very expensive. We did not want to take over any companies with a merger and acquisition.

The initial cost of renewable energy is quite expensive, around 45 million baht per megawatt. However, the government subsidizes a lot of the costs when selling.  We currently have about 25 megawatts of energy and a signed MOU for another 20 megawatts of solar energy.  We have plans for another MOU for 40 megawatts and also this year we are trying to get the lucky draw for a license which is for 120 megawatts for solar energy.

FDI Spotlight: How does your innovation process factor into the other energies and developments that you are working on?

Wind energy of course is another important source of renewable energy. We invest in our human capital and finding the right partners to work with because we know it is the people and their passions that will create a change.   Wind energy is generally most beneficial in the south of Thailand whereas solar energy is better in the north. However, there are some areas in the north east where wind energy is viable.

Dr. Sumate who is an expert in wind energy and a Vice President of the Wind Association of Thailand shares my passion and vision and we are working together on a wind energy project.  I want to build our next plant as best as possible. I want to build not only the plant but also the park so that the community can be involved as well. I want the community to feel as though the solar energy is tangible so that they understand and want get involved. I want the communities to experience green, sustainable energy. I feel like they should be educated about it and be excited about it. One of our upcoming plans is to make an island in the south one of the first green islands of Thailand using a smart micro grid.

FDI Spotlight: What opportunities do you foresee with the birth of the AEC and what would you describe as Thailand’s role in the AEC?

Our project, in Pratunam, has already been commissioned this month and we plan to have the opening ceremony in January. We have invited our prime minister to open it.  We have invited the ministers of energy from many places like Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Brunei to come. Dr. Sumate and I have a plan to invest in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia for wind and solar energy. It is a core benefit for us if surrounding countries can overcome cultural and social barriers and work together. I want other countries to take a look at this industry. It is a friendly industry for the environment. We can use green energy to replace fossil fuels.

There is a certain lack of expertise in the renewable energy field. The industry has advanced too fast for our education to keep up. We must ensure the expertise stays in Thailand and promotes growth. I want to build up the experts with partnerships with universities like Naresuan University. I want our universities to produce and create experts. I have been working with Naresuan University and Taxin University on this strategic plan for creating knowledge.  We want to build up Thailand as a central hub with knowledge.