NSTDA had joined the TESTA network to enhance the development of Thai energy storage system technology to support the energy transition in the digital age

On September 24, 2020 at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Khon Kaen University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, and Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand had signed an agreement of Thailand Energy Storage Technology Alliance (TESTA) to create a network for developing Thai energy storage technology throughout the value chain. The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Kittikorn Lohsunthorn, Chairman of the Energy Commission, House of Parliaments, together with the Executives from 5 partners, Prof. Dr. M. Stanley Whittingham, the winner of the Nobel Prize 2019 in Chemistry for the invention of lithium-ion batteries, and the entrepreneurs of the modern batteries and electric vehicles production in Thailand.

Mr. Kittikorn Lohsunthorn, Chairman of the Energy Commission, House of Parliaments, said that the signing ceremony would strengthen and drive the development of energy storage system technology in Thailand towards global energy and industry transformations, particularly in the modern automotive industry. The goal of Thailand is to become the regional electric vehicle production center by 2025 and achieve the target of production of 750,000 electric vehicles by 2030. The Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of Transport had been the leader in the implementation of various strategies, cooperating with all stakeholders through the national electric vehicles policy, providing promotional privileges, implementing manufacturing plan for automobiles and parts from domestic and international, as well as developing plans to promote the widespread availability of charging stations. It is expected that the formation of Thai energy storage network technology will be the beginning of the cooperation between the industry and research institutions of Thailand and foreign countries to create an ecosystem for the clean energy industry and electric vehicles that will meet the common goals of the society.

Dr. Narong Sirilertworakul, President of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), said that NSTDA has a policy and places an importance on energy issues, aiming to be leader in energy technology, as well as linking research and development works with the Ministry of Energy and various parties to bring the energy plan to reality. The signing ceremony was also an important milestone for the National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC), recently established by the Council of Ministers on June 9, 2020, to be a center for the international collaboration in energy technology research and to translate the research and development into practical uses, that is transferring technology to the industries, and expanding the outcome to various sectors. ENTEC will focus on energy storage research and development, technology transfer, and consultation services. These activities will move Thailand towards the goal of reducing the dependence of foreign technology, solving the country’s energy problems, together with promoting quality standards, to create a complete value chain energy storage that helps enhance people quality of life and national energy security.