Grand opening and MOU signing ceremony

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation by National Science and Technology Development Agency, Khon Kaen University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok in collaboration with Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand, signed a memorandum of understanding for Partnership Agreement among the founding institutes of Thailand Energy Storage Technology Alliance (TESTA).

The purpose is to establish alliances in developing storage technologies along its value chain. The event is presided over by Mr. Kittikorn Loh Sunthorn, Chairman of the Commission and Energy Commission, House of Representatives, with 5 executives from the founding institutes as witnesses. Speakers at the event included Professor M. Stanley Whittingham, winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his invention of lithium-ion batteries, along with leading Thai battery users and producers such as GPSC, BANPUNEXT and Thonburi Energy Storage Manufacturing.

Mr. Kittikorn Loh Sunthorn, Chairman of the Commission and Energy Commission, House of Representatives, mentioned that the MOU signing ceremony for energy storage technology alliances in Thailand between the 5 organisations, helps strengthen and drive the domestic development of energy storage technology both in academia and industry. Energy storage system will play a vital role in propelling the transition in energy and industrial sectors within the country, especially in next-generation transport system. With Thailand’s goal to be the regional hub of electric vehicle manufacturing by 2025, with the target to produce 750,000 EVs within 2030, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of Transport, are the leaders in carrying out the national strategies in national EV policies with stakeholders. Privilege and promotion activities have been provided to automotive and parts companies in domestic and overseas along with the plan to promote EV charging stations countrywide. The expectation in TESTA establishment is the first step of close collaboration between industry and research centres in order to create ecosystem for clean energy and EV industries towards a clean and affordable energy society.

Dr. Narong Sirilertworakul, President of National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) said that NSTDA places high importance on advanced researches and aims to be excellent in energy technology innovation. Energy storage has been one of the key technologies that NSTDA has been focussed on. It could enable the realisation of electric vehicles and higher penetration of clean renewable energy. With Thailand’s focus on moving towards a hub for electric vehicles in this region, it is recognisable that knowledge and knowhow in science and technology in Thailand is urgently needed. NSTDA is pleased to be taking a key part in linking between fundamental research results and bringing it to industries. An establishment of “Thailand Storage Technology Alliance” or TESTA with the goal in being a platform for collaboration in the area of energy storage for Thai stakeholders along with a platform to exchange and invite knowhow from international partners is expected to take a role in speeding up the advancement of Thai industries.