A global digital AIoT technology company headquartered in Singapore has been tapped to develop the first smart grid for Thailand’s major energy company, which contributes to approximately 16% of the country’s GDP.
The contract involves developing an AIoT smart grid at Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), powered by the Singapore firm’s AIoT operating system EnOS.
By integrating floating solar panels, rooftop solar panels, energy storage system, and electric charging stations in the campus with the Singaporean firm’s Enlight and Ensight digital analytics software, the smart grid project will help the Thai firm to achieve its 2020 strategic objective: Zero increase of absolute emission growth rate.
The contract follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two companies in April 2019 to work together on multiple initiatives around new energy and digital transformation.
The project at VISTEC is part of the firm’s efforts in digital transformation and energy transition. Not only will it contribute to CO2 emission reduction, but it will also serve as a sandbox for the Thai firm and its researchers at VISTEC to do their R&D activities around electricity value chain and smart city development, which we hope can later be applied for commercial uses.
The AIoT smart grid for VISTEC is targeted for completion by the end of 2020.
It is the first project of its kind in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation, a specialised sector focusing on innovation under the Eastern Economic Corridor, which has increasingly grown important region for ASEAN trade and commerce. It will serve as a pilot for similar projects across PTT’s other assets in Thailand.
The application of AIoT smart grid technology offers huge potential for the Thai firm and other major infrastructure operators, communities and companies across Thailand in promoting energy efficiency and transition.
The transition to less carbon-intensive energy sources is critical to meet the emissions reduction targets of the Paris Agreement; which Thailand has ratified.
AIoT technology constitutes a key enabler for this smart transition. The Singaporean firm’s team are pleased to partner with the Thai energy leader to jointly address this challenge.
Investing in renewable energy resources
OpenGov Asia earlier reported that Thailand introduced the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) initiative to transform three Thai provinces into smart cities during the 2019 ASEAN Summit.
Thus far, this move has proved to be a successful one. The EEC was established to create a centre for trade, investment, regional transportation, and a strategic gateway to Asia, with Thailand confident that the move would promote a seamless ASEAN.
The focus on smart cities is a core pillar of the government’s Thailand 4.0 initiative which aims to transform Thailand into a high-income nation with vastly improved quality of life in urban centres.
The country, which relies on the industries of agriculture and tourism, wants smart cities to be the ecosystem to promote both of these, which in turn will afford to close the income gap and accelerator much-needed growth in the economy of the country as a whole.
Two most important sectors are the environment and economy. The country places the environment as the most important sector because it only makes sense for a city to be smart if it does not deteriorate the environment.
Pollution and drought are the two most critical environmental issues facing Thais. Thus, the main idea is to deploy to the local governments by equipping them with the technology; such as sensors, integrated data system, digital twin, to monitor and predict foreseeable disasters. Efficient energy consumption is also a major factor in this area.
The establishment of a smart city transformation framework and Thailand’s already successful pilot cities could be one of the reasons why its cities are suitable candidates for implementing and promoting smart city living.