The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has joined hands with six Thai and Japanese firms to jointly study hydrogen fuel at the Map Ta Phut and Smart Park industrial estates in Rayong, part of efforts to help combat global warming.
Map Ta Phut industrial estate covers 6,949 rai while Smart Park, which spans 1,383 rai, is being developed to serve S-curve industries in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
"This project aims to help Thailand achieve a carbon neutrality target as well as support investors who want to use electricity and transportation which are based on clean energy," said Veeris Ammarapala, governor of the IEAT.
Mr Veeris was speaking as he signed a joint study agreement with Bangkok Industrial Gas Co, PTT Plc, Thai Takasago Co, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Toyota Motor Thailand and Toyota Tsusho (Thailand).
The IEAT announced in 2021 it would develop infrastructure to support renewable energy development, including hydrogen, solar energy and biomass, at the Map Ta Phut and Smart Park industrial estates.
To shift towards clean energy, the authority needs to study types of technology, business models that promote wise use of energy and investment issues.
The IEAT earlier said it plans to import hydrogen for use in the transport and logistics sectors in industrial complexes, including Smart Park.
Over the long term, it wants to build a hydrogen production plant to serve vehicles used in Smart Park.
Mr Veeris expects carbon dioxide emissions at Smart Park to be 73% lower than those at other industrial estates which depend on electricity mainly generated by fossil fuels from the state grid.
The authority is eager to adopt clean energy, especially after Thailand announced at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in 2021 that it would be more aggressive in addressing climate change and strive to reach carbon neutrality, a balance between carbon dioxide emissions and absorption, by 2050.
The IEAT is also promoting bio-, circular and green (BCG) economic development to help the country reach its goal.
Declared a national agenda item, BCG encourages manufacturers to use new technologies to add value to their products and minimise the environmental impact at the same time.