The 2024 ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week kicked off on July 3, expected to attract 28,000 visitors. (Photo: Tsu-lin Hsu)
ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week took place from July 3 to 5 in Bangkok, Thailand, featuring over 1,400 global energy brands showcasing the latest in electric vehicle technology and energy storage solutions and expected to attract 28,000 visitors.
The opening ceremony featured speeches by the president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) and the chairperson of the Energy Storage Technology Association (TESTA), highlighting Thailand’s emphasis on the electric vehicle industry.
International pavilions unveil green energy, electric vehicle technologies
With over 30 years of history, the event, under the banner of "Enabling a Resilient Clean Energy Transition Towards Net Zero" for 2024, focuses on promoting the energy transition in Southeast Asia by enhancing energy efficiency and advancing energy storage technologies.
The event features international pavilions from six countries: Germany, Japan, South Korea, China, Switzerland, and Taiwan. Key exhibitors include DELTA, TESLA, Hitachi Energy, BCPG, ATESS, ABB, AIKO SOLAR, SCG, SMA, SOLAREDGE, SOLIS, NTT DATA, and King Long United Automotive.
Thailand, often referred to as the "Detroit of the East," is transitioning to embrace the global electric vehicle trend. EVAT’s Kritsada Uttamote highlighted that electric vehicle sales in Thailand surged nearly 690% in 2023 compared to 2022, accounting for about 12% of total sales. This growth is attributed to government incentives that continue to attract foreign direct investment.
According to the Board of Investment (BOI), the top five sources of foreign investment in Thailand in 2023 were China, Singapore, the United States, Japan, and Taiwan. Investments in "machinery and vehicles" were the second highest, reaching 80.5 billion Thai Baht ($2.28 billion), signaling a positive outlook for the emerging electric vehicle market in Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week 2024 is inaugurated on July 3 with the presence of (from left) Pimpa, chairperson of the Thailand Energy Storage Technology Association; Krisada, chairperson of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand; Sompop Pattanariyankool, deputy permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Energy; Manu Leopairote, representative of the organizer Informa; and Navadol Laosiripojana, professor of energy and environment at the King Mongkut's University of Science and Technology, Thonburi. Navadol Laosiripojana, Professor of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut's University of Science and Technology, Thonburi. (Photo: Tsu-lin Hsu)
Kritsada Uttamote notes that Thailand’s foreign direct investment in the "machinery and vehicles" sector reached 80.5 billion baht, making it the second highest among investment categories. (Photo: Tsu-lin Hsu)
Thailand focuses on reducing battery costs
A new addition this year is the Energy Storage Asia segment, emphasizing the growing importance of energy storage technologies in Asia. Pimpa Limthongkul, chairperson of TESTA, told RECCESSARY that Thailand is becoming a regional hub for electric vehicle assembly and production,
TESTA, with 110 members across the electric vehicle value chain from mining to system integration and testing, is focusing on reducing lithium battery production costs to accelerate the region's green transition.
The exhibition features various companies showcasing residential and industrial energy storage solutions. BCPG, a Thai renewable energy developer, presented its home and commercial storage systems developed in collaboration with Chinese battery company SVOLT.
Watcharaporn Bunyavorakun, senior manager at BCPG, noted that energy storage has become a major business area for the company, which partnered with SVOLT Energy in January to target the growth of smart storage in Thailand.
Thai renewable energy developer BCPG displays home energy storage equipment in collaboration with China’s SVOLT. (Photo: Tsu-lin Hsu)
Huawei displayed its smart modular data center and home storage solutions. Nattawut Buranadit, sales engineer at Huawei, introduced the "FusionModule 2000" data center solution, which uses cold and hot aisle containment design to improve energy efficiency by up to 30%.
The solution also incorporates uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems and lithium battery smart management to ensure reliable power supply, aiming to meet the needs of data centers in Southeast Asia.
Huawei showcases the FusionModule 2000 data center solution at the event. (Photo: Tsu-lin Hsu)
This year’s ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week features over 1,400 global energy brands. (Photo: Tsu-lin Hsu)
ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week returns for its 30th year under the banner “Towards Net Zero Emissions, Resilient Clean Energy Transition.” (Photo: Tsu-lin Hsu)
