Auttapol Rerkpiboon is prioritising long-term projects as others chase quick wins

Mr Auttapol is willing to carry out challenging energy projects to support Thailand’s net-zero campaign. Pornprom Satrabhaya

Not all projects fit the government’s promoted “Quick Big Win” policy, but that is not stopping Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon from acting on efforts he sees as useful.

“I would like to be the first to kick things off,” said Mr Auttapol, a former chief executive of PTT Plc, referring to new energy policies he wants to initiate now, though the outcomes will not be realised until after the Anutin Charnvirakul administration steps down.

The premier pledged to work for four months before dissolving parliament early next year, too short for some energy initiatives to bear fruit.

Mr Auttapol said he wants to carry out new projects crucial for Thailand’s shift towards clean energy, even if some of them are considered ambitious or their development will be highly contentious.

He said there needs to be more serious consideration of hydrogen and nuclear energy development to pave the way for the government to achieve its net-zero target.

The push for these difficult tasks will be done in tandem with Quick Big Win schemes focused on immediate, impactful and inclusive projects, which are likely to be completed before the end of the government’s term, said Mr Auttapol.

NEW HUB

He said he aims to make Thailand a hub for green hydrogen in Southeast Asia, giving the country a new status after past governments focused on the potential to become a regional centre of the electric vehicle, aviation and medical industries.

“This is a new strategic goal that requires systematic actions,” said Mr Auttapol.

“Given closer cooperation with the international community, we can steadily transition ourselves to a low-carbon society.”

Green hydrogen, which can be used to fuel power generation, manufacturing processes and cars, is produced by using electricity made from renewable energy to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.

He said this type of alternative energy will play an important role in driving Thailand’s economic growth and its campaign against global warming.

“Hydrogen energy presents an opportunity to develop new businesses that can enhance economic value,” said Mr Auttapol.

The strategy should help Thailand achieve its net-zero target by 2050, 15 years sooner than the original target of 2065, he said.

Mr Anutin changed the time frame, telling parliament in late September the government will speed up efforts to put Thailand on a fast track towards a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption.

Energy officials are working on a plan to make hydrogen and ammonia an alternative to oil, said Mr Auttapol.

Ammonia is under the spotlight because the substance is known as a “carrier” of hydrogen, as it contains 17.6% hydrogen by weight, offering a compact way to store large amounts of hydrogen, according to the US Department of Energy.

Ammonia is not a direct substitute for hydrogen as a fuel, but it is used to transport hydrogen because it is easier to handle, store and carry than pure hydrogen.

He said he plans to launch measures to support investment in hydrogen production and transport, as well as tax incentives to encourage investors to venture into hydrogen-related businesses.

NUCLEAR REVIVAL

Nuclear power can be another alternative fuel to support the state’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, though its usage sparks concerns over safety issues.

Mr Auttapol is interested in adopting small modular reactors (SMRs) to generate electricity, reducing reliance on high-carbon fuels such as gas and coal.

SMR is a type of nuclear power technology with a capacity of up to 300 megawatts per unit, about one-third of the generating capacity of larger, traditional nuclear power reactors, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

A nuclear power project was included in the 2010 power development plan, but was later removed in 2011 following the Fukushima incident when a massive earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear reactor meltdown and radiation leak at Japan’s coastal nuclear facility in March of that year.

Scientists say SMRs are safer than traditional nuclear power reactors as their cooling systems are less dependent on electricity.

Many SMRs use passive cooling systems that are based on natural circulation and a gravity-driven cooling system. This feature allows the removal of heat in the event of a power outage.

“Even with SMR technology, it will take time to gain public acceptance,” he said.

“That’s why we should start conducting a feasibility study on its usage.”

BEYOND THE CORE

Mr Auttapol’s push for these two types of energy is not a surprise given his experience at PTT, the national oil and gas conglomerate.

At PTT he introduced “Future Energy and Beyond”, a vision that shifted the company’s focus from energy sales to building the country’s future energy.

Among the projects under this vision was a plan to conduct studies into hydrogen fuel technology, part of the company’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its business units.

Mr Auttapol also backed PTT Exploration and Production Plc, the oil drilling arm of PTT, in developing Thailand’s first carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its Arthit gas field in the Gulf of Thailand.

As energy minister, he announced a similar plan to invest in installing CCS worth 540 billion baht to support the government’s net-zero campaign.