Thailand intends to revamp Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country’s primary international entry point, into a pioneering eco-friendly airport within four years, through the integration of renewable energy at this prominent establishment.
CEO of Airports of Thailand (AoT), Mr Kirati Kitmanawat, stated that the firm is targeting a reduction in electricity expenses by around 20 to 30 percent at the end of this four-year phase.
They plan on achieving this by incorporating more renewable energy resources and systems into the country’s biggest airport.
This scheme aligns with the country’s objectives of cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions and fulfilling other pledges in accordance with the “Paris Climate Accords”.
Thailand currently stands as the frontrunner in Southeast Asia regarding energy produced from solar and wind sources and is striving to escalate renewable energy generation.
Mr Kirati emphasized that despite other global airports having successfully incorporated renewable energy into their operations, Thailand has already embarked on this path.
AOT has already equipped the roof of Suvarnabhumi’s central terminal with solar panels and plans on adding more photovoltaic energy to enhance a renewable energy system.
The airport is currently undergoing a multi-stage extension plan which will eventually boost its capacity to more than 100 million passengers annually.
Upon its inauguration in 2006, Suvarnabhumi was designed to accommodate 45 million passengers per year.
AOT is in the process of discussions with multiple partners to devise strategies for amplifying renewable energy at the airport.
These partners comprise of District Cooling System and Power Plant Co., a collaborative venture involving the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, PTT Plc, and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.
Once the renewable energy initiative is securely established at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Kirati confirmed that AoT will commence similar transformations at the other five airports it manages.
