Microsoft joins forces with EGAT to boost operations with digital transformation and create energy innovations that drive Thailand towards green economy and zero-carbon society

Bangkok – 25 May 2022 – Mr. Dhanawat Suthumpun, Managing Director of Microsoft Thailand, and Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, Governor of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a collaboration between EGAT and Microsoft Thailand under the joint goal of value creation for EGAT through digital transformation. The ceremony – which was held at Meeting Room 1, 19th floor, EGAT 50th Anniversary Building, Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi Province – was also witnessed by ML Chayotid Kridakon, Thai Trade Representative and Advisor to Prime together with other C-suite executives from both parties.

The 3-year collaboration will cover the following 3 key areas:

  • Create innovations for a sustainable future through studies and explorations of digital technology integration – including a cloud platform – to accelerate value creation and business innovations in matters such as renewable energy, battery energy storage system, grid modernization, and carbon capture and storage.
  • Modernize EGAT’s operations with digital procedures and systems that incorporate expertise in technology, automation and AI into management functions, including internal systems within power plants, carbon emission analysis, and environmental impact assessment to foster sustainable development.
  • Strengthen EGAT’s infrastructure to support changes in the digital era by digitizing documents, utilizing cloud and other innovations to analyze in-depth data, modernize the operational process, enhance the organization’s performance, and transform its IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data privacy systems to meet global standards.

 Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, Governor of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), stated: “EGAT understands the benefit of applying digital technologies to transform the power grid and drive the development of innovation and business in the future. Digital technologies will play a vital role in energy management for all sectors as we move towards the country’s Carbon Neutrality goal. EGAT’s Triple S Strategy encompasses three major areas. The first S – Sources Transformation – seeks to increase the share of renewable energy generation with digital technologies supporting grid modernization efforts, adding the ability to forecast and control an increasing number of renewable energy sources as well as operation of Battery Energy Storage systems. For the second S – Sink Co-Creation – EGAT uses digital technologies to track data from the Participatory One-Million-Rai Reforestation Project – which EGAT jointly operates with partners for sustainable carbon sequestration. EGAT will also apply Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) to capture carbon dioxide emissions from the power plants. The third S – Support Measures Mechanism – sees digital technologies applied for energy efficiency management in buildings and communities by means of Smart Grid systems as well as transition to electric mobility in the transportation sector. Moreover, EGAT uses digital technologies in our own EGAT Transformation process, which is carried out through multiple projects that are proposed and developed by various teams and further fueled by large volumes of data to help drive our organization towards the future.”

 “This partnership marks a significant step forward for EGAT in applying digital technologies that drive our organization forward with utmost efficiency, contributing to the benefits of all sectors in the country and fulfilling our objectives under the concept “EGAT for all.”

 Mr. Dhanawat Suthumpun, Managing Director of Microsoft Thailand, added, “At Microsoft, we encourage our customers and partners to harness our technological innovations to help them achieve their zero carbon goals. Through this partnership, we will reinforce the domestic economy by strengthening structural factors alongside employee skills development for EGAT to gain a competitive edge and drive a vital mechanism for sustainable digital economy in the country. Technology will also lie at the core of our progress towards carbon negative status by 2030 while becoming a key driving force for EGAT to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Mr. Manish Prakash, Managing Director of Microsoft Asia Pacific Public Sector, added “Microsoft is committed and looking forward to continuing to support and enable EGAT from building digital capabilities to better provide services to Thai citizens as well as accelerating Sustainability for Thailand.”