SunTechnics wants energy boost
SunTechnics Energy Systems, a German-based provider of turnkey systems for renewable energies, is ready to penetrate the Thai market to cash in on the country's attempts to increase its portion of renewable energy.
After the opening of its office yesterday at the Goldenland Building on Rajdamri Road in Bangkok, Daniel Gaefke, director for Thailand, said the decision to open shop here was partly due to the Thai government's policy to increase the renewable-energy portion of the country's energy mix to 8 per cent by 2011. The government plans to launch a programme to subsidise electricity produced from biomass next year. Gaefke said SunTechnics would concentrate on private companies, non-government organisations and the government's bidding projects. In addition, it was looking for partners to promote the utilisation of renewable energy in Thailand and other countries in the region. It is in cooperation with Ekarat Solar to manage the installation of a solar system at Ekarat's plant, with total production capacity of electricity of 20 kilowatts. It has also installed a small wind turbine at Chitralada Palace to promote cleaner and sustainable energy in Thailand. He said the company's strategy for business expansion here was to provide turnkey systems to meet customer demand. However, its research shows that a hybrid-energy system is appropriate for the South, while it should boost utilisation of biomass energy in the North. Stefan Mueller, managing director for Asia and the Pacific, said most countries were paying more attention to renewable energy and predicted the total value of global utilisation of renewable energy would rise to US$300 billion (Bt9.97 trillion) by 2015. He said SunTechnics generated revenue of 20 million euros (Bt895 million) in Asia last year and had targeted raising its revenue to ¤60 million this year. It also expected to achieve a three-fold growth in its revenues annually. However, he did not reveal the revenue target for Thailand as it has just started its business this year. He said the company was confident of success in the Thai market because it could provide energy solutions that would help tackle climate change, increasing oil prices and energy dependency.
Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul The Nation
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