State support for energy service companies is critical if Thailand is to achieve energy sufficiency, say executives.
An energy service company (Esco) develops, installs and finances projects designed to improve energy efficiency and cut operating and maintenance costs for customer facilities.
Arthit Vechakij, the managing director of Excellent Energy International Co, said the Esco business has been developing for several years in Thailand, mainly involving private projects rather than public ones.
Rules and regulations also remain as barriers hindering development of Esco, and Mr Arthit stressed the need for state support of Esco capacity-building schemes.
''The government has to consider allocating some budget to support the development of Esco business in Thailand,'' he said during a round-table discussion yesterday on energy sufficiency.
The state can provide up to 40% of the funding for training programmes if the cost of development is expensive, Mr Arthit told the gathering, which was hosted by the Clinton Foundation in partnership with the Energy Ministry and the British Embassy.
Some 20-30 Esco firms have been active in the Thai market, mostly foreign-owned, he said.
With pending expansion plans for energy investment in the public and private sectors, Esco could be a critical contributor to energy conservation and efficiency.
For example, Esco can enhance the development of the Energy Ministry's 20-year Energy Efficiency Development Plan (EEDP) to meet goals.
The ministry expects fulfilment of the EEDP to save an average of 272 billion baht a year and cut carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 40 million tonnes a year.
Excellent Energy International has been involved in developing an Esco capacity-building scheme in Indonesia, providing training programmes in Esco business management and services.
Danai Egkamol, director of the Energy Regulation and Conservation Bureau, said the government has used public funds to support development of energy-sufficiency projects and Esco activity.
Discussion of the topic will pave the way for stronger cooperation, he said.