SET-listed Electricity Generating (Egco), the power generation arm of state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, continues to adopt more clean energy by teaming up with a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation to study and develop the value chain of hydrogen-related businesses in Australia.
Under the memorandum of understanding, Egco and Hong Kong-based Diamond Generating Asia aim to produce green hydrogen at the 113-megawatt Boco Rock wind farm in New South Wales, Australia, which is wholly owned by Egco.
Green hydrogen, which can be used to fuel power generation and manufacturing processes, is produced by using electricity made from renewable energy to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.
Egco sees an opportunity to invest in this type of clean energy and related businesses, said Thepparat Theppitak, president of Egco.
The investment can support continuous business growth and drive Egco towards its long-term goal to achieve a net-zero target, a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption by 2050, as the company is committed to using cleaner energy to drive its sustainable growth.
Hydrogen has the potential to drive the transition of energy sources from fossil to green energy.
"The study team is ready to put together expertise in the power and energy markets to conduct a feasibility study of renewable energy and the development of the value chain of hydrogen-related businesses," said Mr Thepparat.
Shinichiro Suzuki, chief executive of Diamond Generating Asia, said his company wants to focus on strengthening the entire supply chain of clean energy, such as hydrogen.
"We are committed to using our expertise and experience in helping Egco achieve its 2050 ambition," he said.
The move followed Egco's earlier announcement of hydrogen fuel usage in the US under its hydrogen blending programme.
The company adopted the combined combustion of both natural gas and off-gas, including hydrogen, at the 172-MW Linden Cogen Unit 6 in New Jersey.
Refinery off-gas is a mixture of gases generated during the refining of crude oil.
Linden Cogen Unit 6 will use off-gas containing hydrogen produced from an adjacent oil refinery -- Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery -- and blend it with natural gas to fuel the power plant's gas turbine.