CKPower, a SET-listed renewable power company, is gaining momentum in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases following a significant reduction in the company's carbon dioxide emissions last year through better electricity generation and consumption management.
The firm, which runs hydropower as well as co-generation and solar power businesses, released only 0.0691 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) of greenhouse gases per megawatt-hour of electricity produced, which is 86% lower than the national average of 0.4999 tCO2e per megawatt-hour.
In the first half of 2024, emissions were reported as being 83% lower and throughout this year emissions are expected to be 87% below the national average for greenhouse gas emissions per unit of electricity produced.
"We are committed to moving forward towards the goal of achieving the 'CKP Net-Zero Emissions 2050' plan to become an organisation that emits net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050," said Thanawat Trivisvavet, managing director of CKPower.
The net-zero campaign is aimed at striking a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption.
EFFICIENCY BOOST
One important factor enabling CKPower to achieve its goal is increased efficiency of the electricity generation process, said Mr Thanawat.
During the first half of this year, the company increased the efficiency of energy use in electricity generation, exceeding the target by 0.86%, he said.
"Over the past two years, CKPower has successfully raised the proportion of electricity generation from renewable sources. Our installed capacity from renewable energy was 89%, and today it has increased to 93%," said Mr Thanawat.
"We have supplied roughly 8.5 million megawatt-hours of clean energy to Thailand, or around 17% of the total clean electricity used in the country."
CKPower co-invests in three hydroelectric power plants in Laos, namely Nam Ngum 2, with an installed capacity of 615MW, Xayaburi, with an installed capacity of 1,285MW, and Luang Prabang, with an installed capacity of 1,460MW.
The company holds a 65% share in Bangpa-In Cogeneration Co, which operates two co-generation power plants, with a combined capacity of 238MW.
CKPower also operates 13 solar power plants, 11 of which are under the company's wholly-owned Bangkhenchai Co. These facilities have a combined installed capacity of 28MW.
Another two solar power plants, with an installed capacity of 6MW and 8MW, belong to the company as it is the major shareholder in the two firms that run them.
"In 2023 alone, we helped avoid emissions of roughly 4.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent," said Mr Thanawat.
He said the company also has a long-term plan focusing on expanding investment in projects that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as studying electricity generation from hydrogen fuel mixed with natural gas in combined cycle power plants.
CONSUMING ENERGY WISELY
CKPower is accelerating efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption and using more renewable energy within the organisation, said Mr Thanawat.
The move includes transitioning to electric and hybrid vehicles for transport within the organisation, serving the company's offices and power plants.
Last year the company reduced its total energy consumption by 5,101 megawatt-hours, which is equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2,051 tCO2e. This could be compared with turning off all the lights in Bangkok for a period of 186 hours, said Mr Thanawat.
In the first half of 2024, CKPower further reduced energy consumption by 2,883 MWh, which is equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,313 tCO2e, or the equivalent of turning off the lights in Bangkok for 119 hours.
"These efforts represent a significant contribution to the power generation sector and help propel Thailand towards a low-carbon society," said Mr Thanawat.