Thailand to generate electricity from wind power

BANGKOK, May 16 (TNA) - Thailand has targeted to generate 1,200 megawatts of electricity from wind power by 2021. Academics confirmed on Thursday that wind power has the highest potential among renewable energy in Thailand and the national goal to generate 1,200 megawatts of electricity from wind by 2021 is realistic. The academics made the confirmation at a seminar on the potential of wind power generation, organized in Bangkok by the Office of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) to help plan the use of wind power and to influence policymakers on national energy policies. Teams of researchers from six universities presented their research projects on the potential of wind power generation in Thai regions, including the North, the Northeast, the Central Plain and coastlines facing the Gulf of Thailand. NRCT Deputy Secretary-General Kristhawat Nopnakeepongse stressed that wind power has the highest potential among renewable energy and the Ministry of Energy, thus, plans to raise the wind power generation capacity in Thailand to 1,200 megawatts by 2021, from 7.25 megawatts currently. The NRCT deputy chief said the NRCT has sponsored wind power research projects in all relevant dimensions, with their results to support investment in wind power generation of the Thai government and the private sector, as researchers have found that wind power generation is worth investment, compared with coal-fired and hydropower generation, although it requires the technological development of wind turbines. (TNA)