On November 6, 2019, Honorary Prof. Dr. Kanchana Ngourungsi, President of Naresuan University stated “the University has established a policy for driving renewable energy technology through the BCG (Bio- Circular- Green Economy) Model”. The BCG Model is the newly established economic model for Thailand which is in accordance with the policy created by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. ‘B’ (Bio Economy) which creates more values from biological resources and agricultural products, while, ‘C’ (Circular Economy) helps to determine how to keep waste at a minimum (zero waste) by optimizing product usage, reducing and recycling materials as much as possible. ‘G’ (Green Economy) focuses on providing solutions to address the environmental pollution issue and reducing the impacts on quality of life, while offering the world sustainability.
The BCG Model focuses on developing solutions for all economic sectors, which include agriculture, food, energy, raw materials, health, medical, and tourism. This model will be used to propel Thailand into becoming one of the World’s top five of food-producing countries that has concentrated its policies on reducing social inequality, creating jobs that will generate income for all regions of the country.
In accordance with the National policy, the School of Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Technology joined with Phitsanulok Provincial Administrative Organization, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, and the Renewable Energy for Community Association (TRECA) held “The 12th Thailand Renewable Energy for Community Conference (TREC – 12)” on November 6 -12, 2019 at the School of Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Technology, Naresuan University. This conference was established with the theme of “Sufficiency Innovation for Future Community” which allowed lecturers, researchers and students to present their research works regarding the development and conservation of alternative energy sources for the community, while expanding the knowledge of renewable energy to be implemented extensively throughout communities.
During this event, Mr. Suraporn Danaitangtrakul, Vice Ministry of Energy presided over the opening of “The 12th Thailand Renewable Energy for Community Conference (TREC – 12)” and presented a special lecture entitled “The Renewable Energy for the Communities of Thailand”. He stated the Energy is an important tool in driving the country’s economy and the fundamental factors for furthering the country’s development in every aspect. The government has assigned energy agencies and institutions to develop a program to effectively help stimulate the national economic system that has an impact on the environment and communities in eco-friendly solutions. The main missions of Ministry of Energy are to reduce the social inequality while increasing the competitiveness amongst sectors by using energy strategy to drive the community economy. As ‘Energy for All’ is the current policy of Ministry of Energy, which has adopted the principles for distributing an energy management program that has been specifically directed to individual households and communities instead of focusing on energy management through large-scale investment. This policy offers a variety of projects for community applications; for example, the Community Power Plant Project or Energy policy that support the economies of local communities in order to promote the participation of its members, produce and distribute electricity for sustainable use.
In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wattanapong Rakwichian, Director of the School of Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Technology, Naresuan University said that the world presently faces serious energy problems than it has in the past, and as a result of the high demands of energy there has been a continuously increased prices of fuel. Moreover, the high demand of energy consumption has gradually causes environmental problems, identified as the Green House Effects which has an adverse effect on global climate change. The concepts of promoting and supporting the use of renewable energy has increased the understanding of the need for solving these environmental problems. Challenging solutions such as wind energy and solar energy are recognized as Green & Clean Energy. Therefore, the School of Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Technology had organized this event in cooperation with related partners as previously mentioned to arrange the activities that would provide an exchange forum between academics and the community.
