EGAT joined Thailand’s first “Artificial Sun” project, a promising clean energy source
28 February 2022EGAT has joined a project to develop Thailand’s first Tokamak or “Artificial Sun” to promote clean energy for Thais. The technology will help disrupt renewable energy limitations, be a stable, low-priced, clean energy source for Thailand and ASEAN, and generate income for the country. It is expected to be complete and start its operation next year.
Adj. Prof. Dr. Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI), presided over an opening ceremony of the project of Thailand’s first Tokamak: “Artificial Sun,” a promising clean power source for Thais, together with Mr. Amphon Angkapakornkun, Governor of Nakhon Nayok Province; Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, Permanent-Secretary of MHESI; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thawatchai Onjun, Executive Director of Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (Public Organization) (TINT). On this occasion, Mr. Sathit Krongsut, Assistant Governor – Research, Innovation and Business Development of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), joined the ceremony and the discussion on the topic “Artificial Sun, a Promising Clean Energy Source for Thais (The Beginning and Opportunities of Thailand)” at TINT, Nakhon Nayok Province, on February 18, 2022.
EGAT Assistant Governor – Research, Innovation, and Business Development revealed that EGAT pays attention to new energy sources to cope with big changes, especially from the government’s policy to promote the use of electric vehicles; keep abreast of the global trend of carbon emissions reduction; and achieve Thailand’s Carbon Neutrality goal within 2050 and Net Carbon Zero goal in 2065-2070. EGAT has increased the share of renewable energy, e.g., wind, solar, biomass, to lower carbon emissions. However, renewable energy can be unstable due to natural conditions. So, the Artificial Sun can be a solution to disrupt the limitation because it is controllable, stable, and low-priced.
Mr. Sathit added that EGAT has followed and studied the progressively advanced fusion technology and aims to be one of the organizations that primarily uses fusion technology in generating electricity for power supply security. The technology works similarly to the power generation from fossil fuels, yet it has no carbon emissions. Besides, it can use numerous reserved fuels that can be found around the world. EGAT has been providing cash and in-kind supports to the TINT. EGAT researchers also join the research of the Artificial Sun to enable themselves to control the construction, dispatch, and maintenance, coupled with sharing some advice to make the design appropriate for Thailand.
According to the initial temperature of plasma at one hundred thousand degrees Celsius of the Thai Tokamak-1 or TT-1 jointly developed by Thailand and the Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP), the TINT will develop an electromagnetic wave heating system to raise the plasma temperature to 1 million degrees Celsius. In the future, it plans to design and invent a new Tokamak with a high-intensity magnetic field and heating sources to produce 1-million-degree-Celsius plasma. The Tokamak installed at the TINT will be a source of clean energy and is expected to start its operation within 2023.
