Budget OK'd to promote LEDs, energy-saving air-conditioners
THE Energy Conservation Promotion Fund's committee gave the green light for a Bt4.93-billion budget to drive 14 energy-strategy projects including the promotion of inverter air-conditioners and LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs.
Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee said after the committee’s meeting on Monday that the Bt4.93-billion budget was set aside for agencies to proceed with 14 energy-conservation and renewable-energy projects.
The budget includes Bt1.5 billion for working capital in conjunction with financial institutions for manufacturers and service operators’ reduction of energy costs. Repayment is set for eight years.
Employing such funds aims at fast economic stimulus. It is an extension of the previous Bt7.8-billion budget for investing in nearly 300 energy-related projects worth Bt16 billion. This helped save about Bt6.8 billion and reduced crude-oil imports by 320,000 tonnes per year.
According to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, Thailand has set four records in six months, so the Energy Ministry proposed to the meeting accelerated promotion of high-efficiency electric appliances with new technology, which could reduce power demand by half.
Examples include LED bulbs and inverter air-conditioners. However, their prices remain high.
The committee also agreed to set aside more money for installing LEDs in public areas, while promoting them in more provinces after more than a half-price reduction.
An additional Bt2.5-billion budget is also allocated to promote inverter-system air-conditioners. Information on how much energy they save will be disseminated to the public.
The fund also champions the installation of LEDs in urban areas and roads at risk of violence and 10-30-kilowatt solar-power generation systems in 30 "sufficiency economy" villages in the three southernmost provinces.
