Wind energy singled out as highest-potential renewable fuel for Thailand

GE Energy, a global supplier of power-generation and energy-delivery technology, has singled out wind energy as the highest-potential renewable fuel for Thailand this year after hydropower. Solar energy comes next as the most appropriate source of energy for the country, said John Rice, the president and chief executive officer for GE Energy. According to Mr Rice, GE Energy expects global revenue of US$2 billion from its wind power generator business in 2005. New low-speed wind turbine power generators will be launched in Thailand and other countries that have similar climates in the next 12-18 months.

At the same time, GE Energy will improve its solar-cell equipment by making the sizes smaller and providing higher solar density, added Mr Rice. ``As long as worldwide demand for energy grows at 8% per year, our renewable energy delivery products will successfully generate revenue due to the fact that people replace fossil fuel with renewable energy gradually,'' said Mr Rice. In Thailand, sales volume of GE renewable energy delivery equipment is forecast to rise on the back of a state regulation that requires independent power producers (IPPs) to produce a minimum 5% of its total power from renewable energy sources, said Mr Rice.

GE Energy expects to post a double-digit growth rate this year. Its total revenue grew 40% to US$150 million in Thailand last year from $110 million in 2003. According to Mr Rice, GE Energy will take the opportunity of high oil prices to develop products that meet customers' demands. ``We believe that the situation will become better in the near future because Thailand is a resilient economy. What we have to do is to understand and provide right products to respond the growth in the country,'' said Mr Rice. GE Energy expects to position Thailand as its Asian service centre in the near future because the company has a strong relationship with partners and customers in the country and the local workforce is efficient in terms of numbers, cost and skills. The total business volume of GE Energy services in Thailand is worth around US$250 million per year.