WHAUP Secures Aisin Powertrain (Thailand)’s Solar Rooftop Installation with 3.25 MW Capacity

Photo Caption: Mr. Somkiat Masunthasuwun (6^th from right), Chief Executive Officer of WHA Utilities and Power PLC, and Mr. Noritaka Kunieda (4^th from left), President of Aisin Powertrain (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (AIPT), Japan’s leading manufacturer of automatic transmission and drivetrain for automobiles, signed a solar rooftop purchase agreement with a capacity of 3.25 MW at WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate 2. This project enables AIPT to reduce electricity costs by up to THB 305 million and lower CO2 emissions by approximately 56,300 tons over its 25-year operational period. The initiative aligns with AIPT's commitment to carbon neutrality.

Bangkok - WHA Utilities and Power PLC (WHAUP) has announced its latest development, revealing that Aisin Powertrain (Thailand) Co., Ltd (AIPT), a manufacturer of automatic  transmission and drivetrain systems for automobiles, has recently entered into a solar rooftop power purchase agreement with a capacity of 3.25 MW at AIPT's plant located at WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate 2 (WHA ESIE 2) in Chonburi province. This partnership is expected to bring a substantial reduction in AIPT's electricity costs by up to THB 305 million, making a significant move towards its aim of becoming a carbon-neutral manufacturing plant. Mr. Somkiat Masunthasuwun, WHAUP CEO, stressed that this partnership aligns with WHAUP's target to achieve a total power generating capacity of 717.57 MW this year, according to the shareholding equity. Out of this capacity, 167.33 MW will be derived from solar rooftop projects.

WHAUP CEO Mr. Somkiat Masunthasuwun announced that the company signed a solar power purchase contract with Aisin Powertrain (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Japan’s leading manufacturer of automobile power transmission and gear systems on 27 June 2023. He said the company is honored to be trusted by AIPT. Under the solar rooftop project, WHAUP will install the solar panel on the rooftop of AIPT’s plant with a capacity of 3.25 MW at WHA ESIE 2 in Chonburi province. The installation is expected to be completed by mid-2024. Once the project is finished, it will not only help AIPT reduce its electricity costs by THB 305 million but also reduce CO2 emissions by 56,300 tons over the 25-year service life. This aligns with AIPT's policies in preserving the natural environment and addressing long-term environmental issues by reducing carbon emissions, mitigating global warming, and adapting to climate change. Moreover, this project will increase WHAUP's total power generating capacity according to shareholding equity to 717.57 MW, with 167.33 MW coming from the solar rooftop projects.

At the same time, the company remains committed to adopting technologies and innovations to further enhance its business operations, with a particular focus on leveraging renewable energy sources such as solar energy and industrial waste-to-energy. This includes the integration of digital solutions such as the implementation of a direct peer-to-peer energy trading platform between producers and consumers by employing a double-sided bidding algorithm. WHAUP also places great importance on ensuring the security of transactions and enhancing convenience in energy trading for both small-scale power producers and consumers by utilizing blockchain technology.

WHAUP maintains its commitment to inspire and serve companies both within and outside WHA industrial estates, urging them to adopt effective and cost-efficient renewable energy solutions to meet their high energy demands.

Mr. Noritaka Kunieda, President of Aisin Powertrain (Thailand) Co., Ltd., (AIPT) stated that the signing ceremony of the solar rooftop power purchase agreement between AIPT and WHAUP signifies the organization's unwavering commitment to achieve business growth and excellence in every dimension. The company’s vision is to become the “Best One Company" under the guiding principles of being "a company loved by employees, a company loved by customers, a company loved by the local community and society," which will, in turn, contribute to enhanced production efficiency. Presently, AIPT employs a total of 950 employees, comprising both Thai and Japanese. The AIPT Group of Companies is dedicated to creating a sustainable society in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The solar rooftop project is expected to fulfill the company's objectives in terms of reducing electricity costs by an average of THB 305 million and cutting CO2 emissions by up to 56,300 tons. This aligns with AIPT's ambitious goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2035, as envisioned in its energy efficiency program. With the Kaizen initiative, AIPT has streamlined working processes, leading to a yearly reduction in energy consumption by an average of 3%. The company has also adopted an implementation plan for utilizing renewable energy sources, with an initial target of meeting 15% of its energy needs through renewables by 2025, and aims to increase this to 40% by 2030, in line with the company's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a result, AIPT is confident that this project will yield mutual benefits in promoting long-term environmental solutions.