Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded a technical assistance grant to Thailand’s Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to help modernize its electrical grid and transform the delivery of power to more than 20 million customers across Thailand. USTDA’s grant will help digitalize PEA’s grid, enabling the integration of advanced technologies that will increase energy efficiency, lower costs for consumers and support the utilization of renewable energy. PEA has selected California-based Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to carry out the assistance.
“For more than 20 years, USTDA has partnered with PEA to support the expansion and evolution of its power systems through thoughtful analysis and planning,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Acting Director. “This project will accelerate the utility’s digital transformation to better meet the needs of Thailand’s consumers. It will address climate change through greater energy efficiency, while creating export opportunities for U.S. suppliers of high-quality grid solutions. This is USTDA’s eleventh collaboration with PEA, which has made numerous investments in American information and communications technology infrastructure as a result of our partnership.”
USTDA’s technical assistance will deliver a world-class information architecture and data management strategy to accelerate PEA’s adoption of smart grid infrastructure and other advanced technologies. The digitalization of PEA’s network will also enable greater integration of renewable power generation and deployment of distributed energy resources such as battery storage and electric vehicles across Thailand. Ultimately, these improvements will advance Thailand’s role as a regional leader in digitalization and green transformation of the economy.
“PEA expresses gratitude to USTDA for its ongoing assistance and welcomes EPRI’s technical contributions,” said Sompong Preeprem, PEA Governor. “PEA is confident that USTDA’s thoughtful actions together with EPRI’s guidance will bring successful outcomes. Digitalized management of grid model data will enable PEA to more rapidly modernize its grid and integrate advanced technologies.”
EPRI President and CEO, Dr. Arshad Mansoor, added, “EPRI is thrilled to help modernize Thailand’s grid. Gathering, managing, and analyzing data – electricity supply, demand, consumption, price, reliability risks, among other variables – is essential to efficient energy resource management. Electricity is the backbone of any economy and its reliable, affordable delivery is critical to economic prosperity for Thailand and the entire Southeast Asia region. Global electricity demand continues to rise, and as more segments of our global economy become reliant on electricity, projects like the one underway at PEA are timely and necessary.”
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
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