Mitsubishi Motors Thailand Launches New CSR Program with Solar Power ‘SOLAR FOR LIVES’ - to drive Thailand toward a carbon-neutral society

Bangkok, 11 January 2022: In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO: public organization), Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) held the MoU signing ceremony on a new environmental project called ‘Solar for Lives’, whereby Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) will install solar panel system to generate electricity at Thai community hospitals across the kingdom.

In partnership with Thailand’s Public Health Ministry, EGAT, and TGO, Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) has invested 60 million baht during this stage of the ’Solar for Lives’ project to provide solar panel system, including yearly maintenance, for 40 community hospitals countrywide by 2032. The solar panels can generate electricity up to a 25-year period. The project will help reduce the hospitals’ carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions more than 17,300 tons over the next ten years. Besides, it will reduce the electricity expenses up to 400,000 baht per year for one hospital.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Mr. Eiichi Koito, President & CEO of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) remarked, “As a part of Thai society, we want to see the better lives of Thai people. ‘Solar for Lives’ project has been initiated as our CSR direction, “To contribute and Grow with Thai Society” in three areas: Education, Environment, and Health. The project will provide Thais better health through supported hospitals while creating the better environment towards carbon neutral direction. Our company has a clear direction and consistent actions towards a carbon-neutral society. We installed solar panel at our production facility’s rooftop in Laem Chabang, Chonburi, reducing C02 emissions by more than 6,100 tons per year. Our Outlander PHEV is the most environmental friendly vehicle, according to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In addition, we also support carbon emission reduction through 60 Years 60 Rai reforestation project.”

Based on the recommendations by the Public Health Ministry, location of community hospitals where to equip the solar panels depend on needs of those hospital and their physical structure. Nam Phong Hospital in Khon Kaen province will be the first hospital to be equipped with solar panels.

M.D. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Health said: “Hospitals use a huge amount of energy for 24/7 operations. There is a possibility for community hospitals to expand the service plan in order to enhance the people’s access to medical treatments. With stable electricity from solar panels, our community hospitals can increase the efficiency of the services and minimize the opportunity gap of healthcare services. This project can clearly support the Ministry of Public Health’s challenge by creating the sustainable energy for hospitals. Moreover, this project also promotes the Thai Government’s strategic direction towards a carbon-neutral society.”

Mr. Suttipong Chalermkiat, Assistant Governor - Sustainability Management of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) said that for the cooperation under the project ‘Solar for Lives’, EGAT will give technical advice about solar cell maintenance as well as support for the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) issuance processes, which EGAT has been authorized to be the sole trader in Thailand, in order to support international companies that wish to invest in Thailand and need electricity generated from green energy (RE100 companies). Furthermore, EGAT will continue to collaborate with Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) in CSR projects in the future.

Meanwhile, EGAT is ready to drive Thailand towards its clean energy goal and has set a policy to achieve the ‘EGAT Carbon Neutrality’ by 2050 under the ‘Triple S’ strategy, namely 1.Sources Transformation: specifying the renewable energy ratio and integrating renewable energy innovation so that electricity can be generated continuously and with stability, such as the Hydro-Floating Solar Hybrid and Battery Energy Storage System Project with the total generating capacity of 5,325 MW in 2037, 2.Sink Co-creation: participatory carbon absorption, such as EGAT and allies’ goal to reforest an area of one million rai under the Participatory One-Million-Rai Reforestation Project within 10 years (2022 - 2031), and 3.Support Measures Mechanism: mechanisms to support projects that concretely offset and avoid carbon dioxide emissions, whereby EGAT has been promoting energy efficiency to reduce electricity demands and avoid carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation, such as the Label No.5 Project.

Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), as one of the partners of the project, will provide technical cooperation and support the process of Thailand Voluntary Emission Reduction Program (T-VER) registration.

Mr. Kiatchai Maitriwong, Executive Director of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization), said “TGO takes a leading role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Thailand with the aim of driving ambition for carbon neutrality through cooperation among the government, private sectors as well as local communities to promote and support Thailand's greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement’s intentions, and we are only the carbon credit certification agency in Thailand. In addition, the TGO has developed the Thailand Voluntary Emission Reduction Program or 'T-VER program’ as a mechanism to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Thailand. TGO will be the authorized organization to allow this program’s registration and certify the number of greenhouse gases being reduced or stored in ‘Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalents’, also known as 'Carbon Credits', which can be exchanged or bought-and-sold to offset greenhouse gas emissions from organizations, events, products or individuals.

The MoU signing between Mitsubishi Motors Thailand and the TGO to install solar panel system at Thai community hospitals is a good initiative to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at community level with the aim to save electricity cost for community hospitals. This CSR project can be continued to T-VER registration and carbon credit certification.

Mitsubishi Motors Thailand plays an important role to create a carbon-neutral society which is part of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s environmental policy. With the policy, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation expects 40 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from its new cars and business activities and raising the proportion of electrified vehicles in the total sales to 50 percent by 2030.

About Mitsubishi Motors Thailand (MMTh)

Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd., the largest plant in the MMC group and an export hub to more than 120 countries, is one of Thailand’s leading automotive manufacturers committed to produce and sell a range of vehicles that are eco-friendly, high in quality, performance, safety, comfort, technology and customer satisfaction. In 2018 MMTh celebrated a total production of five million units, and officially opened Education Academy in Pathum Thani. MMTh’s current range of vehicles includes MITSUBISHI TRITON, MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT, MITSUBISHI ATTRAGE, MITSUBISHI MIRAGE, MITSUBISHI XPANDER, MITSUBISHI XPANDER CROSS and MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV. To ensure the highest quality, MMTh uses its proving ground in Si Racha, Chonburi to assess products from design and prototype stages to pre-production and commercialization. This ensures customers take delivery of vehicles that are second-to-none in all aspects of quality.

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