KKU signs MOU with BAFS for research and development of sustainable aviation fuel that will lead to higher security in energy, life quality and good environment.
Friday May 3, 2024, 13:30 p.m. at BAFS Grand Hall, 3rd Floor, Building No. 9, Don Muang Fuel Storage Station – Bangkok Aviation Fuel Service Public Company Limited (BAFS) held an MOU signing ceremony for research and development on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with Khon Kaen University and Naresuan University. Signing on BAFS’ part was M.L. Natthasith Dissakul, General Manager; and signing on KKU’s part was Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University. Attending as distinguished guests included administrators and research teams from Khon Kaen University and Naresuan University and the team from BAFS, as well as Assoc. Prof. Supawatanakorn Wongtanawasu, Ph.D., a senior researcher of the Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University and coordinators of the collaboration for the work to be carried out by the two universities and the company.
M.L. Natthasith Dissakul, BAFS General Manager explained about the collaboration that it emerged from the common awareness of the climate crisis faced by the world now, which brings impact on all sectors. The world population has therefore announced the intention to reduce the greenhouse gas to zero (Net Zero Emission). For Thailand, there is the target to reduce the emission to zero within 2065.
BAFS as the service provider and investigator of the quality of aviation oil with the experience in the operation of providing quality fuel to all flights in accordance with the international standard for 40 years, sees that Khon Kaen University and Naresuan University are the institutions with specialized personnel and researchers in alternative energy produced from plants and development of plant cultivars. Moreover, the universities are equipped with modern technologies ready to develop the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). BAFS is pleased to support research and development of technologies for high efficiency extraction in production of SAF. Under the collaboration, SAF quality will be checked and the prototype factory for manufacturing SAF fuel will be developed according to the international aviation standard.
“We believe that the long time experiences and expertise of the two universities will make the collaboration the important step in the joint development of SAF as the mechanism for driving forward the aviation industry with clean energy. Thailand’s agricultural sector will also be upgraded, leading to better and sustainable quality of life, society and the environment,” ended M.L. Natthasith.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said that Khon Kaen University was honored that Bangkok Aviation Fuel Service Public Company Limited (BAFS) sees that Khon Kaen University has researchers with expertise in bio-fuel, alternative fuel and potential technology and innovation to produce aviation fuel in the future. The collaboration corresponds to Khon Kaen University’s Key Performance Index (KPI) of Khon Kaen University in the strategy of Research Transformation.
The President added that the strategic objective to create the research ecosystem will benefit the private sector in applying the outcomes of research and academic services. Khon Kaen University and Bangkok Aviation Fuel Service Public Company Limited have the same aim to support research and development of aviation fuel for sustainability. The work will cover the process upstream to downstream and then extends to production at an industrial level for improving the quality of life, society, carbon neutrality, reduction of greenhouse gas to NET ZERO, and sustainable environment. The collaboration will double the power and lead to security in energy, quality of life, and good environment.
The MOU signing for research and development on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) of Khon Kaen University, Bangkok Aviation Fuel Service Public Company Limited (BAFS), and Naresuan University is an important part in deployment of alternative and renewable energy plan of Thailand.
News / Photos: Benjamaporn Mamook
Information / Photos: Assoc. Prof. Supawatanakorn Wongtanawasu, Ph.D., a senior researcher of the Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, coordinator for the collaboration