From: sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu (Schitt Laowattana)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Re: Thailand needs Technology
Date: 6 Nov 92 17:30:50 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.8eynVeu00iV3M8BY9z
Organization: Doctoral student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Excerpts from netnews.soc.culture.thai: 6-Nov-92 Re: Thailand needs 
Technology by Tim Stilwell@Auspex.COM, Khun Tim writes 

> I am very busy learning and working with computers.  I lack the skill
required
>  
> to sell products, but if I do not see solar panels installed en masse on Thai
> homes within the next 2 years, I will quit working with computers and bring
> this technology to Thailand myself.

    You have to be very careful in comercializing solar cells in
Thailand due to these following factors:

    1. Buying power of ordinary people

    2. Its selling price must beat ones from conventional energy sources

    3. Supported technology and industry.  I believe that currently
binding those solar cells together still could not be done in Thailand.
To achieved a claimed 76-80% effeciency, the materials must also be well
homogeneous.  The present prototye of Thai solar cell requires a cycle
time in R&D and designing before leapfrog to comercial product.  It is
obvious that imported solar cell will definitely not do anything good
for you.  Technological licencing from foriegn companies and assemble
setup in Thailand may be better.  Referring to my previous posts, it is
possible to get BOI(Board of Investment) incentives if your factory
supports R&D within Thailand.

        In Thailand, we've begun R&D in this area of Non-Conventional
Energy during the oil crisis.  The popularity of this alternative energy
source also leads to a beautiful term: Appropriate Technology(many
people are talking about it with less understanding).  In 1977, King
Mongkut's Insitute of Technolgy Thonburi(KMITT) established the first
and only "School of Energy".  Most of research at this school has been
in the area of Thermal sciences from solar energy.  A renowned national
expert is Prof. Prida Wibulsawasd who is currently affiliated with KMITT
and Asian Institute of Technology.  He obtained his Ph.D from University
of London, Imperial College, UK.

        For energy-conversion type(Solar cell), Prof. Somsak  Punyakaew
at Chulalongkorn University should be the most knowledgeble researcher.
He holds Ph.D from Osaka University, Japan.   

        I mention about these two seniors just in case you're serious to
setup R&D cooperation in Thailand along with your "solar cell" business.
 You may want to contact them.


Warm Regards,


Schitt(DJ)  Laowattana

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Carnegie Mellon University
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e-mail: sl2k@andrew.cmu.edu


Permanent Address in Thailand:

Center of Operation for FIeld roBOtics Development(FIBO)
King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Thonburi
91 Suksawasd 48  Ratburana  Bangmod
Bangkok 10140, Thailand

Tel. No. 428-3374, 427-4421 and 4270151-9 Ext. 461
Fax. No. 427-8077, 427-8787

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Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai