On 12 June 2026, Dr. Somboon Sahasithiwat, Executive Director of the National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), joined the TESTA Trip 1/2026, a member engagement activity organized by the Thailand Energy Storage Technology Association (TESTA). The activity was led by Dr. Pimpa Limthongkul, President of TESTA and Director of the Energy Innovation Research Group at ENTEC, together with Dr. Nattanai Kunanusont, Vice President of TESTA and Researcher at the Energy Innovation Research Group, ENTEC.
The visit aimed to promote knowledge exchange on energy storage technologies and end-of-life battery management. The program brought together TESTA committee members and representatives from government agencies, industry, and academia for a series of technical site visits in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, including Total Environmental Solutions Co., Ltd. (SK tes Thailand) and Wangnoi Power Plant, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).
At SK tes Thailand, the delegation was welcomed by Ms. Kornwika Chaiprateep, Deputy Managing Director, who provided an overview of the company’s operations and guided participants through its battery processing facilities. The visit highlighted the collection, sorting, and recycling processes for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, which play a crucial role in cost-effective resource management to support the development of a sustainable battery industry in line with Circular Economy principles.
The delegation then visited Wangnoi Power Plant, where they were welcomed by Mr. Yuthapong Tancharoen, Director of the Research and Innovation Division at EGAT. During the visit, participants received an overview of the plant’s operations and ongoing research and development activities related to battery management, including a scale-up pilot plant for recovering Black Mass from end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries and consumer electronic batteries. The project aims to advance sustainable battery waste management and strengthen resource circularity through the recovery of critical raw materials. The delegation also toured the pilot facility and observed the Black Mass recovery process, which enables the extraction of valuable mineral resources from spent lithium-ion batteries for reintegration into the battery supply chain.
During the event, Dr. Somboon delivered the welcoming remarks and reaffirmed ENTEC’s commitment to supporting TESTA’s mission. He emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration among industry, academia, and government agencies to advance research, technological development, and innovation in energy storage systems. Furthermore, he noted that ENTEC is committed to fostering a robust ecosystem for energy storage technologies in both power and electric mobility applications, helping drive the growth of Thailand’s clean energy industry, enhance national energy security, and support the country’s long-term energy transition toward sustainability.
