At Banpu NEXT, our vision is “Innovating Infinite Energy Solutions to All”. We have an ambition is to support other companies’ transition Towards Carbon Neutrality and Net Zero for a sustainable future: Sinon Vongkusolkit, CEO

“We prioritize upskilling and reskilling our people to keep them well-equipped for evolving global energy trends.”

Banpu NEXT, a leading Smart Energy Solutions provider in Asia-Pacific, is a subsidiary of Banpu PCL. It was established in 2020 based on BANPU’s foresight of a greener, smarter, and more sustainable future.

Banpu NEXT is positioned as a flagship company in BANPU’s portfolio diversification into clean energy and energy technology. It invests in the development of clean energy solutions in alignment with future energy trends, focusing on sustainability targets based on ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) approach, including net-zero emissions as a global megatrend.

Combining technology with innovation, Banpu NEXT creates Smart Energy Solutions for Sustainability to enable the transformation of people’s lives and businesses towards a greener and smarter energy by enabling them to tap into the infinite of clean energy.

The Silicon Review reached out Mr. Sinon Vongkusolkit, CEO of Banpu NEXT, and here’s what he had to say.

Interview Highlights

Q. How does Banpu NEXT support the sustainable development of businesses? What are its focus areas?

Banpu NEXT creates total Smart Energy Solutions for Sustainability. As a long-term partner for businesses, we tailor smart energy solutions to the diverse needs of customers across business and industrial sectors

in one stop with a focused mindset to help drive positive results for the business, society, the environment, and people in three core areas.

Profit – Enable businesses to tap into the infinite of clean energy and take business achievements to the next level that goes beyond profit maximization.

Planet – Drive the development of a low-carbon society, take care of the environment, reduce the use of natural resources, and minimize impacts on the environment.

People – Bring sustainable betterment of lives to end-users and society at large.

Q. What more can you tell us about your Smart Energy Solutions?

Banpu NEXT provides Smart Energy Solutions for Sustainability through our expertise in five businesses.

Renewable Energy Generation – We are engaged in renewable power generation and distribution with a large growing portfolio of investment in strategic energy markets across Asia-Pacific, including solar farms & rooftops in Thailand, China, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia and wind farms in Vietnam.

Energy Storage Systems – Through our investment in Durapower Holding Limited, a Singapore-based global leader in performance lithium-Ion battery storage solutions, we develop energy storage systems for electric vehicles and stationary applications and ensure efficient and continuous availability of power supply in all scenarios. Most recently, we have partnered with Cherdchai Motor Sales, the largest bus operator in Thailand to set up lithium-Ion battery production in Thailand due to becoming operational in early 2023. The new battery assembly plant will produce battery systems for Cherdchai’s e-Buses and capture opportunities in the growing market for electric vehicles (EVs) across Asia-Pacific along with a plan to expand its production capacity to 1 GWh by 2026.

Energy Trading – We have expert traders to secure electricity supply to our pool of committed clients in Japan and capture arbitrages; and looking to expand further into liberalized markets. Our planned and under construction battery farms in Japan will be an exciting jigsaw to boost our trading capability.

E-mobility – We offer customizable EV-related services including EV car sharing, EV Tuk-Tuks hailing, EV charging platform. To which these can be customized per customers' private utilization. Additionally, we provide full EV fleet management business linked with digital platform to support logistic partners.

Smart City & Energy Management – We provide energy solutions including rooftops, cooling, other smart infra expertise with AI analytics to optimize building and city energy management, including energy consumption evaluation and analysis for lower energy cost and efficient energy management.

We also integrated advanced technologies into 24/7 after-sales service by developing an application and digital platform to equip our customers with the convenience of real-time energy management on an integrated digital platform.

Q. How does Banpu NEXT create and sustain a culture of innovation?

Banpu Group is accelerating Banpu Transformation with a “Greener & Smarter” approach as we make our transition using a digital transformation strategy called “Banpu Must-Win”: 1) Digital – to build awareness of digital-as-usual; 2) Agile – to upskill individuals and teams in agile methods and tools; 3) Design – to design and develop powerful digital products and solutions; and 4) Growth – to unlock new growth and revenue paths. We nurture Digitalization, Agile, and Growth mindset through various activities. For example, our “NEXT Incubator” program turns creative ideas of our talents into proof of concept through short-term projects with budget support. It provides a bootcamp complete with mentorship. Participants are required to present their project to qualify for further development into a solution with the capability to meet customers' needs. Another example is “Banpu Hackathon” that gives our people an experience of beginning a startup or reinventing an existing business of Banpu.

We have a corporate culture called “Banpu Heart” which is characterized by three core values: Passionate, Innovative, and Committed. We prioritize upskilling and reskilling our people to keep them well-equipped for evolving global energy trends. This has become the DNA of the Banpu people. At the same time, we encourage our people to fully unleash their creativity and capabilities. Innovation, technology, and digitization are also embraced company-wide, fusing them with “agile working” approach to boost productivity and create a favorable environment for product and service development that will meet future needs, improve quality of life with better energy, and deliver energy technology that will enhance modern-day lifestyles of people.

Q. Tell us about the Banpu NEXT team. What value do they bring to the company?

Banpu NEXT team brings innovative, energetic, agile enthusiasm to the company. We are adaptable to changes, thanks to continuous growth, business diversification, and the need to collaborate with fellow Banpu people across Asia Pacific. All these trained us to work with high levels of adaptability and agility, and drive for Banpu Transformation.

In addition to internal collaboration, Banpu NEXT works with key stakeholders and continuously explores partnership opportunities. Together with our partners, we synergize expertise and innovation to co-develop the best solutions to provide even greater competitiveness and capability to meet the needs of customers. Together, we help customers build higher business values and more sustainable growth while supporting them to achieve their ESG/SDG goals, transform into a low-carbon business, and contribute to a net-zero society.

Q. Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up?

Banpu NEXT’s ambition is to be your long-term partner for clean energy and technology; and to support your Net Zero journey. Our presence in various countries allow us to provide these services at a regional level.

“Our ambition is to be your long-term partner for clean energy and technology; and to support your Net Zero Journey.”