7.4.3 Energy efficiency services for industry

In 2025, Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) provided direct services to local industry aimed at improving energy efficiency and clean energy. Through the Faculty of Engineering, the university ran hands-on workshops, built and tested renewable energy prototypes with local producers, and shared the results of its own research on renewable energy options with farmers, community enterprises and engineers in Nakhon Nayok Province. All three services described below were free of charge for participants and were funded by the Faculty of Engineering.

Solar energy for local agricultural producers in Ongkharak

From 1 March to 15 July 2025, the Excellent Center for Sustainable Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering ran the project "Integration of Knowledge on Solar Energy Utilisation for Sustainable Development and Agricultural Innovation in Farming Communities in Nakhon Nayok Province". The project began with a survey of needs carried out with the Ongkharak Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, so that the technology would match the work of local farms. Based on this survey, the team calculated and designed a solar energy prototype for agricultural use, built it at the centre, tested it on site with the community, improved it according to the farmers' feedback, and then tested its performance and prepared a user and maintenance manual. This step-by-step design and testing work gave local producers a practical way to research renewable energy options for their own farms.

On 26–27 June 2025, the centre held a two-day workshop at the Ongkharak Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, Ongkharak District, Nakhon Nayok Province. A total of 129 people took part, including 84 farmers from Ongkharak and neighbouring subdistricts, 31 engineering students and 14 staff of the Faculty of Engineering. Five SWU trainers and one guest lecturer from Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi covered the principles of solar energy technology, solar cell systems and their components, system types and basic operation, examples of solar applications, and agricultural innovations powered by solar energy. On the second day, farmers worked in small groups to operate and test the mobile solar demonstration unit themselves.

The project helps local agricultural producers switch from fuel-based equipment to clean energy and cut their energy costs. According to the project report, participants gained the knowledge to apply solar energy in their daily work, reduce spending on fuel and become more self-reliant, while their farming became cleaner and less polluting. In the satisfaction survey of all 129 participants, 108 rated the usefulness of the training for practical application at the highest level. Farmers also asked for systems with a higher power rating, and the team recommended fixed installations as the next step, showing how the service continues to respond to the needs of local producers.

Figure 1: Faculty of Engineering staff assembling the solar water pump prototype at the Excellent Center for Sustainable Engineering

Figure 2: The completed mobile solar demonstration unit, with solar panels and a solar water pump mounted on a wheeled frame

Figure 3: SWU staff demonstrating the mobile solar pump unit (left) and local farmers and community leaders examining the system (right) at the Ongkharak Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, 26–27 June 2025

Source: https://ecse.eng.swu.ac.th/บริการวิชาการ/โครงการบริการวิชาการ/ปี-2568/โครงการการบูรณาการองค์ความรู้-การใช้แหล่งพลังงานจากแสงอาทิตย์-เพื่อการพัฒนาอย่างยั่งยืนสําหรับนวัตกรรมการเกษตรแก่ชุมชน-เกษตรกรรมพื้นที่จังหวัดนครนายก

High-efficiency, low-pollution kilns for community enterprises

The Department of Mechanical Engineering transferred the results of its research on a 600-litre community kiln, which produces biochar and wood vinegar from agricultural waste using hot gas from a biomass gas burner, to local producers. On 1–3 April 2025, the department held a workshop on producing wood vinegar and multi-purpose charcoal with this high-efficiency, low-pollution kiln at the Rak Din Than Phalangngan Yangyuen Community Enterprise (Sustainable Soil and Charcoal Energy Group) in Khao Phra Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nakhon Nayok. Participants came from local producer groups, including a fruit tree propagation group in Na Hin Lat Subdistrict, the Wang Krachom large-scale rice farming group, durian growers in Nakhon Nayok and the host community enterprise, with 45 to 50 people attending each day.

The training covered the principles of charcoal making and wood vinegar production, how to test the quality of wood, charcoal, wood vinegar and kiln gases, and how to turn these into community products. Each firing of the kiln produced about 200 kilograms of biochar and 400 litres of wood vinegar. The charcoal has a high heating value and low volatile content, so community members can use it as a clean energy source in place of cooking gas. By turning branches and crop residues into fuel instead of burning them in the open, the service makes better use of energy in local farming, reduces smoke and dust, and creates new products that the community enterprise can sell. From 27 to 30 June 2025, the team returned to follow up on the use of the kiln and its impact on the community.

Figure 4: Participants preparing agricultural waste and operating the high-efficiency, low-pollution kiln at the community enterprise in Khao Phra Subdistrict, 1–3 April 2025

Figure 5: The SWU team with participants (left) and local producers taking part in the workshop (right)

Source: https://ecse.eng.swu.ac.th/บริการวิชาการ/โครงการบริการวิชาการ/ปี-2568/โครงการอบรมเชิงปฏิบัติการและถ่ายทอดเทคโนโลยีการผลิตน้ําส้มควันไม้และถ่านอเนกประสงค์

Training local engineers in efficient automated control

Efficient control of machines is another way to save energy in industry. From April to June 2025, the Excellent Center for Sustainable Engineering ran five rounds of a two-day workshop on Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) for basic automation at the Ongkharak Campus. Of the 110 participants, 72 came from outside the university, mainly engineers from different fields and local people interested in industrial automation. They learned PLC basics, wiring, ladder diagram programming and connection with external devices such as sensors and pneumatic systems. The project report notes that well-designed control systems reduce waste from machines and lower the energy they use, helping local industry to run more efficiently.

Figure 6: Participants practising PLC wiring and programming at the Ongkharak Campus

Figure 7: Hands-on practice with PLC and pneumatic training boards (left) and wiring control circuits (right)

Source: https://ecse.eng.swu.ac.th/บริการวิชาการ/โครงการบริการวิชาการ/ปี-2568/โครงการอบรมการใช้งานโปรแกรมเมเบิลลอจิกคอลโทรลเลอร์-PLC-สําหรับควบคุมระบบอัตโนมัติขั้นพื้นฐาน

Engineering expertise for cleaner local production

Through these free services, SWU puts its engineering expertise directly at the service of local industry. Farmers, community enterprises and engineers in Nakhon Nayok gain the skills and tools to improve energy efficiency and adopt clean energy, from solar-powered farm equipment to efficient biomass kilns and well-controlled machines. These efforts contribute to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.