This philosophy has been advocated by the King, who wants to see people become self-reliant in energy and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
The Sufficiency Economy approach suggests a need to develop greater self-reliance through alternative energy sources and appropriate pricing.
The Government has established policies to promote solar bio-energy. The King initiated the production of biodiesel from palm oil in 1985, as a way of applying indigenous means to achieve self-sufficiency in energy.
He found that palm oil could be used as an alternative to diesel, and his formula was tested and introduced. Since then, Thailand has been making progress toward biofuel development.
The king’s innovation in biodiesel from the extraction of palm oil won the Gold Medal with Mention from Brussels Eureka 2001 in Belgium.
Inspired by this initiative, many communities in Thailand are producing biofuels for their own use in order to save on energy bills. This alternative energy helps ease local problems and leads to sustainable energy management at the community level. The king has made use of leftover material as an alternative energy source, as well.
So, biodiesel is a part of the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy which promoting to people alternative energy more, saving money and follow the King.