AI In-brief 17 Sept 09:56

Energy Ministry moves to filter $35bn 'phantom' data centre power requests

The Ministry of Energy is addressing an unprecedented 35 gigawatts (GW) in 'phantom' electricity capacity requests from data centres, a figure nearly matching Thailand's national peak consumption, to prevent wasteful infrastructure spending.
To counter over-requests, the ministry is vetting applications and will cap baseline data centre capacity at a conservative 8.8GW under the draft Power Development Plan (PDP 2026).
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) plans to invest approximately 35 billion baht ($1 billion) to upgrade grid infrastructure, focusing on high-demand areas and transitioning to a 'two-way dynamic grid' to accommodate genuine data centre growth and renewable energy expansion.
PDP 2026 will also shift grid security metrics to Loss of Load Expectation (LOLE) and enforce strict Grid Code requirements, obligating data centre operators to manage their own load fluctuations.

AI In-brief Yesterday 14:11

Panadda reports to Ban Na police to prove her innocence

Panadda Wongphudee, suspended chairwoman of the ‘Do Good Foundation’, reported to Ban Na police to deny allegations of encroaching on forest reserves with her husband for a trail run facility.
She presented a land contract, asserting her non-involvement in the alleged encroachment, stating the purchase was solely between her husband and the local administration.
Concurrently, Panadda faces a new accusation of public fraud, allegedly misusing foundation donations to build a pool villa in Phuket.
Concerns were raised regarding the foundation's three bank accounts for donations and the authority of her husband, who is not a board member, to approve foundation expenditures.