Title: The photovoltaic boat for eco-tourism development in Koh Rattanakosin

Authors: Prapon Usirichun, Joseph Khedari, Jongjit Hirunlabh

Addresses: Division of Energy Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), 126 Pracha-utit Road, Thungkru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand; Building Scientific Research Center (BSRC), Institute for Scientific and Technological Research and Services, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), 126 Pracha-utit Road, Thungkru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand. ' Rattanakosin College For Sustainable Energy Environment (RCSEE), Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin (RMUTR), 96 Mu 3 Phutthamonthon Sai 5 Road, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand. ' Division of Energy Technology, School of Energy, Environment and Materials, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), 126 Pracha-utit Road, Thungkru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand; Building Scientific Research Center (BSRC), Institute for Scientific and Technological Research and Services, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), 126 Pracha-utit Road, Thungkru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand

Abstract: Every year more than ten million foreign tourists visited Bangkok, Thailand and most of them visited the main historical attraction; Koh Rattanakosin. This research aimed to build a prototype of photovoltaic boat to serve tourists at Koh Rattanakosin, make low noise (70 dBA) and to support the eco-tourism policy. Four hundred twenty persons were surveyed using a questionnaire. Analysis indicated that most of them wish the Thai Government to use PV boat to promote eco-tourism and to protect the environment.

Keywords: photovoltaic boats; Koh Rattanakosin; solar energy; boat nosie; eco-tourism; renewable energy; Thailand; solar power; alternative propulsion; Thailand; tourist boats.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2011.041974

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2011 Vol.10 No.2, pp.209 - 228

Received: 03 Nov 2010
Accepted: 28 Apr 2011
Published online: 21 Feb 2015 *

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