A March 9, 2019 news report from The Diplomat indicated that Thailand’s coal power estimates show that around 12% of the total energy production will be generated from coal-based sources by 2037. The coal power generation in Thailand in the near-future is most likely to be affected due to the implementation of the new Power Development Plan (PDP, 2018-2037). The new PDP, which will officially be launched in the second quarter of 2019, plans to boost power generation from renewable energy sources thereby leading to a low-carbon society.

The news report estimates the future trend of coal power sources in Thailand by stating “Compared to the past PDP (2015-2036), which emphasized the need for coal in future power capacity, including planning to develop controversial coal-fired plants in southern Thailand, the new PDP (2018-2037) indicates that the percentage of total power capacity from coal-fired power plants will be reduced to 12%”.  

Finally, the news report also predicts the future scenario of coal power in Thailand, which is likely to decline and pave way for the growth of renewable energy sources. However, the news report suggests that it will not be feasible for coal power to be completely phased-out from Thailand. The key reason for this being that because Thailand is a developing country, it is likely to remain dependent on electricity generation from coal-based sources in order to keep up with the rising consumer demands for electricity in the near-future.

To view the news report by the diplomat please visit: https://thediplomat.com/2019/03/thailands-renewable-energy-transitions-a-pathway-to-realize-thailand-4-0/

Thailand is certainly moving in the right direction by proposing measures to boost the growth of renewable energy sources. Once the new Power Development Plan (PDP, 2018-2037) is officially implemented in the second quarter of 2019, it will pave way for energy-efficient technologies, strong investments for power generation from renewable energy sources, along with the facilitation of well-formulated renewable energy projects/schemes. Most importantly, the new PDP which proposes a significant 12% target in power generation from coal-based sources by 2037 will help strengthen Thailand’s commitments to the Paris Agreement. Here, the development of “low carbon society” under the new PDP is likely to result in large-scale greenhouse gas emissions reduction thereby strengthening Thailand’s INDC targets.

To help Thailand in successfully meeting the 12% power generation target from coal-based power sources by 2037, you can contact the members of the Ministry of Energy, Thailand with the following Action Alert message:

We congratulate the Government of Thailand for proposing plans to decrease power generation from coal-based sources in the near-future. Reduction in coal-based power generation will certainly help in boosting the growth of renewable energy along with providing cleaner sources of power generation. To ensure that the target proposed by the new Power Development Plan (PDP, 2018-2037) of 12% power generation from coal-sources by 2037 is successfully achieved; your role will be critical.

As a prominent member of the Ministry of Energy, Thailand, I kindly request you to facilitate appropriate evaluation and monitoring plans under the new PDP. Such evaluation and monitoring plans should incorporate appropriate measures to monitor & evaluate the power generation from coal-sources in an annual basis. This can be done by preparing annual reports, which shows 1) Thailand’s coal power generation for that year; and 2) a summary, which shows whether Thailand is achieving or lagging behind the 2037 target.

Here, active stakeholder participation between the government bodies, citizens, power-generation authorities, and other responsible project proponents will be an imperative in order to come up with the best-possible monitoring and evaluation plans.

Send Action Alert Message to:

Mr. Yongyut Jantararotai

Director General

Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy

17 Rama 1 Rd, Kasatsuk Bridge,

Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Thailand,

Telephone: +662-223-0021-9, Ext: 1021

Email: yongyutJ2@gmail.com