2011 International Conference on Alternative Energy in Developing Countries and Emerging Economies
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conservation in all sectors – household, industrial,
services and commerce and transportation. Incentives
will be provided to attract private sector to opt for
energy-saving appliances, reduce consumption during
peak period. Also, government will research,
develop and set standards for electrical appliances
and energy conservation buildings. To reduce the
country’s investment in energy procurement, the
development of mass public transportation and
railway system to promote effective energy use will
be encouraged. Last but not least, four main
initiatives – Revolving Fund for Renewable Energy
and Energy Efficiency (RE/EE), ESCO venture
capital funds, Tax incentives for energy saving and
DSM Bidding – were collaboratively created by the
Ministry of Energy and the private sector to stimulate
investments in energy efficiency.
5.
To support energy development while
simultaneously protecting the environment.
Thailand
has concerned about environmental impact generated
mainly by refineries, power plants, and transportation
sector. Therefore, strong environmental protection
policy will be developed and implemented. For
international climate change collaboration, Thailand
supports the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
projects to reduce social and environmental impact
and reduce GHG emissions. Its CO
2
emission
reduction is planned at least 1 million tons per year.
The impact of climate change on Thailand’s
renewable energy policy
Thai government has spent up to THB 13 billion
($394 million) to relieve people who suffer from
natural disaster in the last 10 years. Notable climate
change impact is rainfall pattern changes – shorter
wet season and longer dry season periods,
unpredictable floods or droughts - resulting in
landslides, river bank erosion, reduced crops’
productivity and food security, poverty, indebtedness,
and impacts on natural habitats and ecosystems.
Having realized that the country is ranked 23
rd
emitter in the world [7] and concerned about climate
change impact, Thailand commits to contribute to
mitigate the impact of climate change as a member of
the global community. The implementation of the
new 15-Year REDP and phase 3 (2005 -2011) of the
Energy Conservation Program (ENCON) will be a
key to succeed in mitigating GHG emissions and
climate change impact.
Thailand’s renewable energy roadmap – 2008-2022
Under the 15-Year REDP, the roadmap is divided
into three phases (see Figure 2: Thailand’s renewable
energy roadmap (2008-2022) and Table 2: 15-Year
REDP’s detailed goals)
Phase 1: Short-term (2008-2011) – 15.6 percent of
renewable energy in the total energy consumption.
This stage focuses on proven renewable energy
technologies promotion and the high-potential
renewable energy resources such as biofuels, power
generation, and thermal energy from biomass and
biogas with full financial support.
Phase 2: Medium-term (2012-2016) - 19.1 percent
of renewable energy in total energy consumption.
The second phase concentrates on the efforts to
promote the renewable energy technology industry,
to support the new renewable energy technology
prototype development to make it economically
sound, and to encourage new technologies in the
biofuels production, the green city model
development, and the strengthening of the local
energy production.
Phase 3: Long-term (2017 – 2022) – 20.3 percent
of renewable energy in total energy consumption.
This phase emphasizes on the promotion of
economically viable new renewable energy
technology including the further implementation of
the green city and local energy, and to promote
Thailand as the ASEAN biofuels and renewable
energy technology export hub.
Fig. 2: Thailand’s renewable energy roadmap (2008 – 2022).
TABLE II
15-
YEAR RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
