Policies suggestion toward low carbon electricity development in Thailand

Abstract

Implementing the low carbon electricity policy is a huge challenge for political leaders and regulators. To achieve the aggressive emission reduction target, it requires stringent control measures and incorporation among various stakeholders. Importantly, the implementation plans have to concern on cost-effectiveness of such policy and equity sharing among many stakeholder groups to reduce GHG emission. This research aims to identify implementation barriers and suggested policies toward low carbon electricity development in Thailand. The research divided into three main sections; (1) evaluation of current GHG emission level from electricity sector using mathematical model, (2) identification of obstructers delaying low carbon electricity development and (3) develop appropriate policies suggestions. In the model study, three scenarios were evaluated to identify contributions and challenges of establishing a sustainable energy supply system, including Business as usual (BAU), with nuclear scenario (WNC) and without nuclear (NNC) electricity development options. When compared with BAU pathway, the WNC and the NNC pathway can achieve emission reduction of 9.43 percent and 7.18 percent respectively. It should be noted that agriculture is a major sector for Thailand; high potentials for all types of renewable energies based on agricultural products exist in the country and can strengthen the national energy security. With high potentials of various renewable resources existed in the country, Thailand could potentially achieve it. Based on the analyses of potential sources and existing development conditions, the following low Carbon electricity development policies are formulated. The recommended policies toward low Carbon electricity development in Thailand include promotion of energy efficiency and demand reduction, strengthening collaborative and coordination among all governmental agencies, providing incentives for fuel diversification into low carbon emission, identification of new kind of renewable energy, revised the potential areas for renewable energy development, encouraging and promotional of local research and development and gaining more Benefits from CDM and preparing for GHG reduction burdens of the Post-Kyoto Protocol.