On June 12, 2024, the Ministry of Energy organized a public hearing on the "Draft Thailand’s Power Development Plan, 2024-2037 (PDP 2024)" and the "Draft Gas Plan 2024-2037 (Gas Plan 2024)" to discuss among representatives from government agencies and state enterprises.
The draft PDP 2024 forecasts that peak demand in Thailand will reach 56,133 megawatts (MW) by the end of the plan in 2037 and plans for 77,407 MW of new power generation capacity. Currently, there is 53,868 MW of contracted power generation capacity in Thailand (as of December 2023). In the long-term, power plants with 18,884 MW of existing power generation capacity will be decommissioned during the plan period. Therefore, by the end of the plan in 2037, Thailand will have a total of 112,391 MW of contracted power generation capacity.
The 77,407 MW of new power generation capacity will come from three sources as follows:
New power generation capacity of 47,251 MW i.e., 34,851 MW for renewable energy, 6,300 MW for combined-cycle power plants, 600 MW of nuclear power (Small Modular Reactor: SMR), 3,500 MW for imported power from neighboring countries and 2,000 MW for other sources (DR, V2G)
Reserve power generation capacity of 12,957 MW i.e., 2,472 MW for Pumped Storage Hydropower Plants and 10,485 MW for Battery Energy Storage Systems
Power generation from power plants with existing contracts of 17,199 MW
The new renewable energy generation capacity, totaling of 34,851 MW, are for 24,412 MW of Solar power, 5,345 MW of wind power, 1,045 MW of biomass, 936 MW of biogas, 2,681 MW of floating solar power, 12 MW of industrial waste to energy, 300 MW of municipal waste to energy, 99 MW of small hydropower and 21 MW of geothermal power. This will increase the overall share of renewable energy to 51%, up from 36% in the PDP 2018 Revision 1.
The average electricity tariff throughout the PDP 2024 plan is expected to be 3.8704 baht per unit, lower than the 3.9479 baht per unit in the PDP 2018 Revision 1 (with assuming the same parameters).
Mr.Veerapat Kiatfuengfoo, Director General of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), said that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) will be responsible for developing floating solar power plants with a total capacity of 2,681 MW. However, if floating solar power generation seems to have more potential in the future, the 24,412 MW of solar power generation capacity could be shifted to floating solar power instead.
New power plants during the period of 2024-2037 that EGAT will be an operator are North Bangkok Power Plant Unit 3 (700 MW) in 2028, South Bangkok Power Plant Unit 5 (700 MW) in 2030, Chana Power Plant Unit 3 (700 MW) in 2034, South Bangkok Power Plant Unit 6 (700 MW) in 2035, North Bangkok Power Plant Unit 4 (700 MW) in 2036.
In addition, there are pumped storage hydropower plants planned for Chulabhorn Dam (801 MW) in 2034, Vajiralongkorn Dam (891 MW) in 2036, and Kathun Dam (780 MW) in 2037. There is also a small nuclear power plant (SMR), totaling 600 MW in 2037 that it is likely that EGAT will also be the operator of the plant due to its potential. In conclusion, EGAT will acquire totaling approximately 6,572 MW of the new power capacity in 2024-2037.
The Draft Gas Plan 2024 forecasts demand for natural gas during 2024-2037 about 4,700-4,800 million cubic feet per day. The plan aims to increase domestic gas supplies from potential sources in the Gulf of Thailand and Myanmar, thereby reducing reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. The plan does not consider in potential gas supply from the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) between Cambodia and Thailand due to ongoing uncertainties.
According to Mr. Prasert Sinsukprasert, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, the Draft PDP 2024 has not ruled out the development of EGAT’s 1,400 MW Surat Thani Power Plant. While the power plant was not included in the PDP 2018 and the Draft PDP 2024, further feasibility studies are needed due to the high investment costs for construction of the project, particularly the construction of a long-distance gas pipeline exceeding 100 kilometers to deliver gas to the power plant, are a major concern. Additionally, there should be a study to determine whether to construct a gas receiving and distribution depot or a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), considering potential environmental impacts.
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