Thailand's electricity consumption in 2024 is still predominantly driven by fossil fuels, which account for more than two-thirds of the country's electricity generation. Gas is the major contributor, making up more than half of the electricity generated from fossil sources, followed by significant contributions from net imports and coal. On the clean energy front, low-carbon sources collectively make up around one-eighth of Thailand's total electricity production. Biofuels are the most significant low-carbon source, contributing close to half of the low-carbon share, with hydropower, solar, and wind contributing smaller shares. This distribution highlights a pressing need to bolster Thailand's clean electricity sources to move towards a more sustainable energy mix in the future.

Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Thailand?

Electricity consumption in Thailand is on the rise, as evidenced by the increase from 3083 kWh per person in 2023 to 3254 kWh per person in 2024. This remarkable growth of about 171 kWh per person indicates a healthy demand for electricity in the nation. Despite this overall increase, the share of low-carbon electricity has slightly decreased, as shown by the decline in per capita low-carbon electricity consumption from 420 kWh in 2018 to 413 kWh in 2024. This trend of decreasing low-carbon energy underscores the necessity of shifting the focus towards cleaner electricity generation to meet the growing demands sustainably.

Suggestions

To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Thailand can take inspiration from other regions that have successfully integrated solar, wind, and nuclear power into their energy grids. Countries like Nevada and California have demonstrated substantial capabilities in solar energy generation, reaching solar contributions of more than a quarter of their electricity. Additionally, nuclear power remains a robust option, as evidenced by leadership from countries like France and Slovakia, where nuclear is the predominant source of clean electricity. By prioritizing investments and policies that encourage the expansion of solar and nuclear energy, Thailand can follow a path to significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels, mitigate climate change impacts, and reduce air pollution.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Thailand reflects significant fluctuations, with both improvements and setbacks in different energy sectors. During the late 20th century, from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, hydropower saw periodic positive growth, with notable increases. However, the early 2000s brought declines, followed by recovery in the 2010s, albeit with some setbacks. Biofuels emerged in the 2010s with an initial surge but later experienced declines. Wind energy offers a promising avenue as well; although its contribution remains limited, it has shown signs of growth as demonstrated by the uptick in 2019. Overall, Thailand's journey toward sustainable electricity needs a rekindling of focus on stable and scalable clean energy sources like solar and nuclear to ensure long-term energy security and sustainability.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade