Electricity in Thailand in 2024
In 2024, Thailand's electricity generation heavily relies on fossil fuels, with more than 70% of its electricity coming from such sources. Natural gas forms the majority, contributing close to 58% of the total electricity, followed by coal at approximately 14%. Net electricity imports make up almost 16% of the mix, serving as a significant supplement to domestic generation. In contrast, low-carbon or clean energy sources account for slightly more than 12% of Thailand’s electricity. Here, biofuels take the lead with just over 5%, while hydropower, solar, and wind together contribute approximately 7%. This leaves much room for Thailand to expand its clean electricity generation, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change and air pollution.
Suggestions
To boost Thailand’s low-carbon electricity generation, learning from countries with similar settings might offer beneficial insights. For instance, Denmark harnesses wind energy to supply over half of its electricity, demonstrating the potential of wind power in suitable climates. Chile and Greece have also made commendable progress in solar power generation, reaching shares above 20%. By adopting similar strategies, Thailand can increase its solar and wind capacity. Additionally, exploring nuclear energy offers substantial advantages; countries like Slovakia and Ukraine generate more than half of their electricity from nuclear sources. Nuclear energy, being both a reliable and large-scale clean electricity solution, could significantly contribute to diversifying Thailand's energy mix in an environmentally sustainable direction.
History
Throughout its history, Thailand has seen various fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation, particularly in hydropower and biofuels. In the 1980s and 1990s, hydropower saw gradual increases, although there were notable declines towards the end of this period. This trend of variability continued into the 2000s and 2010s, with significant increases and decreases over the years, highlighting the challenges of relying heavily on hydropower. The early 2010s marked a critical shift, with biofuels showing a significant boost in 2016, albeit followed by declines in subsequent years. Wind energy showed promising growth in 2019, signaling potential for further development. These historical patterns emphasize the importance of a balanced approach in expanding low-carbon electricity sources, suggesting that Thailand should seriously consider stable and scalable options like nuclear energy, alongside wind and solar, to create a more resilient and sustainable electricity system.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.