COUNTRY PAGE - THAILAND

Energy demand is expected to increase this year, though total consumption dropped for much of 2024 amid slow economic growth, says the Energy Policy and Planning Office (Eppo).

Tourism, export expansion and state budget spending will drive demand for energy, said Wattanapong Kurovat, secretary-general of Eppo.

"We initially thought energy demand would drop in 2024 because of decreased energy consumption during the first nine months, but usage changed during the last three months," he said.

Economic activities in the final quarter, which is also the tourism high season, are expected to help increase the 2024 energy demand by 0.3% to 2.01 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOED), Mr Wattanapong said, in line with the improving economy.

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by SIPET as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: Apichart Jinakul/Bangkok Post

Thailand's first robotic solar installer is expected to increase domestic demand for rooftop solar panels and promises a significant increase in revenue for developer Solar D Corporation, a solar power solution provider and the distributor of the Tesla Powerwall energy storage system.

The new solar panel installation robot, reportedly the first of its kind in the country, will help drive revenue in 2025, with estimated year-on-year growth of 33% to 2 billion baht, said Sumrit Sitthiwaranuwong, chief executive of Solar D.

The robot uses "LightSpeed" technology developed by the company's R&D team, setting up rooftop solar panels 10 times faster than manual work, he said.

Usually solar panels with power generation capacity of 1 megawatt require 60 days for manual installation, but with the LightSpeed technology, the work is finished in only six days.

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by the SIPET team as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: Bangkok Post.

The Finance Ministry is set to propose a carbon tax for cabinet approval on December 11. Speaking at the Sustainability Forum 2025 seminar, Kulaya Tantitemit, director-general of the Excise Department, said the implementation of the carbon tax would not affect operators or consumers of oil and petroleum products because the overall tax burden on oil and petroleum products will remain the same. The department will simply adjust the proportion of the tax on oil and petroleum products and incorporate the carbon tax into the oil and petroleum tax structure, she said.

The department will simply adjust the proportion of the tax on oil and petroleum products and incorporate the carbon tax into the oil and petroleum tax structure, she said.

According to Ms Kulaya, the department's proposal calls for a carbon tax rate of 200 baht per tonne of carbon. 

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by SIPET as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: Bangkok Post

The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) has introduced solar rooftops at its ports in a bid to establish "green ports". The rooftops are expected to produce five million kilowatt-hours of solar energy annually.

Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri said the initiative underscores the global urgency for environmental stewardship. The ministry is pushing for all its agencies to embrace green logistics to transition to a low-carbon society in line with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, she said. 

PAT director Kriengkrai Chaisiriwongsuk said solar rooftops, with a capacity of a 3.798 megawatt-peak (MWp), have been installed at parking buildings and warehouses. The rooftops integrate on-grid solar technology, enabling the port to use both self-generated and external electricity. Plans for expansion include the installation of solar panels at the PAT Arena, adding another 622.08 kilowatt-peak (kWp) of capacity across 3,020 square metres. 

*This excerpt is from a news item collated by SIPET as part of its mission to serve as a one-stop platform for information and knowledge exchange about the energy transition in Southeast Asia. For the full news item, click on the link next to 'Further Information' . 

**Photo credit: Bangkok Post.

On October 2, 2024, key players from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors gathered at the AsiaXchange Forum, organized by The Rockefeller Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss a pivotal challenge: accelerating Southeast Asia’s energy transition through partnerships. With the clock ticking toward the UN 2030 targets, particularly SDG7, which aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, the stakes have never been higher. 

The event, Building Effective Partnerships for Accelerating Energy Transition in Southeast Asia, underscored that the transition is not just a technical feat, but a deeply human challenge. It requires collaboration across Public-Private-Philanthropy Partnerships (4Ps), where financiers, governments, businesses, and civil society align to create actionable solutions. A highlight of the event was the Solution Demo of the Southeast Asia Information Platform for the Energy Transition (SIPET), presented by Maximilian Heil from GIZ and Project Coordinator at CASE. SIPET exemplifies how shared data can drive alignment and transparency in the region’s energy transition efforts. 

Moving from MoUs to MoDo's: The Need for Action 

While agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have set the foundation, it’s time to move from MoUs to MoDo’s—from promises to actions. Innovation is urgently needed, especially in the philanthropy sector, which, despite its relatively short 120-year history, is crucial for mobilizing finance and fostering projects that de-risk investments. As Kitty Bu, Vice President for Asia ex-India at the Global Energy Alliance for the People and the Planet (GEAPP), aptly noted, “We have a system failure.” Carbon costs are not priced into business operations, creating a market imbalance that needs correcting if we are to meet global climate targets. 

The Capital Paradox: No Shortage of Funds, But a Lack of Bankable Projects 

One paradox highlighted during the dialogue is that while there is no shortage of capital, the real challenge lies in the lack of bankable projects. This is where the collaboration across sectors becomes critical. Financial instruments need to be designed to reduce risk, making energy projects viable. However, finance alone cannot drive change. Close alignment with governments is essential to create an enabling environment for policy shifts and infrastructure development. 

Innovation and Partnership: The Way Forward 

Throughout the event, the recurring theme was partnership. The 4Ps are key to ensuring that Southeast Asia does not fall behind in the global race for a low-carbon future. SIPET, for example, is designed to facilitate this coordination by offering a robust platform for information exchange and regional collaboration. This tool empowers stakeholders to work more effectively by breaking down silos and enhancing visibility into project pipelines and funding opportunities. 

As we face the next six critical years in the global energy transition, the alignment of all stakeholders is imperative. With initiatives like SIPET, Southeast Asia has a unique opportunity to seize its renewable energy potential and shape a sustainable future. However, the time to act is now—otherwise, the region risks being left behind. 

By focusing on concrete actions, and through innovation in both finance and partnerships, Southeast Asia can leapfrog and become a model for the rest of the world. Align, act, and accelerate—this is the only way forward if we want to ensure a just and equitable energy transition for all.