Thailand’s new government faces tough choices on green energy

Critics say the current renewable energy policy disproportionately favors large energy conglomerates at the expense of smaller entities.

(BANGKOK) Thailand’s new government is preparing to approve a transformative Energy Development Plan (PDP) in October that aims to increase the share of renewable energy (RE) from 22 percent of the country’s energy demand to an ambitious 51 percent by 2037.

The updated policy, a key step towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065, aims to align the country’s domestic energy goals with its international climate commitments.

The urgency of the plan is underlined by external pressures, notably the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will impose carbon tariffs on imported carbon-intensive products from 2026.