Law, bureaucracy and electric power from renewable energy in Thailand

Thailand operates a large scale integrated power system. It has a well-developed electricity network and a high per capita energy demand in comparison with its South East Asian neighbours. Thailand is dependent on natural gas for over 70% of its electricity generation and imports almost 25% of its natural gas supply. As a result Thailand commenced energy conservation measures in 1993. More recently it introduced an Alternative Energy Plan in 2012 with high targets as Thailand seeks to have a low carbon future. One of the recent initiatives has been a Premium Feed-in Tariff to encourage production of power from renewable energy. The process is managed through a mix of legislative and administrative measures. As issues arise the administration of the renewable energy programme has become more complex and less transparent. The paper briefly outlines the current government initiatives, the legislative framework, the disconnect between the various state plans such as the Alternative Energy Development Plan and the Power Development Plan, the overlapping organisations providing oversight and the ever increasing administrative processes to be met by independent power producers. It then offers suggestions as to how the current system might be changed to encourage an even more efficient industry without compromising the environmental aspirations of the population. Finally it will provide lessons learned and how they might be applied to the benefit of developing countries in other parts of Asia.