Seminar on Climate Change and Energy Issues Climate Change Research Center, Sejong University

8 June 2018 Room 613, Gwanggaeto Hall

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

RENEWABLE ENERGY LAW AND POLICY IN THAILAND:

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Chacrit Sitdhiwej
Thammasat University Faculty of Law, Thailand

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
CONTENTS:

Overview and recent developments

Next steps and challenges

Discussion

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

2

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
OVERVIEW AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Overview

National Development Plans

Laws on National Energy Policies and Plans

Energy Industry Law

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

3

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
OVERVIEW

Image courtesy: goo.gl/s5sN5y 4

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
OVERVIEW

Image courtesy: goo.gl/s5sN5y 4

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
OVERVIEW

Image courtesy: goo.gl/s5sN5y 4

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
OVERVIEW

Rich
biomass biogas
solar wind

Image courtesy: goo.gl/s5sN5y 4

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
OVERVIEW

Rich
biomass biogas
solar wind
50%
Image courtesy: goo.gl/s5sN5y 4

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
OVERVIEW

Rich
biomass biogas
solar wind
50% abundant

Image courtesy: goo.gl/s5sN5y 4

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
OVERVIEW

12%
Rich
biomass biogas
88%
solar wind
50% abundant
renewable energy
conventional energy
Image courtesy: goo.gl/s5sN5y 4

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS

12th National Economics and Social

Development Plans (2017-2021)

2017 National Strategies Preparation Act

due July 2018

2017 National Reform Plans and Procedures

Act

2018 National Reform Plan on Energy

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s
5

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
12TH NATIONAL ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT PLANS (2017-2021)
Recognises the importance of R&D in science &
technologies, including energy storage & renewable
energy technologies

Reduces fossil fuels while promoting renewable energy

17.34% by 2021, eg

database

incentives

biofuels, rooftop solar & energy storage

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s R&D

6

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
2018 NATIONAL REFORM PLAN ON ENERGY
Recognises the importance of a smart grid,
solar technologies, energy storage
technologies, electric vehicles & prosumer
concept

Short term (2018-2019): further promotes

independent power producers from renewable
energy sources, eg biomass, waste-to-energy,
biogas from agriculture

Medium term (2020-2022): further promotes

renewable energy, electric vehicle, energy
Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s storage industries & uses
7

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
LAWS ON NATIONAL ENERGY POLICIES
AND PLANS
1992 National Energy Policy Council Act

Thailand Integrated Energy Blueprint (TIEB)

Power Development Plan 2015-2036 (PDP2015)

20-Year Energy Efficiency Development Plan

2011-2030 (EEDP2011)

Alternative Energy Development Plan

2015(AEDP2015)

Gas Plan 2015-2036

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s Oil Plan 2015-2036

8

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
PDP2015

increases 30% of generating capacity from

renewable energy sources by 2036

increases roles of independent power

producers (IPPs), small power producers
(SPPs), very small power producers (VSPPs)
and from Lao PDR

lessens dependency on natural gas power

generation
Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s
9

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
EEDP2011 AND THE PROMOTION OF
ENERGY CONSERVATION LAW
EEDP2011

promotes more renewable energy uses

promotes zero energy building (ZEB)

standards due to onsite energy generation
from renewable energy sources

1992 Promotion of Energy Conservation Act

allows substitution of electricity purchased

from diesel power plants by that purchased
Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s from solar or wind power plants
10

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
AEDP2015 AND THE ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION LAW
AEDP2015

sets targets to increase the country’s final

energy consumption produced from
renewable energy sources from 12% in 2014
up to 30% by 2036

1992 Energy Development and Promotion Act

promotes R&D and regulation of energy

production, transmission and distribution
Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s
11

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
ENERGY INDUSTRY LAW

2007 Energy Industry Act

promotes purchasing electricity from SPPs

or VSPPs that generate electricity from
various renewable energy sources

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

12

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
NEXT STEPS AND CHALLENGES (1)
INDC, however:

limitation of grid connection;

lack of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy;

lack of domestic technological and technical resources;

negative public perception against waste-to-energy and biomass

power plants;

lack of effective coordination across different sectoral agencies;

lack of incentives to achieve rapid renewable energy deployment;

lack of technology transfer on a large scale;

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s lack of public awareness

13

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
NEXT STEPS AND CHALLENGES (1)
20-25%BAU by 2030
INDC, however:

limitation of grid connection;

lack of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy;

lack of domestic technological and technical resources;

negative public perception against waste-to-energy and biomass

power plants;

lack of effective coordination across different sectoral agencies;

lack of incentives to achieve rapid renewable energy deployment;

lack of technology transfer on a large scale;

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s lack of public awareness

13

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
 ambitious but doable

NEXT STEPS AND CHALLENGES (1)

20-25%BAU by 2030
INDC, however:

limitation of grid connection;

lack of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy;

lack of domestic technological and technical resources;

negative public perception against waste-to-energy and biomass

power plants;

lack of effective coordination across different sectoral agencies;

lack of incentives to achieve rapid renewable energy deployment;

lack of technology transfer on a large scale;

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s lack of public awareness

13

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
NEXT STEPS AND CHALLENGES (2)

Circular economy concept

Role of local governments

Role of the public

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

14

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Image courtesy: goo.gl/euA9o4

15

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Yet to be widely educated and communicated

Image courtesy: goo.gl/euA9o4
15

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THAILAND
various forms:

municipalities, provincial administration organisations, subdistrict

administration organisations, Pattaya City, Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration

numerous laws involved:

1953 Municipality Act

1997 Provincial Administration Organisation Act

1994 Subdistrict Council and Subdistrict Administration

Organization Act

1992 Public Health Act

1999 Act Prescribing Plans and Procedures of Decentralisation to

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s the Local Governments

16

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THAILAND

To be more actively
various forms:

municipalities, provincial administration organisations, subdistrict

decentralised
administration organisations, Pattaya City, Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration

numerous laws involved:

1953 Municipality Act

1997 Provincial Administration Organisation Act

1994 Subdistrict Council and Subdistrict Administration

Organization Act

1992 Public Health Act

1999 Act Prescribing Plans and Procedures of Decentralisation to

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s the Local Governments

16

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THAILAND

To be more actively
various forms:

municipalities, provincial administration organisations, subdistrict

decentralised
administration organisations, Pattaya City, Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration

numerous laws involved:

Yet to be widely educated and

1953 Municipality Act

communicated
1997 Provincial Administration Organisation Act

1994 Subdistrict Council and Subdistrict Administration

Organization Act

1992 Public Health Act

1999 Act Prescribing Plans and Procedures of Decentralisation to

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s the Local Governments

16

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THAILAND

To be more actively
various forms:

municipalities, provincial administration organisations, subdistrict

decentralised
administration organisations, Pattaya City, Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration

numerous laws involved:

Yet to be widely educated and

1953 Municipality Act

communicated
1997 Provincial Administration Organisation Act

1994 Subdistrict Council and Subdistrict Administration

Organization Act

Low water-mark jurisdiction

1992 Public Health Act

limits are also a challenge

1999 Act Prescribing Plans and Procedures of Decentralisation to
Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s the Local Governments

16

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
THE PUBLIC

Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand

‘tends’ to promote public involvement

However, due to certain attitudes, it is often

inappropriately implemented

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

17

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
THE PUBLIC
To be widely educated and
more appropriately
implemented
Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand
‘tends’ to promote public involvement

However, due to certain attitudes, it is often

inappropriately implemented

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

17

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
NEXT STEPS AND CHALLENGES (2)

Circular economy concept

Role of local governments

Role of the public

Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

18

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
 Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

DISCUSSION
19

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com
 Image courtesy: goo.gl/bU1p6s

고맙습니다
Chacrit Sitdhiwej
Thammasat University Faculty of Law, Thailand
schacrit@tu.ac.th
20

law.tu.ac.th chacrit.wordpress.com