Energy consumption in Thailand is continually increasing. In 2012, the previously noted
commercial energy consumption of 1.97 million barrels of oil equivalent per day represents a 6%
increase from the previous year. The Ministry of Energy forecasts the demand in 2021 to be
99,838 ktoe, a 40% increase from the present level.
The energy sector in Thailand has relied primarily on imports. In 2012, energy supplied by
imports accounted for over 55% of the primary commercial energy demand. Thailand’s oil sector
was even more reliant on imports, reaching 80% of total domestic oil consumption. To reduce
dependency and imports of oil and other unsustainable energy resources, the government
assigned the Ministry of Energy to establish the Renewable and Alternative Energy Development
Plan for 10 years (AEDP 2012-2021) to identify the framework and direction of Thailand’s
renewable energy development strategy. The AEDP 2012-2021 has goals to transform the
country into a low-carbon society and a target to increase the use of renewable energy to 25% of
total energy consumption by 2021. A significant portion of this target is to seek substitutes for
natural gas power generation, with emphasis on wind energy (wind turbine farms), hydro power,
biomass, biogas and waste & garbage.