This paper examined the least-cost energy system
development and analyzed its implications for GHG and
other local pollutant emissions under four scenarios forThailand using AIM/Enduse model during 2000–2050. The
four scenarios follow closely with the scenarios of global
IPCC SRES report. Under the reference scenario (i.e., dual
track), the TPES is estimated to increase by almost sixfolds
from 77 Mtoe in 2000 to 456 Mtoe in 2050. Fossil
fuels would continue to remain the dominant energy
source, contributing about 90% of the total TPES under
all four scenarios in 2050. Among the fossil fuels, oil use is
estimated to dominate the TPES over the study period.
Coal and natural gas are also estimated to remain the
mainstay of TPES over the study period. Despite the Thai
government’s policy to promote new and renewable energy
sources, its share in TPES is estimated to remain low in
between 6% under TA1 to 13% under TB2 in 2050. This is
mainly due to higher initial costs and lower plant factor of
renewable energy technologies used for electricity genera-