This paper examined the least-cost energy system
development and analyzed its implications for GHG and
other local pollutant emissions under four scenarios for Thailand 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-tion, and limited domestic resource availability of the new
and renewable energy sources in the country. Sector-wise,
energy demand in industry sector would increase by almost
nine-folds from 18 Mtoe in 2000 to 156 Mtoe in 2050, while
transport sector would increase by more than six-folds
from 18 Mtoe in 2000 to 114 Mtoe in 2050 under the
reference scenario. Industry and commercial sectors are
likely to remain the largest final consumer of electricity
throughout the study period. In the power sector, the
share of coal and natural gas combined in total electricity
generation under the reference scenario is estimated
to account for 85% by 2050. In contrast, the share
of new and renewables (mainly biomass and hydro)
in total electricity generation is estimated to increase
from 9% in 2000 to about 15% in 2050. Energy use
in the road transportation is estimated to become increasingly
important over the study period compared to
other modes of transportation (e.g., rail, air and water).