The state's 20-year effort to promote renewable resources for power generation along with the use of biofuels for cars might draw praise and raise awareness amongst people about clean energy but it is not enough for Thailand to meet more ambitious goals.
New goals might require the country to hold a highly contentious debate on nuclear energy development and replace biofuel-driven vehicles for electric mobility as ethanol and biodiesel has discouraged millions of motorists from having a complete oil dependence.
The government needs to step up its efforts if it is determined to meet its net-zero goal and reduce carbon emissions.
A net-zero goal requires countries to strike a balance between emissions and absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
More serious action is needed to make a new power industry so that Thailand can join the international community to curb global warming below two degrees Celsius under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Major economic giants are pushing ahead with plans to attain their carbon neutrality goals, with Japan aiming to achieve its target in 2040, the US in 2050 and China in 2060.
This is why Thailand late last month decided to draft a master plan to pave the way for its net-zero goal, said secretary to the energy minister Kawin Thangsupanich.
The plan is set to be presented at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, called COP26, which is scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland on Nov 12 this year.
"This meeting will be more serious than previous meetings," said Mr Kawin, also former secretary-general of the Energy Regulatory Commission.
"Climate change has gotten worse since 2015, so the world needs more vigorous measures to tackle the crisis."
NEW FUEL MIX
One way to reduce CO2 emissions is to set aside a larger proportion of renewable energy in the national power generation plan and, according to Mr Kawin, the government should start seriously thinking of merging nuclear reactor development to harness more clean energy.
At present, renewable fuels, including solar power and biomass, make up only 14% of the energy supply for power plants. By 2037, this number will increase to 20%, according to the alternative energy development plan.
However, that is not enough, Mr Kawin commented. Thailand needs to add more renewable energy sources to its fuel mix to achieve its net-zero goal.
He said the government should not include coal-fired power plants in its new power development plan (PDP) to allow for more room for the development of renewable energy.
A change is needed within the renewable fuel segment. He suggested officials choose a run-of-river power plant for future water energy development.
The facility will generate electricity through a barrage which will raise the water level slightly without diverting it from a river and impound it like a reservoir type hydropower plant.
The government should not also ignore the potential of nuclear power plants to help reduce CO2 emissions and ensure a stable power supply for the country although this issue remains highly debatable.
New developments in technology have made nuclear reactors an alternative choice for power generation, said Mr Kawin.
A new-generation nuclear reactor is smaller, safer and more efficient than previous models, he said.
The government earlier decided to exclude nuclear power plants from PDP, following an accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, caused by a tsunami in March 2011.
Mr Kawin also stressed a need to modernise the grid and develop an energy storage system to better manage and store electricity as some types of renewable energy like solar power cannot operate at nighttime.
ECONOMICS OF ENERGY
Clean energy will play an increasing role in directing export and foreign investments in Thailand, making it hard for the country to avoid implementing actions to attain the net-zero goal in the future, said Mr Kawin.
A "carbon footprint tax" may be a new trade barrier to Thai exports under the carbon border adjustment mechanism, or CBAM, supported by the European Parliament. The move is aimed at imposing charges on products and raw materials from countries that are not eager to adopt technology that is more friendly for the world's climate.
Domestically, foreign investors in the industrial sector may require better quality power supply. They not only require a sufficient supply but also power sources based on clean energy.
"Some Japanese investors have already asked the Thai government whether it can supply renewable energy around the clock," said Mr Kawin, adding their demand came after leading global firms like Microsoft and Unilever adopted more environmentally friendly business practices.
The Thai power industry must prepare for this change and start allocating more of its budget to develop smart energy and modern transmission systems, he said.