The subcommittee tasked with drafting the PDP 2026 plan is preparing to submit the draft Power Development Plan 2026 to the Minister of Energy for consideration this week. The plan sets a renewable energy share of more than 60% and is scheduled to open for a public hearing no later than mid-September. Officials are confident the PDP 2026 will be officially enacted before the end of this year.
A source from the Ministry of Energy revealed that a meeting of the subcommittee responsible for drafting the national Power Development Plan (PDP 2026), held on 17 August, considered the proportion of each main fuel type used for electricity generation. Several scenarios have been prepared for submission to Energy Minister Ekkhanath Phromphant for his consideration this week, before the plan is opened for a public hearing no later than mid-September. It is expected that the PDP 2026 will be officially announced and put into effect within this year.
The draft PDP 2026 (covering 2026–2050) will feature four scenario options to be presented for public consultation. Each scenario includes a share of electricity generation from renewable energy sources exceeding 60%. Generation from small modular reactors (SMRs) is projected to fall within a range of approximately 2,400–4,000 megawatts, with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) designated as the pilot agency to lead the initial study and project development. Private sector investment will subsequently be opened up in additional phases.
In raising the clean energy share to no less than 60%, new electricity generation technologies — particularly battery energy storage systems (BESS) — are being incorporated to support the increased proportion of renewable electricity generation, in order to meet the Net Zero 2050 target and to address the demand for clean electricity from the industrial sector and foreign investors who are placing growing importance on green power. This applies especially to the data centre sector, which is projected to require 6,800–8,800 megawatts of electricity. Meanwhile, the share of electricity generation from natural gas is set to be reduced.
