On 18 June 2026, the project for Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia (Project CASE) convened the National Energy Transition Policy Exchange 2026 under the theme ‘Energy in a Boiling World: Thailand’s Unavoidable Choices’. The event provided a platform for dialogue on Thailand’s energy transition in the context of increasing geopolitical uncertainty and intensifying climate change impacts.
The objective of the exchange was to assess the implications of global geopolitical developments and climate-related risks for Thailand’s energy sector, with particular emphasis on energy security. Discussions also focused on policy and planning approaches to balance the energy trilemma of security of supply, affordability and sustainability, in line with Thailand’s net-zero emissions target by 2050.
The event brought together representatives from government policy and regulatory agencies, electricity utilities, the private sector, financial institutions, academia and civil society. Participants exchanged perspectives on enabling conditions required to support the effective implementation of energy transition policies.
The opening session included remarks from Watcharin Boonyarit, Deputy Director General of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), Ministry of Energy; Johannes Kerner, Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Thailand; and Sascha Oppowa, Project Director of CASE at GIZ.
A keynote presentation by Patcharaporn Phasukavanich, Director of the Strategy and Planning Division, EPPO, outlined Thailand’s energy policy priorities, including lessons from past energy crises, the current energy landscape and future policy direction. She noted that the Ministry of Energy is developing a new Power Development Plan (PDP), which must address the challenges of ensuring energy security while accelerating the integration of clean energy, maintaining affordability and supporting economic growth, in alignment with the 2050 net-zero objective.
Thailand’s energy policy continues to be guided by three core objectives: energy security, defined as ensuring sufficient energy supply while reducing the risks associated with import dependence; affordability, aimed at preventing burdens on households and businesses while supporting economic growth; and environmental sustainability, focused on reducing environmental impacts and promoting clean and renewable energy in the long term.
In the following session, Project CASE presented findings from its studies on green electricity demand in the industrial sector, delivered by Suchart Klaikaew (GIZ Thailand), as well as on the impacts on employment and livelihoods of the gas transition in the energy sector, presented by Hanna Fekete (NewClimate Institute).
The discussion concluded with a panel on how Thailand should adapt its energy sector in a changing world, and featured Dr Supawan Saelim, Agora Energiewende; Dr Phimsupha Kokchang, Energy Research Institute (ERI), Chulalongkorn University; Dr Areeporn Asawinpongphan, Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI); and Natee Sithiprasasana, Chairman of the Renewable Energy Industry Club under the Federation of Thai Industries, FTI (RE100), and moderated by Maythiwan Kiatgrajai, GIZ Thailand.
The panel highlighted key dimensions of Thailand’s energy transition, including the increasing demand for clean electricity from the industrial sector driven by decarbonisation and ESG commitments. This has created opportunities for emerging mechanisms such as Direct Power Purchase Agreements (DPPAs) and Third Party Access (TPA) arrangements for renewable energy.
Participants also agreed that achieving Thailand’s net-zero target, as well as the objectives under the PDP and other energy plans, requires more than technological change alone. It must be advanced in parallel across three key areas: a clear and consistent policy direction, effective coordination among government agencies and regulatory reform to support the growth of clean energy.
While challenges remain, these developments are seen as a significant opportunity to enhance the Thai energy system, making it more flexible, resilient and inclusive in support of a long-term transition to clean energy.
The National Energy Transition Policy Dialogue is held annually under Project CASE, providing a platform for government, the private sector, academia and civil society to exchange knowledge, experiences and policy perspectives. In 2026, the CASE Thailand National Energy Transition Dialogue continues to play an important role in strengthening cross-sector collaboration and supporting the development of policy directions that can advance Thailand’s transition towards a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energy system.
Palita Srichaisuphakit
Communication Officer – CASE
Email: palita.srichaisuphakit@giz.de
