Thailand steel battery energy storage container

Does Thailand need a battery energy storage system?

Thailand may lack the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) necessary to navigate supply and demand challenges. The 2024 PDP draft included 10,000 MW of BESS, but this may see the country struggle to fulfil carbon neutrality and Net Zero commitments over the coming decades.

Is the battery and battery storage sector an S-curve industry?

By identifying the battery and battery storage sector as an S-Curve industry, the Thai government hopes to accomplish two goals. The first is to improve the country’s manufacturing competitiveness in this area. The second is to ensure Thailand can benefit from BESS development moving forward.

Why do some solar projects in Thailand have non-firm PPAs?

Many solar projects in Thailand have non-firm PPAs in place due to a lack of storage on site. Arrangements, including BESS, reduce the strain on power grid infrastructure and allow for better planning. On the downside, these do not improve grid stability, nor do they provide power generators with more pathways to increase revenue.

How much electricity will Thailand produce in 2024?

These are set to make up 51 percent of the country’s total electricity production, up from 36 percent which was called for in the 2018 PDP. The 2024 PDP draft provided a more detailed breakdown of how Thailand will reach this goal. During the plan’s lifespan, 47,251 MW of new electricity will be sourced with 34,851 MW coming from renewables.

Should battery storage be a priority?

Widespread battery storage is required to allow for the greater use of variable renewable energy (VRE) within electricity grids. While the country has strived for a greater output of green power, a place to store it has been less of a priority.