If this message is not displayed properly, click here please.

Southeast Asia’s energy sector is at a critical juncture, marked by depleting reserves of domestic gas, the possibility of stranded coal and gas assets, and ambitious goals for carbon neutrality. In this June 2024 edition of the SIPET newsletter, we have gathered insights from recent reports and discussions related to the Energy Transition to offer a comprehensive overview of the current status and prospects of natural gas in Thailand and in the region.
Insights from the GasLens Forum

As part of the project CASE, the organizations GIZ, the Energy Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University (ERI), and Agora Energiewende, co-hosted the public forum "GasLens: Roles of Gas Towards Carbon Neutrality in Thailand" on 18 June 2024. The opening remarks were given by the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), CASE’s government partner in Thailand.  

Experts at the forum emphasized that the use of natural gas in power generation must be reduced to less than 20% to meet the country's carbon neutrality goals by 2050. They highlighted the challenges posed by dwindling domestic gas resources, which increase reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), and the risk of remaining overly reliant on gas infrastructure (which could become stranded assets). The forum concluded that there are several important steps for Thailand to realistically address how it can achieve its carbon neutrality target: these include proactive energy planning, updating current energy development strategies with the latest data, and extending the Power Development Plan (PDP) beyond 2037.
 
Blogs

The SIPET Editorial Team has curated a set of articles that provide an overview of new studies on natural gas and its effects on Thailand’s current and future energy systems.
  • A second blog draws from a paper from the Global Energy Monitor (GEM) that discusses the depletion of Thailand's natural gas reserves. To meet the gas demand, the government of Thailand plans to increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and build new infrastructure. However, the strategy also raises environmental concerns and the need to carefully plan for a future transition to cleaner energy sources like hydrogen. Explore the full article.
  • Finally, we are publishing an exclusive article from the Climate Finance Network Thailand (CFNT), which examines the financial risks of "stranded assets" in Thailand's oil and gas sectors, especially coal and gas power plants. A study by CFNT shows that many of these plants might need to close sooner than expected, as Thailand scales up its renewable energy implementation and moves toward carbon neutrality.  This could lead to huge financial losses for a number of major energy companies. The study highlights the need for a solid plan to phase out fossil fuels and suggests joining global initiatives to help with this transition. Read the article.
Stay updated on important developments in Southeast Asia’s Energy Transition.
 
Asia Gas Tracker
The Asia Gas Tracker offers a comprehensive dataset of gas infrastructure in East, South, and Southeast Asia, including pipelines, LNG terminals, gas-fired power plants, and extraction sites. Updated annually, each project has a dedicated GEM.wiki page with details on status, capacity, and ownership.

The interactive map lets users visualize pipeline routes and infrastructure locations. Data is sourced from the Global Gas Plant Tracker, Global Oil and Gas Extraction Tracker, and Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker.

Share your stories of impact!

SIPET invites clean energy professionals in the region to share their impactful work. Your contributions will play a role in showcasing the region’s progress and potential in energy innovation and implementation. Submit your story and be featured in the next SIPET newsletter!
 
Upcoming Events

2024 International Conference of Integrated Intellectual Community (ICONIC)

ICONIC 2024 is an international scientific conference held in Germany, organized by PPI Jerman. It acts as a bridge for academic collaboration between Indonesia and Germany, focusing on sustainability and environmental awareness. ICONIC 2024 will take place during 4-6 September 2024, with the theme “Transformation for Low-Carbon Development”. Submit an abstract by 30 June 2024.


Asia Urban Energy Assembly 2024

The third edition of the Asia Urban Energy Assembly will take place on 4-5 July in Bangkok. It will address critical energy issues, particularly how the public and private sectors can prepare for the future by leveraging current technologies and solutions to boost energy efficiency and incorporate more renewable energy. The event will also examine the contribution of District Energy systems in catering to the growing cooling demand within the Asia Pacific region.


ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week 2024

The ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week (ASEW) 2024 is the premier event for renewable energy technology and energy efficiency in Southeast Asia. Scheduled from 3-5 July in Bangkok, ASEW 2024 will feature over 1,500 global brands, covering innovations in renewable energy, energy efficiency, environmental solutions, and electric vehicle technology. The event offers a comprehensive platform for industry professionals to explore cutting-edge insights, network with key stakeholders, and foster collaborations to drive sustainable energy advancements in the region.


The Asia LEDS Partnership Forum 2024: Towards decarbonization in the Asia-Pacific through 2025 NDCs

The Asia Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) Partnership Forum (ALP Forum) aims to facilitate capacity building, peer learning, and collaborative initiatives to enhance climate action, with a focus on achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, implementing nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and integrating long-term low emission development strategies (LT-LEDS). The invitation-only forum is scheduled for 20-22 August in Bangkok.
 
Featured Publications

Navigating the Transition to Net-zero Emissions in Southeast Asia - Energy Security, the Role of Gaseous Energy Carriers and Renewables-based Electrification

This study, by the NewClimate Institute and Agora Energiewende, analyzes net-zero pathways for CASE countries under two different scenarios: one focuses on reducing the use of fossil fuels through electrification, and the other using renewable energy, along with hydrogen as a storage medium and source of energy.
 
This report by the Global Energy Monitor (GEM) examines Southeast Asia’s energy future, comparing the economic and environmental impacts of expanding gas infrastructure with investing in renewable energy. It highlights regional gas projects and renewable potential, providing essential insights for sustainable energy planning.
 

Fossil Reckoning: Valuation of Coal and Gas Stranded Assets in Thailand

This report by the Climate Finance Network Thailand evaluates the financial implications of decommissioning coal and gas power plants in Thailand. Using discounted cash flow analysis, it examines three scenarios, highlighting potential stranded asset risks and the need for strategic energy transition planning aligned with climate goals.
 
 

Looking Ahead:

The next edition of the SIPET newsletter will share key learnings from the 19th Asia Clean Energy Forum, held on 3-7 June 2024.

SIPET serves a platform dedicated to building capacity, providing skills, and offering resources for the energy transition in Southeast Asia. Stay tuned for our next issue!
ABOUT CASEThe Project "Clean, Affordable, and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia (CASE)" aims to shift the energy sector narrative in Southeast Asia towards an evidence-based clean energy transition, with the aim to increase political ambition to comply with the Paris Agreement. SIPET is part of an effort by CASE to accomplish the shift of the energy sector narrative by supporting: (a) research and evidence, (b) transparency and mapping, (c) dialogue with non-energy sector stakeholders, (d) technical assistance on clean energy, and (e) promoting public discourse on the energy transition.CASE is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and international and local expert organisations in the area of sustainable energy transformation and climate change: Agora Energiewende and NewClimate Institute (regional level), the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) in Indonesia, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) in the Philippines, the Energy Research Institute (ERI) and Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) in Thailand.
Southeast Asia Information Platform for the Energy Transition (SIPET)c/o Clean, Affordable, and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia

193/140  Lake Rajada Office Complex, 35th floor, New Ratchadapisek Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Reach out to us:

Website: https://www.sipet.org  | Email: info@sipet.org | LinkedIn: Southeast Asia Information Platform for the Energy Transition - SIPET

You are receiving this newsletter based on your past interest in events hosted by CASE and SIPET.Consider sharing this with colleagues who might want to SUBSCRIBE TO SIPET HIGHLIGHTS NEWSLETTER.If you wish to unsubscribe and no longer receive these updates, please click this link.