The Government of Thailand recognized the need to modify its existing energy policy to become more energy efficient, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote economic development, and establish environmental leadership in the Mekong region. The exchange with India facilitated policy change regarding developing private sector confidence in sustainable energy development.

Challenge

In 2011, Thailand was at a crossroads in climate-friendly development, preparing for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of its obligation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change while simultaneously addressing national development goals of reducing GHG emissions, improving energy efficiency, and promoting economic development. The Government put forth efforts to propose relevant policy schemes but still required practical guidance on how to develop large-scale, renewable and efficient energy and how to catalyze the private sector. The Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), an agency for GHG emission reduction under the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, needed to develop relationships and tools necessary to demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and lower technological and financial risks for all stakeholders.

Solution

As the key connector of institutions working on low-carbon development goals, the Government of Thailand recognized its need and sought a knowledge exchange to gain that necessary learning experience. India has been a demonstrable leader in developing reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency on a considerable scale. The Government of India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and Bureau of Energy Efficiency have developed cutting-edge renewable energy certificates (REC) and energy saving certificates (ESC) that drive private–public collaboration and advance low-carbon development goals.

The face-to-face meetings of a multi-phase exchange took place in New Delhi, India, on September 5 and 6, 2011. Convening with knowledge providers from India's public and private sectors, 16 government participants from Thailand, Kenya, and the Philippines had discussion sessions on topics such as design of renewable energy and energy saving certificates; bidding methods; and roles of government and the private sector. They also heard presentations on case studies and in sector-specific sessions. Participants met with industry representatives in informal networking receptions. Following this exchange, delegates attended the Carbon Conclave, India's flagship event in the carbon market space. Over 50 high-level speakers in 8 plenary and 4 parallel sessions shared knowledge on current trends and emerging scenarios of the global and Indian carbon markets.

Following the person-to-person exchange, the World Bank facilitated two follow-up videoconferences between TGO officials and the Indian counterparts at Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and Bureau of Energy Efficiency. One videoconference was on renewable energy certificates and the other on energy saving certificates.  Both videoconferences were recorded and translated into Thai for further dissemination among local technical staff working on these issues.

Results

• The exchange introduced Thai officials to ways of setting up a scheme to engage public and private sectors in energy efficiency and renewable energy proliferation and cutting-edge renewable energy and energy saving certificates.
• The videoconference on energy saving certificates was must better attended in Thailand in comparison to the one on renewable energy certificates. In the discussions that followed after both videoconferences, it became apparent that the renewable energy certificate scheme for Thailand is more difficult to implement due to the currently low usage of renewable energy in the country. The delegate from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand explained that current renewable energy potential is mainly from small-scale hydro, and therefore this sector is less ambitious at present.
• Policymakers understood that when Thailand is ready to consider the renewable energy certificate, they should initiate a separate law to promote renewable energy and ensure an attractive tariff structure.
• The videoconference on energy saving certificates saw a more active participation and many questions seeking clarification on the Indian scheme touching on use of ton of oil equivalent, tools for baseline data collection, and how targets were set on energy consumption.

Lessons Learned

There were no lessons learnt from this Exchange.

World Bank Group Contribution

Thailand was awarded a Public Sector Reform Development Policy Loan (DPL) of US$1 billion from the World Bank, with low-carbon policy development and investment playing a significant part. There has been active coordination with ADB and JICA due to their provision of parallel financing.  The ADB has been providing technical advice in the area of capital market development, and the ADB Board approved a US$300 million budget support operation. The Thai Government has also requested ADB to provide US$300 million in new investment projects. In addition, JICA has been asked for US$300 million for climate change support and two new investment projects worth US$140 million.

Partners

India
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
Ministry of Power
India Energy Exchange

From Thailand
Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO)

Moving Forward

Both these videoconferences were recorded and translated into Thai for further dissemination among the technical staff working on these issues but not conversant in English. The TGO had a conversation with the Thai Government on how to include the private sector into this discussion in Thailand as well as to discuss ideas on how such a scheme can be operationalized by the different agencies in Thailand.

Beneficiaries/Participants

The delegation from Thailand attending face-to-face meetings include the following:

• Mr. Panat Tasneeyanond, Board of Directors, Legal Advisor, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization;
• Mr. Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat, Petroleum Institute of Thailand (PTIT), Foundation Board and Council of Trustees;
• Dr. Paritud Bhandhubanyong, Director, National Metal and Materials Technology Center;
• Mr. Wichien Jungrungruang, Secretary General, Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP);
• Mr. Krairit Nilkuha, Director General, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy;
• Ms. Nisakorn Kositratna, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources;
• Mr. Sirithan Pairoj-Boriboon, Executive Director, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization;
• Ms. Sirinthorn Vongsoasup, Director, Energy Efficiency Promotion for People and Business Group, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), Ministry of Energy;
• Mr. Sarat Prakobchat, Senior Engineer, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy;
• Mr. Rongphet Bunchuaidee, Senior Official, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization;
• Ms. Sinsom Sangkapong;
• Dr. Tritib Suramaythangkoo, Senior Official, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization;
• Dr. Jakkanit Kananurak, Director, Capacity Building and Outreach Office, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization, shared that the workshop resulted in a “better understanding of renewable energy certificates and energy saving certificates in terms of policy direction, institutional framework, and role of each stakeholder, particularly target groups.”

The providers from India included:

• Dr. Pramod Deo, Chairman, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, India;
• Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director-General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, India;
• Mr. Gireesh Pradhan, Special Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India;
• Mr. Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission;
• Mr. S.K.Chatterjee, Deputy Chief (Regulatory Affairs), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission;
• Mr. Sushil Soonee, Executive Director, NLDC;
• Mr. Jayant Deo, Managing Director and CEO, India Energy Exchange (IEX) (tbc);
• Mr. Balawant Joshi, Director, ABPS Infrastructure Advisory Private Limited;
• Ms. Rita Roy Choudhury, Director and Head - Environment, Climate Change, Renewable Energy; Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI);
• Mr. Saurabh Diddi, Economist, Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

Learn More

India Carbon Conclave – http://www.indiacarbonconclave.com/