Assessment of carbon reduction costs in renewable energy technologies for heat generation in Thailand

Abstract

Thailand has increased continuously of renewable energy because of the Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP) is targeted at increasing renewable energy use in all sectors. In addition to reducing the use of fossil fuels and energy imports from abroad, it also affects the greenhouse gases (GHG) emission reduction that is a major cause of climate change. In 2019, thermal energy consumption from renewable energy was 60.3% of total final renewable energy consumption. This study aims to assess the marginal abatement costs (MAC) in Thailand renewable energy heat generation which is consisting of (i) the type of natural renewable: solar energy, and (ii) the type of bio-renewable: biomass, biogas, and waste during 2014 to 2018. In 2018, the MAC results range from −18,757.67 to 3,718.38 THB/tCO 2eq. Marginal abatement costs (MAC) are the important tools for prioritizing in GHG reduction strategy which represents the importance and necessity of heat generation from renewable energy that affects to the GHG reduction of the country by expression the form of marginal abatement cost curves (MAC Curve). In addition, it is also a climate change economics indicator that is essential for the Long-term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) of Thailand to affect the operations that will lead to sustainable development in society, economy, and environment to achieve Net-zero targets.