Praiphon warns against underestimating SMR-CCS in PDP 2026

Thansettakij•Economy•12d ago

Reader Briefing

Independent energy academic Praiphon Kumsup provides an in-depth analysis of the draft Power Development Plan (PDP 2026) and the transition to clean energy.

•The seminar 'BIG ISSUE: PDP 2026 ENERGY GREEN POWER' was co-organized by Thansettakij and PostToday at the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel.
•Praiphon Kumsup identified Option 3 of the PDP 2026 draft as the most suitable due to the lowest present value cost of approximately 3.385 baht per unit.
•The energy transition to achieve Carbon Neutrality and Net Zero under PDP 2026 is expected to generate additional costs of at least 700,000 million baht.

Overview

•Thansettakij and PostToday organized a seminar titled 'BIG ISSUE: PDP 2026 ENERGY GREEN POWER' at the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel.
•Praiphon Kumsup noted that the average electricity price across the 25-year plan for all four options ranges from over 3 baht to nearly 4 baht per unit.
•Praiphon Kumsup warned that cost assumptions for Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the draft plan may be underestimated.
•Praiphon Kumsup proposed that Green Hydrogen be considered separately from new technologies due to its potential cost competitiveness with natural gas within 10 years.
•Thailand's electricity prices remain competitive compared to Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia to attract investment.
•The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) needs to study and create a new electricity tariff structure to support Demand Response, Third Party Access (TPA), and Wheeling Charges.
•The energy transition cost of at least 700,000 million baht is primarily driven by investments in renewable energy and CCS systems.
•Praiphon Kumsup suggested allocating additional costs based on the Polluter Pays Principle, Ability to Pay, and Intergenerational Equity.

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Key Entities

Person

Praiphon Kumsup(พรายพล คุ้มทรัพย์)

An independent energy academic and economics expert who analyzed the PDP 2026 draft.

Organization

Thansettakij(ฐานเศรษฐกิจ)

A co-organizer of the BIG ISSUE: PDP 2026 ENERGY GREEN POWER seminar.

PostToday(โพสต์ทูเดย์)

A co-organizer of the BIG ISSUE: PDP 2026 ENERGY GREEN POWER seminar.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)(คณะกรรมการกำกับกิจการพลังงาน (กกพ.))

The body responsible for studying and establishing a new appropriate electricity tariff structure.

Place

Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel(โรงแรมเรเนซองส์ กรุงเทพ ราชประสงค์)

The venue where the BIG ISSUE: PDP 2026 ENERGY GREEN POWER seminar was held.

Malaysia(มาเลเซีย)ℹ️

A key regional competitor of Thailand in terms of electricity price competition.

Vietnam(เวียดนาม)ℹ️

A key regional competitor of Thailand in terms of electricity price competition.

Indonesia(อินโดนีเซีย)ℹ️

A key regional competitor of Thailand in terms of electricity price competition.

Policy

Power Development Plan (PDP 2026)(แผนพัฒนากำลังผลิตไฟฟ้าของประเทศไทย (PDP 2026))

The draft national plan for electricity production capacity and transition to clean energy.