Enhancing energy planning processes at the provincial level

Project description

Title: Thai German Climate Programme Energy
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
Country: Thailand
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Energy (MoEN)
Overall term: 2018 to 2021

Context

One key success factor in achieving Thailand’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target is to enhance energy planning processes on national and subnational levels. Deployment of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) projects on the provincial level can contribute considerably to Thailand’s GHG reduction targets. However, climate change and GHG reduction are currently not clearly addressed in provincial energy action plans. This leaves energy projects at the provincial level unaccounted for when measuring the contribution of the energy sector to Thailand’s GHG reduction efforts.

The Thai German Climate Programme Energy (TGCP-E)- component supports selected Provincial Energy Offices (PEnOs) in creating effective and long-term energy planning processes and project implementation through using innovative digital tools for effective provincial energy planning and implementation. PEnO is a regional institutional structure of the Thai Ministry of Energy (MoEN). There are 76 PEnOs located in 76 provinces of Thailand. PEnOs serve as representatives of MoEN on the provincial level who work closely with the governor of each province and other governmental bodies. PEnOs are key governmental institutes when it comes to translating the national energy plans to the locals. Also, PEnOs are key players who can drive RE and EE projects on the provincial level.

Objective

The Programme is developing innovative planning tools and provincial energy scenarios for pilot provinces, energy policy recommendation papers and has ensured the knowledge transfer of the use of the energy system modelling tool to the academic sector.

Approach

TGCP-Energy partners with two outstanding academic and research institutes: Chiang Mai University (CMU) and Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE).

Activities under TGCP are structured around five work packages (WP). They are:

  • Work Package 1: National climate policy
  • Work Package 2: Subnational implementation
  • Work Package 3: Monitoring
  • Work Package 4: Financing
  • Work Package 5: International Cooperation

TGCP-Energy focuses on WP 1, WP 2, and WP 3 and will support TGCP in implementing WP 4 and WP 5 when needed.