The budget for developing renewable energy should be set at around 15.6 billion baht through 15 years, according to the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency.
Pongpirodom, the department's secretary-general, said the first 15-year renewable energy development master plan for 2008-22 was nearly finished. It estimates capital needed from state agencies and universities to encourage renewable energy consumption.
''They should join with renewable energy projects by earmarking budgets for research and development, promotional packages and incentives to make projects economically viable,'' he said.
''If the state can prove [renewable energy] could make money, budgets of billions of baht from the private sector will be seen very soon.''
He said 7.11 billion baht should be allocated to developing biomass through upgrading technology, building pilot projects and improving the efficiency of raw material consumption.
The target for power generation from biomass is to generate 3,700 megawatts of power and a heat output of 6.725 million tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) in 2022, up from 1,760 MW and heat of 2.665 million TOE today.
For power from community sludge, the department has projected a budget of 4.83 billion baht. The target for increasing output would be to 160 MW in 2022 from five MW now.
Biogas development is estimated to require two billion baht, to raise power generated to 120 MW and heat output to 600,000 TOE, from 35 MW and 100,000 TOE.
Dr Panich said that wind turbines, although expensive now, could be developed through investing 1.46 billion baht, mainly on R&D to lower production costs. The department's target for wind power is 700 MW in 2022, up from 2.5 MW now.
Fuel cells and hydrogen fuel are estimated to require a budget of 203 million baht, mainly for pilot projects.
A revision to the 15-year-Power Development Plan (PDP) from 2008-22 is to be released soon in response to the significant drop in consumption caused by the economic slowdown.
Sombat Sarntijaree, the governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), said consumption this year would grow by less than 3%, far below a previous estimate of 5-6%
The current PDP assumes a 5-6% growth in power demand in line with annual economic growth of 4-5%.
Power demand grew in the first quarter by 3% then declined to below 3% in the second and third quarters before falling to zero now. This reflects the actual GDP figure, he said.
Egat is seeking approval from the Finance Ministry to issue bonds worth 20 billion baht to repay its natural gas bill to PTT Plc, the country's sole gas supplier
