Thailand outlines nuclear power proposal at public hearing

Thailand’s draft power development plan, unveiled during a public hearing in Bangkok on Tuesday (September 8, 2026), envisages up to 9,000MW of small modular nuclear capacity by 2050 to secure round-the-clock clean electricity supplies and meet rising demand from data centres and electric vehicles.

Prasert Sinsukprasert, permanent secretary for energy, said the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) would lead the first proposed 300MW project. The project would build confidence in standards and regulatory oversight under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines before private-sector participation is considered.

The Ministry of Energy, through its Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), organised the hearing in the Grand Ballroom of the Rama Gardens Hotel. The session, scheduled for 8am to 2.30pm, brought together representatives of government agencies, private businesses, energy developers and civil society groups.

Opening the hearing on the draft Power Development Plan for 2026–2050 (PDP 2026), Prasert said feedback from all sectors would be used to refine the plan to suit Thailand’s needs.

Small modular reactors and backup options

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are among the draft’s principal options for providing reliable clean electricity.

“SMRs are an answer to the need for clean baseload energy. They provide stable power and emit no greenhouse gases. The plants are small and use passive safety technology that allows them to cool themselves down,” Prasert said.

PDP 2026 would remain flexible, with scope for adjustments every two to three years in response to changes in technology and economic conditions.

If SMR technology is delayed, the government’s backup options include expanding renewable generation, including solar power paired with battery energy storage systems (BESS), or using natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS). These alternatives are intended to maintain a secure, clean and sustainably affordable electricity supply.

Rising demand puts pressure on the grid

Prasert cited expressions of interest in electricity supply totalling 22,000–30,000MW, with data centres and electric vehicles driving rapid growth in demand.

He said Thailand’s economy relied primarily on electricity. Attracting global technology companies to establish data centres and artificial intelligence (AI) operations would require vast amounts of clean, stable and highly reliable power to meet international trade and investment requirements.

The government may need to screen data-centre projects to ensure they create genuine added value and benefit Thailand’s digital economy, including projects that help build the foundations of the AI industry.

Clean energy and progress towards net zero were central to attracting foreign trade and investment, Prasert said. Major global companies were prioritising low-carbon products and production chains with no carbon footprint.

“PDP 2026 must address the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions towards the goal of net zero by 2050. If we fail to do so, foreign trade and investment will inevitably be affected,” he said.

Thailand’s electricity reserve margin of about 25% was adequate in the short term. The more urgent task was to strengthen transmission and distribution infrastructure to accommodate rapidly expanding demand.

Grid improvements could require investment of 300–700 billion baht, including smart-grid upgrades and the installation of synchronous condensers to maintain frequency stability. The investment would be funded by the country’s three electricity authorities, Prasert added.

Average tariff target of no more than 3.88 baht

Under current assumptions, including the planned fuel mix, PDP 2026 aims to keep the average electricity tariff across the plan period at no more than 3.88 baht per kilowatt-hour.

Businesses requiring premium clean energy, such as data centres, may have to accept tariffs reflecting the actual cost of generation. Their rates could therefore be higher than those paid by general consumers, Prasert pointed out.

Direct power purchases to expand beyond data centres

Electricity-sector liberalisation is another major element of the draft.

The National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) has provided guidance on expanding direct power purchase agreements (direct PPAs) beyond the existing 2,000MW allocation. Access would extend beyond data centres to other industries seeking clean electricity.

The government also plans to promote third-party access (TPA), allowing the state-owned grid to be used to transmit electricity, and encourage wider household installation of rooftop solar systems.

Prasert stressed that the grid must be strong and flexible enough to accommodate fluctuations in renewable generation, particularly solar power, which is produced only during daylight hours.

Electricity-use data showed that consumer behaviour had changed, with peak demand now occurring at about 9pm to 10pm as more consumers generated and used their own solar electricity during the day.

The draft must therefore prioritise grid stability to ensure electricity is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with power supplied immediately whenever users switch on, he said.

Prasert invited industry, businesses and the public to submit their views during the consultation, which would continue for another week. He described PDP 2026 as a plan for all Thais.

The draft would then be finalised for submission to the NEPC and the Cabinet for approval. He expected the process to be completed within one to two months.