EV and Data Centers Shake Up Thailand's Power Demand: Big Challenge for PDP2026
Macro
The draft Power Development Plan of Thailand for 2026–2050, or PDP2026, which covers 25 years, must confront a changing electricity demand structure, with EVs and data centers as the main drivers of incremental power demand in 2050. EVs will have the highest electricity demand at 91,736 GWh, while data centers will require 42,468–55,744 GWh. When combined with the EEC projects at 7,791 GWh, high-speed rail at 3,552 GWh, MRT electric trains at 708 GWh, and new industrial estates at 34 GWh, these must be offset by energy efficiency measures (EEP) at 117,449–149,146 GWh and self-generated power (IPS) at 30,085 GWh, reflecting the simultaneous forces of increase and decrease under the flexible green energy concept and the Net Zero goal.
