Thailand Shifts to Clean Energy as Peak Electricity Hits 36,759 MW
Thailand's electricity demand peaked at 36,759 MW in April 2025 as the nation shifts toward clean energy, with electric vehicle registrations surging 66% and EV charging station usage jumping 87% during the first half of the year.
Watthanapon Kurawat, director of the Office of Energy Policy and Planning, revealed that during the first six months of 2025, Thailand's primary commercial energy consumption reached approximately 2,062 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, up 0.9%, reflecting a 2.4% expansion in the Thai economy. Natural gas use jumped 8.5%, driven by a 6% rise in electricity generation, while hydropower and imported electricity both climbed 10.2%.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) registered cumulatively reached 491,496 units, a 66% increase, pushing electricity usage at EV charging stations up 87.1%, though overall CO2 emissions from energy use fell 0.4%. Natural gas consumption stood at 4,937 million cubic feet per day, up 8.5%, with 63% directed to power generation. Electricity use rose 6% over the six months to 109,846 gigawatt-hours, with the industrial sector accounting for the largest share at 40.4% but growing only 3.1%, while household use jumped 10.2% and commercial use rose 7.4%.
Refined oil consumption declined 0.8% to 142.7 million liters daily, mainly due to a 2.4% drop in diesel use to 68.2 million liters daily amid higher prices and Middle East instability. Petrol rose 1.1% to 31.9 million liters daily, aviation fuel climbed 1.1% to 17.9 million liters daily following a 1.49% rise in airport passengers, and fuel oil increased 5.9% to 5.6 million liters daily. Coal and lignite use fell dramatically, declining 6% and 52.5% respectively following partial shutdowns at Mae Mao power plant. LPG consumption dropped 0.7% to 17.9 thousand tons daily, driven by reduced transport sector use.
The system's peak electricity demand occurred on April 22, 2025, at 20:50 hours, reaching 36,759 megawatts, a 6.2% increase from the previous year. The transport sector's overall energy use fell 1.4%, yet EV charging stations experienced explosive 87.1% growth, reflecting Thailand's rapid shift toward electric mobility and cleaner energy sources.
