Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS): A Key Decarbonization Technology for Thailand and the Region
By Weerawat Chantanakome, Councilor and Advisor, Ministry of Energy of Thailand - ACN Advisory Group Member
26 June 2023
The adoption of Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technology is critical in addressing the rapidly increasing energy demand and carbon emissions, which pose significant threats to global climate change. This article has briefly provided an overview of CCUS technology and its specific implications for Thailand. Thailand has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2065 and carbon neutrality by 2050 as part of the Paris Agreement and the 26th annual session of the COP26 in 2021. Various policies and mitigation options have been implemented. Under Thailand’s Long-term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development strategy (LT-LEDs), key actions towards low carbon, energy transition and carbon neutrality were defined depending on the maturity of the industry/technologies. Under decarbonization policy, the National Energy Policy (NEP2022) for Thailand includes the role of CCUS technology as a critical decarbonization tool to address Thailand's increasing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.
In fact, there are two critical factors in advancing CCUS technologies: sufficient policy drivers & incentives, and the availability of fund. Thailand is formulating a 5-Year Plan (2022-2027) focusing on CCUS deployment and development in both upstream and downstream industry. The Ministry oversees the involvement of national oil companies, utilities, and the private sector in developing a comprehensive CCUS Roadmap. Many CCUS pilot projects are installed. These include CCUS installations retrofitted in existing coal-fired power plants and CO2 sinks in depleted reservoirs. The government is also preparing a business and revenue model for CCUS by 2026.
Thailand has CO2 storage capacity of 2.69 GtCO2. It was estimated that the major notable change will start reflecting from 2045. With CCS technology usage, Thailand will be able to reduce carbon emissions by 55% in 2065. The majority of CCUS initiatives are now in the ‘sandbox’ stage. Five pilot projects are under study, including the Arthit Pilot Project (PTT), the Kra Basin Pilot Project, the Phu Horm Pilot Project, the S1 Pilot Project (that includes the Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) evaluation, and it is under discussion with EGAT and PTTEP on potential collaboration), and the BLCP Pilot Project (which is still under its initial phase and Thai government is collaborating with Japan government to scale up methane production). Moreover, Thailand has five potential places (reservoirs) which have ability to capture carbon emissions. These places are North Malay Basin (1), Kra Basin (2), West Kra Basin (3), Sinphuhorm and Namphong fields (4), and Phitsanulok Basin (S1) (5).
The collaboration on CCUS technology is vital to meeting climate and energy goals. Platform like the Asia CCUS Network (ACN) in collaboration with METI of Japan facilitates discussions on policies, technologies, legal concerns, and supportive measures for CCUS development and deployment across Asia. The development and scaling up of CCUS technologies are necessary to motivate further enhancements and cost reductions, with governments playing a crucial role in creating a sustainable and viable market through supportive policies.