Thailand has set targets and policies for the development of its energy sector for 2035, with priority being given to indigenous renewable energy resources, including hydropower.
Hydropower in Thailand is the biggest form of renewable energy in Thailand, beating solar power in Thailand and wind power in Thailand, with a total capacity of over 7000 megawatts (MW) of hydropower generation capacity installed in 26 hydroelectric dams in the country. The biggest hydroelectric dam in Thailand is the Bhumibol Dam, which has eight turbines giving it a total capacity of 749 MW. The dam was opened in 1964 and is owned and operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). As of 2000, large-scale hydropower generation in Thailand had reached almost 3 gigawatts (GW), and development has since slowed as concerns were raised on environmental impacts of large hydropower plants. Generation from small-scale hydropower is rising at a modest rate.
Thailand also imports electricity produced by hydroelectric power stations in other countries. By September 2015, Thailand was importing 7% of the electricity it could produce. Electricity was being imported from Laos, Myanmar and China.
To complement Thailand's hydropower plants, EGAT plans to build floating solar-hydro projects on eight reservoir dams around the country, with a total planned capacity of 1 GW.
List of Thailand hydroelectric power stations Station Capacity (MW) Community Coordinates Status Opening year Ban Yang Dam 0.13 Operational Ban Khun Klang Dam 0.20 Operational Bang Lang Dam 72 Operational 1981 Ban Santi 1.28 Operational Bhumibol Dam 749 Operational 1964 Chulabhorn Dam 40 Operational 1972 Chao Phraya Dam 19 Operational 1957 Huai Kui Mang Dam 0.10 Operational Huai Kum Dam 1.06 Operational 1980 Kaeng Krachan Dam 12 Operational 1966 Khlong Chong Klam Dam 0.02 Operational Lam Takhong Pumped Storage Power Plant 500 Operational 2002 Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam 9 Operational 1986 Nam Pung Dam 6 Operational 1965 Pak Mun Dam 136 Operational 1994 Rajjaprabha Dam 240 Operational 1987 Sirikit Dam 500 Operational 1974 Srinagarind Dam 720 Operational 1980 Sirindhorn Dam 36 Operational 1971 Tha Thung Na Dam 38 Operational 1981 Ubol Ratana Dam 25.2 Operational 1966 Vajiralongkorn Dam 300 Operational 1984 Mae Wong Dam Proposed Kaeng Suea Ten Dam Proposed Pakchom Dam Proposed Ban Koum Dam Proposed
See also Renewable energy in Thailand Wind power in Thailand Solar power in Thailand Renewable energy by country
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