Abstract:
This study aims to evaluate the economic feasibility of switching from natural gas to hydrogen gas for electricity generation in large power plants in Thailand. This shift is prompted by pressure from the European Unions Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which requires exported products to the EU to meet clean energy standards. Otherwise, the products are subjected to fines which increase the prices. If Thailand continues to rely primarily on fossil fuels, it risks losing over 10 billion baht annually in export value to the EU. Therefore, transitioning to hydrogen energy may be the only viable option for Thailand to meet the clean energy criteria necessary to be exempt from CBAM measures. The economic cost-benefit analysis compares two types of power plants: those that use a mix of hydrogen and natural gas, and those that use hydrogen alone, produced through electrolysis. The study considers three plant capacities100 MW, 500 MW, and 1,000 MWdesigned to ensure that Thailands clean electricity production (from both existing and new hydrogen-based generation) reaches no less than 55% of total power generation capacity. The analysis incorporates costs in three areas: hydrogen production, hydrogen transportation to the power plant, and modification of the plants combustion chamber to accommodate hydrogen use. The benefit considered is the preservation of export value for products subject to CBAM, assuming normal growth trends. The study is divided into three cases: Case 1: Converting natural gas power plants to accommodate hydrogen by producing hydrogen in the Gulf of Thailand and transporting it to the power plants. Case 2: Installing green hydrogen production units in front of the power plants at a distance of 2 kilometers. Case 3: Investing in the installation of green hydrogen production units in front of the power plants at a distance of 2 kilometers, but beginning the investment in the 10th year when the price of electrolyzers is expected to fall by half. The findings reveal that the costs of electricity generation in all three cases are higher than the expected benefits, resulting in a negative Net Present Value (NPV), a Benefit-Cost Ratio (B/C Ratio) below one, and a payback period that is unattainable within any reasonable timeframe. It is therefore concluded that investing in large-scale hydrogen-powered electricity plants solely to meet CBAM requirements is not economically viable. Consequently, the recommended solution is not to rely solely on clean energy policies, but rather to adopt international trade strategies that open alternative markets for affected products, shifting exports to other countries instead of focusing exclusively on the EU.