An Examination of Factors Enhancing Sustainable Renewable Energy Consumption in Thailand During 2000-2020
Keywords:
Sustainable Development, Sustainable Renewable Energy ConsumptionAbstract
This paper examines the key factors influencing sustainable renewable energy consumption in Thailand from 2000 to 2020. This study is a mixed-methods design. The study employed multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA) in the quantitative phase to assess the impacts of the factors, while the qualitative phase included interviews with 23 interviewees from different organizations involved in Thailand’s renewable energy development. For the quantitative results, this study explored the relationships between twelve independent variables and sustainable renewable energy consumption (SREC) in Thailand from 2000 to 2020, using Pearson’s correlation analysis. The findings revealed complex and sometimes counter-intuitive relationships. Several variables exhibited strong and statistically significant negative correlations with SREC, including technology evolution (X1 = TE, r = -0.791, p < 0.01) and policy and regulatory changes for the commercial sector (X10 = PRCCS, r = -0.856, p < 0.01), industrial sector (X11 = PRCIS, r = -0.766, p < 0.01), and transportation sector (X12 = PRCTS, r = -0.749, p < 0.01), as well as the residential sector (X9 = PRCRS, r = -0.643, p < 0.01). These negative associations suggest that although such factors are often assumed to facilitate renewable energy adoption, they may in fact reflect cost-driven implementation strategies, technological transitions, or regulatory uncertainty that inhibit consumption. A moderate negative correlation was also found with government effectiveness (X6 = GE, r = 0.497, p < 0.05), indicating that institutional efficiency does not automatically translate into enhanced energy sustainability outcomes. In contrast, the democracy index (X8 = DI, r = 0.527, p < 0.01) demonstrated a significant positive correlation with SREC, emphasizing the role of participatory governance and political openness in promoting renewable energy use. Importantly, no statistically significant correlations were found between SREC and power generation costs (X2 = PGC,r = -0.192, p = 0.203), global crude oil price (X3 = GCOP, r = 0.208, p = 0.183), number of investment projects (X4 = NIP, r = -0.192, p = 0.203), political stability (X5 = PS, r = -0.323, p = 0.077), and regulatory quality (X7 = RQ, r = 0.053, p = 0.409), indicating limited or negligible direct effects. While the qualitative results indicate that interviewees agreed both entirely and partially, those factors are the most crucial in increasing sustainable renewable energy consumption in Thailand during that period. The study reveals a complicated network of factors that affect renewable energy consumption, which is essential for creating effective policies. It proposes five theoretical contributions to public administration and public policy, emphasizing the need for a multi-faceted approach to fully comprehend the transition to renewable energy development and policy.
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