Generating resilience: exploring the contribution of the small power producer and very small power producer programs to the resilience of Thailand's power sector

“Resilience thinking” is an increasingly popular approach among scholars and policymakers, with advocates heralding it as the successor to the dominant sustainable development paradigm. Resilience refers to the ability to handle unforeseen changes and the capacity for adaption and self-improvement as a result. This article examines two programs for renewable, distributed power generation in Thailand from a resilience perspective. The research contributes to the existing literature by applying the resilience concept to electricity generation and governance in the Thai power sector. The case is interesting because of the vulnerability of Thailand's current electricity system and the fact that the programs are prototypical among developing nations. A conceptual model is constructed from the literature and used to analyze the programs based on information from expert interviews and other sources. Results suggest that the programs are increasing the resilience of the system, but their contribution is limited by barriers related to governance.

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