How Strategic Environmental Assessment Can Influence Power Development Plans: Comparing Alternative Energy Scenarios for Power Planning in the Greater Mekong Subregion

Abstract

This book is the third in a three-volume series of studies arising from the project Ensuring Sustainability of the Greater Mekong Subregion Regional Power Development. The project aimed to assess the impacts of alternative directions for development of the power sector in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) through a strategic environmental assessment (SEA); develop recommendations on how to minimize and mitigate harmful impacts in the power sector; and provide capacity building for GMS countries in the conduct of SEAs, and support their integration into the power planning process. This volume finds that incorporating significantly greater renewable energy production and greater energy efficiency measures would increase the sustainability of power plans at a comparatively low additional financial cost. Moreover, energy efficiency measures can offset costs of additional renewable energy. The resulting power generation mix would be stable and would provide greater energy security, while remaining affordable and accessible.