Exploring the foreign direct investment opportunities for renewable energy in Southeast Asia: an in-depth analysis of solar power in Thailand

Abstract

To contextualise opportunities for CEO’s and decisionmakers, this thesis aims to explore the Foreign Direct Investment opportunities for renewable energy in Southeast Asia through an in depth analysis of ASEAN countries’ potential. Three countries (Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia) with subsequent renewable energy technologies (wind, solar and hydropower) are assessed on investment potential through quantitative ranking and qualitative expert interview insights to provide nuance on challenges, opportunities, and potential. This thesis concludes that currently solar power in Thailand presents the most attractive investment opportunity, with wind power in Vietnam and hydropower in Indonesia requiring local policy transformations and stabilisation to de-risk investments.