Thailand plans expansion of rooftop solar power
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Thailand’s Ministry of Energy proposed a new Power Development Plan (PDP) 2026, aiming to increase the country’s clean energy share to 50% within ten years and support 10 gigawatts of rooftop solar capacity.
Energy Minister Ekanat Prompan announced the plan intends to reduce Thailand’s reliance on imported gas and bolster its economic standing. The government will seek input from residents, businesses, and other stakeholders before finalizing the plan, considering its impact on electricity costs and energy security.
To fund the transition, authorities plan to allocate THB 50 billion ($1.52 billion) and offer import tax exemptions for solar products. They are also exploring other technologies like small modular reactors and carbon capture systems. Currently, Thailand had approximately 3.3 GW of rooftop solar capacity at the end of 2024, and total solar capacity reached 6,842 MW by the end of 2025.
To facilitate further growth, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and Provincial Electricity Authority began accepting applications in August 2026 from qualified rooftop solar installers and for eligible equipment. A new net-billing scheme approved in April allows residential customers to sell excess solar electricity back to utilities for THB 2.20/kWh ($0.07/kWh), with systems capped at 5 kW and contracts lasting ten years. This program is initially limited to households, excluding industrial and business users.
