Thailand To Launch Subsidised Rooftop Solar Programme For 1 Million Households

Thailand is preparing to launch a major subsidised rooftop solar programme aimed at helping households reduce electricity bills and supporting the country’s transition towards cleaner energy. Registration for the programme is expected to open in mid-October, with an initial target of 1 million households. The Interior Ministry is also considering expanding the programme to cover up to 1.5 million homes.

Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said 50 billion baht from a larger 200 billion baht fund for energy transition projects will be allocated to the initiative. Eligible households will receive a subsidy of up to 50,000 baht for each solar installation. Systems can be installed either on rooftops or on private land.

The programme is designed to turn households into electricity producers by allowing them to sell surplus solar power to the national grid. Government estimates indicate that a household installing a 5-kilowatt solar system with relatively low daytime electricity consumption could earn around 1,000 baht per month from surplus power sales. The savings and potential income could continue throughout the estimated 25- to 30-year operating life of the solar panels.

Households with high daytime electricity consumption are expected to benefit mainly through lower monthly electricity bills. To make installations more affordable, state-owned banks, including the Government Savings Bank, Government Housing Bank and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, will provide upfront financing. Electricity sales revenue can then be used to repay the financing, reducing the need for households to provide significant initial capital.

The government will also introduce safeguards to prevent fraudulent subsidy claims. Subsidies will be released only after electricity authorities verify the physical connection of the installed solar systems. Each electricity meter owner will be limited to one subsidy entitlement.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s metropolitan and provincial electricity utilities are upgrading grid infrastructure to support the programme. Planned improvements include smart meters, additional transmission capacity and battery storage integration.

The initiative is also expected to create jobs, support domestic solar manufacturing and provide import tax exemptions for selected solar components. At a broader level, Thailand aims to strengthen energy security by reducing dependence on imported liquefied natural gas and limiting exposure to international energy price volatility.