Thailand paves the way for 10 GW of rooftop solar

Thailand paves the way for 10 GW of rooftop solar

Thailand’s new Power Development Plan targets 50% clean energy within 10 years and another 10 GW of rooftop solar.

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Thailand’s Ministry of Energy has unveiled its draft Power Development Plan (PDP) 2026, targeting a 50% share of clean energy within 10 years while reducing dependence on imported gas and creating the conditions for 10 GW of rooftop solar.

Energy Minister Ekanat Prompan said the plan would increase the share of renewables in the generation mix from less than 20% today to 50% within the first decade. The government is also considering technologies including small modular reactors (SMRs), carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and geothermal energy.

For distributed solar, the government plans to expand direct power purchase agreements (PPAs) and increase household participation in the electricity market. The draft sets a target of procuring up to 10 GW of electricity from rooftop solar, alongside the deployment of smart grids and energy storage to support grid stability.

Ekanat said the government is seeking feedback from households, businesses and other stakeholders before finalizing the plan, citing its implications for electricity costs, energy security and Thailand’s economic competitiveness.

According to Reuters, the government plans to support the measures with THB 50 billion ($1.52 billion) in funding and import tax exemptions for solar products.

Thai authorities, meanwhile, are already taking steps to support the rooftop solar target.

In early August, they opened registration for rooftop solar installers and eligible equipment ahead of a nationwide expansion of residential solar.

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) are accepting applications from Aug. 3 to Sept. 30, 2026. Installers must meet qualifications and technical standards established by the electricity authorities. Eligible equipment, including solar modules and inverters, must comply with applicable international standards, including IEC standards, and Thai Industrial Standards (TIS).

In April, Thailand’s National Energy Policy Committee approved a net-billing scheme for residential rooftop solar.

The program targets up to 500 MW of capacity nationwide. Households will be able to sell surplus solar electricity to distribution utilities at THB 2.20/kWh ($0.07/kWh). Eligible systems will be limited to 5 kW per electricity meter, with power purchase agreements running for 10 years.

The scheme is limited to residential consumers and excludes industrial users and businesses.

Thailand had around 3.3 GW of rooftop solar capacity at the end of 2024, according to data from the country’s Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency.

The country’s cumulative solar capacity reached 6,842 MW at the end of 2025, according to figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), compared to 3,388 MW at the end of 2024.