THE National Energy Policy Council has expanded residential solar power promotion with the target raised from 5,000 megawatts to 10,000 megawatts covering approximately 1 million households to boost clean energy production and consumption at the household level, PPTVHD36 said today (Sep. 19).
Ms. Lalida Peritwiwatana, deputy government spokesperson, said this change was approved at a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.
It was agreed the “Net Billing” system be utilised in purchasing surplus electricity, with residents to consume the electricity they generate first and then sell any excess to the grid at a rate of 2.20 baht per unit. The maximum capacity for sale is set at 5 kilowatts per meter.
Additionally, the power purchase contract period has been extended from 10 years to 20 years to align with the lifespan of solar panels with this expanded framework covering 2026–2028 period.
The panel also approved expanding installation formats beyond the original rooftop-only focus to include ground-mounted and floating solar systems for households. This change aims to enable more people — including those with rooftop space limitations — to participate in the programme.
Furthermore, residents may install systems larger than 5 kilowatts, subject to relevant regulations. However, the purchase of surplus electricity will be capped at 5 kilowatts per meter.
Additionally, in order to alleviate the electricity cost burden for September–December 2026 the panel approved maintaining the retail Ft (Fuel Adjustment Charge) at 16.23 satang per unit. Guidelines for fuel cost management were also established to mitigate the impact of rising spot-market LNG prices.
Furthermore, the meeting approved in principle draft ministerial regulations setting energy efficiency standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and electric irons, to be submitted to the cabinet for further processing.
Approval was also granted for a policy framework governing the Oil Fuel Fund, fuel crisis contingency plan, and Oil Fuel Fund’s strategic plan for 2026–2029, ensuring preparedness for price volatility and energy security challenges.
Lalida added that while expanding the scope to 10,000 megawatts will create opportunities for greater public participation in clean energy generation this must also be accompanied by grid readiness preparations to ensure that the increased generation capacity does not compromise the stability of the electrical system.
The panel has tasked Energy and Interior ministries plus three state-owned electric utilities with finalising an infrastructure support plan within one month. This plan will cover four key areas:
– Electricity generation forecasting;
– Real-time data monitoring;
– Transmission and distribution system control;
– Battery energy storage systems.
Additionally, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) are required to link smart meter data with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to assist in managing voltage, frequency, and system fluctuations.
This also entails assessing the readiness of transmission lines, distribution lines, smart grids, and energy storage systems in each area before formulating an investment framework and identifying appropriate funding sources.
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Top and Front Page: A graphic image on solar energy generation. Credit – PPTVHD36
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