# Thailand doubles public solar programme to 10GW as energy security becomes an investment priority

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/environment/329806-thailand-doubles-public-solar-programme-to-10gw-as-energy-security-becomes-an-investment-priority
- Published: 2026-09-21T05:25:00+07:00
- Author: Abhishek Prakash

Thailand is doubling the capacity of its public solar-power programme to **10GW 
from 5GW**, in the latest move to reduce the economy’s exposure to imported fossil
fuels and volatile LNG prices. The expanded scheme is expected to cover around **
1 million households**, with Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas approving the
expansion as the government accelerates its energy-transition agenda.

Under the programme, households will be able to consume the electricity they generate
and sell surplus power back to the grid at **THB2.20 per kilowatt-hour**. Individual
systems are capped at around **5kW per electricity meter**, while the programme 
has also been expanded to include ground-mounted and floating solar installations.
The government has not yet provided a detailed implementation timetable for the 
full 10GW programme, although an initial rooftop-solar rollout is expected to begin
in mid-October.

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The move comes against a difficult energy backdrop. Thailand relies heavily on natural
gas for electricity generation, while domestic gas production is declining and imported
LNG has become increasingly important. PTTEP has warned that every **US$3/MMBtu 
increase in LNG prices could raise Thai electricity prices by around 5%**, with 
LNG currently accounting for roughly **30% of power generation** and more than a
quarter of gas used for electricity coming from imports.

The solar expansion is therefore more than a climate policy. It is increasingly 
an industrial-competitiveness measure as Thailand attempts to attract data centres,
electronics manufacturers and other electricity-intensive investments. The government’s
draft Power Development Plan 2026 targets a **50% clean-energy share within 10 years**,
alongside expanded direct power-purchase agreements, smart grids and energy storage.

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For businesses, the key question will be whether the policy can translate into predictable
and competitively priced electricity rather than simply increasing installed renewable
capacity. Faster deployment of distributed solar, combined with grid upgrades and
storage, could reduce peak demand on the national system and provide companies with
a greater ability to hedge against future fossil-fuel price shocks.

**Key points**

 * Public solar programme doubled from **5GW to 10GW**, with coverage aimed at around**
   1 million households**.
 * Household surplus electricity will be bought at **THB2.20/kWh**, with individual
   systems capped at about **5kW**.
 * Thailand’s draft PDP 2026 targets **50% clean energy within 10 years**, as LNG
   exposure and electricity demand rise.

**Why it matters:** Energy security is becoming a core determinant of Thailand’s
economic competitiveness. A successful 10GW distributed-solar programme could lower
exposure to LNG-price volatility while strengthening Thailand’s proposition for 
energy-intensive foreign investment.