Thailand proposed allocating approximately USD 2.23 billion to finance the expansion of its public solar energy program, called People's Solar , with the aim of accelerating the installation of renewable systems in homes and expanding the population's access to this type of generation.
The proposal envisioned approximately $1.486 billion for the first phase and $743 million for the second , according to The Nation . The scheme initially targeted one million households , while a second phase could incorporate an additional 500,000 beneficiaries .
The government also proposed a subsidy of approximately USD 1,486 per household for eligible solar installations. The systems could be located on rooftops, on the ground, or in a floating configuration and could reach a maximum capacity of 10 kW .
Participating households could also sell surplus electricity generated by their facilities back to the system at around USD 0.065/kWh , through contracts lasting 20 years .
Loans at 2.5% and payment with energy revenues
The financial scheme also incorporated the participation of three state banks: Government Housing Bank, Government Savings Bank and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives .
The entities would offer loans to finance solar installations with an annual rate of 2.5% and terms of up to seven years .
The revenue generated from electricity sales would be automatically used to pay off these loans. Any surplus could also be used to reduce the beneficiary's other bank debts.
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The financial proposal came after Thailand decided in September 2026 to double the planned capacity of its public solar program from 5 GW to 10 GW .
The expansion also modified the technological scope of the scheme. Initially focused on rooftop systems, the program incorporated ground-mounted and floating installations, with the aim of enabling the participation of households that did not have sufficient available roof space.
The network would also have to adapt to the 10 GW
The growth of distributed generation also forced Thailand to prepare its electrical infrastructure.
Authorities ordered progress on improvements related to generation forecasting, real-time monitoring, control systems, integration of smart meters, and battery storage , with the goal of absorbing the increased capacity without compromising grid stability.
Under the expanded program, eligible sales were limited to 5 kW per meter .
“Expanding to 10,000 MW will open up more opportunities for the public to participate in clean energy production, but this must be done alongside preparing the grid to ensure that the increased capacity does not affect the stability of the electricity system,” Lalida Periswiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office , had noted.
In parallel, the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) commissioned the Ministry of Industry to develop a specific plan for the recycling of solar panels and batteries , also incorporating the treatment of equipment into the projected growth of the market.
Conversions used: USD 2.23 billion for the total, USD 1.486 billion for the first phase, USD 743 million for the second, USD 1,486 per household and about USD 0.065/kWh for surplus energy.