Updated 4 October 2026. On 2 October the Deputy Minister of Interior said the ministry was submitting the programme to the committee that screens spending under the 400,000-million-baht loan decree, with registration expected from 1 November 2026. The changes he announced are marked *(2 Oct)* below. Eligibility rules, the registration channel and the technical rules are still to be published by the Energy Regulatory Commission and the utilities; this article will be updated again when they are.
What was announced
On 18 September 2026 Thailand's National Energy Policy Committee approved an expansion of the People's Solar programme (the residential rooftop buy-back scheme) from the 5,000 MW first proposed to up to 10,000 MW — roughly one million households. The existing 500 MW round opened in July 2026 is folded into the new ceiling. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has said registration will open in mid-October 2026.
| Item | Announced so far |
|---|---|
| Programme size | Up to 10,000 MW, about 1 million households |
| Subsidy | 50,000 baht per household towards installation |
| System size | 5 to 10 kW; the utility buys back from 5 kW only *(2 Oct; earlier reports said up to 5 kW per meter)* |
| Where it can be installed | Roof, ground or floating on water — a household electricity meter is required *(2 Oct)* |
| Meter | The utility replaces it with a smart meter free of charge *(2 Oct)* |
| Scheme type | Net billing — use your solar power first, sell the surplus |
| Buy-back price | 2.20 baht/kWh for surplus exported to the grid |
| Contract term | 20 years (the July round offered 10) |
| Funding | 50,000–75,000 million baht for a target of 1–1.5 million households, proposed from the 200,000-million-baht energy-transition share of the 400,000-million-baht loan decree *(2 Oct; earlier reported as 50,000 million baht)* |
| Who can join | State-welfare cardholders can also join *(2 Oct)* |
| Loans | GH Bank, BAAC and GSB at 2.5% a year over 7 years; each bank may add its own terms *(2 Oct)* |
| Coverage | All 77 provinces — PEA in 74, MEA in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan |
| Installers | Must meet the MEA/PEA installer standard (Vendor List) — criteria on track record, engineers on staff and financial standing are being set. Households can go through the utilities or hire a private installer directly *(2 Oct)* |
Timeline reported so far
- 1 November 2026 (expected) — public registration opens *(2 Oct; earlier reported as mid-October)*
- October – November 2026 — eligibility criteria announced
- From November 2026 — grid-connection applications
- From December 2026 — subsidy payments begin (reported as 13 instalments)
- October 2026 – September 2027 — programme period
Still to be confirmed
- Who qualifies (all households or priority groups) and how applicants are selected
- The registration channel — website, app, or through the utility offices
- Whether the 50,000 baht is paid to the household or to the installer, and when
- Technical rules for inverters and connection, which the Energy Regulatory Commission will issue
- How the 5 kW buy-back limit is applied to systems larger than 5 kW
- Whether income from exported power can be paid straight to the lender — to be discussed by the Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Energy Policy Committee in October
How much does a 5 kW system produce?
In Thailand one kilowatt-peak of rooftop solar produces on average about 3.4 kWh per day across the year — the long-standing panel generation factor of 3.43 used in our solar PV design guide.
5 kW × 3.43 kWh/kW/day × 365 days ≈ 6,260 kWh per year (about 520 kWh a month)
The government's own figures agree. It expects the programme to cut purchases from the grid by 6,323.62 million kWh a year across one million households — about 6,320 kWh per household, or 3.46 kWh per kW per day.
What is that electricity worth?
Under net billing the same kilowatt-hour has two prices, depending on where it goes:
- Used in your home — it replaces power you would have bought. The average tariff for September–December 2026 is 3.86 baht/kWh before VAT, about 4.13 baht with VAT.
- Exported to the grid — it is bought at 2.20 baht/kWh.
| Share used in the home | Self-use value | Export income | Total per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70% (someone home, air-con by day) | 4,382 kWh × 4.13 = 18,097 | 1,878 kWh × 2.20 = 4,131 | ≈ 22,230 baht | ≈ 1,850 |
| 50% (mixed) | 3,130 kWh × 4.13 = 12,926 | 3,130 kWh × 2.20 = 6,886 | ≈ 19,810 baht | ≈ 1,650 |
| 30% (empty by day) | 1,878 kWh × 4.13 = 7,756 | 4,382 kWh × 2.20 = 9,640 | ≈ 17,400 baht | ≈ 1,450 |
*Figures before panel degradation, inverter replacement and maintenance, at today's tariff. Tariffs change every four months.*
How much does the subsidy shorten payback?
The subsidy does not change what the system earns; it lowers what you pay for it. The system price below is an illustrative figure to show the method — a 5 kW rooftop quote varies with equipment brand, roof type and wiring distance, so get a real quotation.
| System price (illustrative) | You pay after 50,000 subsidy | Payback with subsidy (70% / 50% / 30% self-use) | Payback without subsidy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120,000 baht | 70,000 | 3.1 / 3.5 / 4.0 years | 5.4 / 6.1 / 6.9 years |
| 150,000 baht | 100,000 | 4.5 / 5.0 / 5.7 years | 6.7 / 7.6 / 8.6 years |
| 180,000 baht | 130,000 | 5.8 / 6.6 / 7.5 years | 8.1 / 9.1 / 10.3 years |
Five things to check before you register
- Your daytime use. Look at your bills and ask who is at home and what runs between 9:00 and 16:00. The more you use by day, the faster the payback — sizing for export alone earns only 2.20 baht per unit. The ministry says homes with bills of about 3,000–4,000 baht a month benefit most.
- The space. A 5 kW array needs about 25–30 m² without shade, ideally facing south, east or west. It can be on the roof, on the ground or floating on a pond; a roof must be sound for another 25 years.
- Your meter and supply. You need an electricity meter, which the utility will swap for a free smart meter. Systems may be 5–10 kW, but only 5 kW is bought back, so anything larger should be sized for what the home uses itself. Check whether you have a single-phase or three-phase supply and that the meter is in your name.
- A qualified installer. Installers must meet the MEA/PEA Vendor List standard. Ask to see the registration, the inverter's certification for grid connection (anti-islanding) and the warranty terms.
- Whether you need a battery. For most homes in this scheme, no — the grid-tied system without a battery pays back fastest. A battery makes sense only if you need backup during outages or want to move solar power into the evening. See home solar payback and batteries.
How this relates to the earlier net-billing round
The 500 MW round opened on 1 July 2026 offered the same 2.20 baht/kWh but for 10 years and with no installation subsidy. The new programme absorbs it, extends the term to 20 years and adds the 50,000 baht. The personal income-tax deduction for residential rooftop solar up to 10 kWp installed in 2025–2028 is a separate measure; whether both can be claimed together is not yet confirmed. The mechanics of net billing are explained in Net Billing 2026 — selling solar power back.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the People's Solar subsidy?
The government has announced 50,000 baht per household towards the cost of installing a solar system of 5 to 10 kW. Eligibility and the payment method are still to be announced.When does registration open?
On 2 October 2026 the Ministry of Interior said registration is expected to open on 1 November 2026, subject to approval of the funding. Earlier reports had said mid-October.How much will a 5 kW rooftop system save?
About 17,000–22,000 baht a year at today's tariff, depending on how much of the 6,200–6,300 kWh a year it produces is used in the home rather than exported at 2.20 baht.What is the buy-back price and for how long?
Surplus electricity is bought at 2.20 baht/kWh. The National Energy Policy Committee approved a 20-year term on 18 September 2026, extended from the 10 years of the July round.Can I install more than 5 kW?
Yes. Under the update of 2 October 2026 systems can start at 5 kW and go up to 10 kW, but the utility buys back power from 5 kW only. The extra capacity is worth it only if the home uses that power itself.Does it have to be on the roof?
No. Panels can be installed on the roof, on the ground or floating on a pond. What is required is an electricity meter; the utility replaces it with a smart meter free of charge.Can I get a loan to install it?
Yes. GH Bank, BAAC and the Government Savings Bank offer loans at 2.5% a year over 7 years, and each bank may have its own terms. Whether income from exported power can repay the loan directly is still under discussion.Do I need a battery to join?
No. The programme is a grid-tied net-billing scheme and a system without a battery pays back fastest. A battery is an optional extra for backup power.Who can install the system?
Installers that meet the Metropolitan or Provincial Electricity Authority's Vendor List standard. You can go through the utilities or hire a private installer directly; check the installer's status and the inverter's grid-connection certification before signing.Summary
The People's Solar programme turns a typical 5 kW rooftop (half its output used at home) from a six-to-nine-year investment into one that pays back in roughly three and a half to six and a half years, with a 20-year buy-back behind it. The details that decide who can join are still to come in October–November 2026. What you can do now is look at your daytime electricity use and your roof, so you are ready when registration opens.
To estimate the right size for your home, try the free Solar Insight tool or see residential rooftop solar. Installation in Thailand: the LEONICS group's EPC contractor Microgrid Technology Co., Ltd. designs and installs solar rooftop, solar farm and solar + BESS systems — telephone +66 2-746-9500, mobile 080-042-4469, LINE microgrid-tech. It is in the process of registering as an installer for the People's Solar programme.
*Sources: National Energy Policy Committee resolution of 18 September 2026 and statements by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, as reported by Bangkok Biz News, Thai Post, Thansettakij and Post Today, 18–26 September 2026; statement by the Deputy Minister of Interior, as reported by Prachachat Turakij, 2 October 2026.*