Following the good news early in 2026 that those wanting to install solar panels to save on electricity costs could claim tax deductions up to 200,000 baht, a bigger update has emerged. The Cabinet resolution on 27 Oct 2026 approved the People's Solar Project, granting a 50,000 baht subsidy per household for solar panel installation. It also allows households to sell excess electricity back to the state. What are the interesting details? We have summarized them here.
The government will support the installation costs of solar panels for home electricity use, including selling excess power back to the electricity authority. The subsidy is 50,000 baht per household, targeting 1,000,000 households nationwide with a total budget of 50 billion baht. Registration opens from 27 Oct 2026 to 31 Jan 2027 at https://peoplesolar.mea.or.th/.
First, applicants must be Thai nationals with an ID card; must be electricity users classified as type 1 residential homes (excluding temporary meters or condominiums). Importantly, the "applicant's name" must match the electricity meter owner's name. If not, the name must be changed at the electricity authority before applying.
Payment is not automatic upon registration. Applicants must submit a request to connect to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority or Provincial Electricity Authority grid by 31 Aug 2027 and complete the connection by 30 Sep 2027.
Tax invoices for equipment purchase and installation must be dated from the registration start date onward.
Eligible systems include rooftop, ground-mounted, or floating solar installations sized from 5 kWp up to 10 kWp per meter. Systems must include at least solar panels and an inverter as main components. This includes new installations or expansions sized between 5 kWp and 10 kWp, excluding existing systems.
The government has arranged with three banks—Government Savings Bank, Government Housing Bank, and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives—to offer loans for solar system installation at an interest rate of 2.5% per year, repayable over about 7 years. Income from selling electricity can be used to repay the loan.
Applicants cannot claim the 200,000 baht tax deduction for rooftop solar installation under the 2026 Revenue Code exemption if they receive this subsidy; partial or full overlap of benefits is not allowed.
State welfare recipients who opt for this subsidy cannot claim the monthly 315 baht electricity assistance for 20 years.
Participants can get a free Smart Meter replacement and sell up to 5 kW of surplus electricity back to the electricity authority at 2.20 baht per unit for 20 years, according to project conditions.
Installation must be done by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, Provincial Electricity Authority, or registered contractors only. Using unregistered technicians disqualifies applicants from subsidies. Standard package prices, such as a CPAC roof with a 5 kW single-phase system, should not exceed 140,000 baht including insurance, but prices may vary and should be checked carefully.
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority advises preparing six pieces of information to ease registration:
Finally, the People's Solar Project is on a first-come, first-served basis, so conditions must be carefully followed. Registration is open from 27 Oct 2026 to 31 Jan 2027. Tax invoices must be dated from 27 Oct 2026 onward. Connection requests must be submitted by 31 Aug 2027, with connection completed by 30 Sep 2027.
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