The government is pushing forward its transition to clean energy. "Aekniti" highlights the "Solar Credit" model to promote solar panel installation, aiming to use electricity consumption behavior as a new loan approval criterion to reduce the financial burden on citizens.
On 7 August 2026, Mr. Aekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, revealed that addressing high electricity costs and reducing reliance on natural gas is crucial. Currently, Thailand needs to import up to 60% of natural gas used for electricity generation, directly impacting the cost of electricity for the public. Promoting the installation of solar panel systems among households and businesses is therefore a key approach to lowering energy expenses. The "Solar Credit" program is open to the general public, project owners, factories, and entrepreneurs who meet the qualifications set by the screening committee.
Mr. Aekniti emphasized the "Solar Credit" model, which allows installation first and payment later through electricity usage behavior. This is a key highlight of the project and represents a new form of loan approval (Alternative Credit Score), primarily considering citizens’ electricity consumption patterns. This approach makes it easier for people to access installations without the burden of an initial lump-sum payment. At present, the MEA and PEA have submitted project proposals for the screening committee’s consideration.
Regarding installation and operations, participants must select systems installed through the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) or the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to ensure proper system connection according to regulations and to enable selling surplus electricity back to the state. The installation size is 5 kilowatts (5 kW), costing approximately 95,000 to over 100,000 baht. Interested businesses or individuals must be selected and approved by the committee and subcommittee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance.
The program plans to involve state banks such as the Government Housing Bank (GHB) and the Government Savings Bank (GSB), offering low-interest loans as a key mechanism under the "Solar Credit" model. Loan approval will be based on the new criterion (Alternative Credit Score), which focuses on citizens’ electricity usage behavior rather than just traditional income documents. This new loan approval method aims to help people, especially households, access solar panel installations more easily.
The support model is designed so that citizens do not have to make an upfront payment initially; state banks cover the installation costs entirely. There are incentives such as discounts of up to 2,000 baht in the first year. Initially, participants will see immediate electricity bill discounts. By the third year, they will hardly need to pay more than their usual expenses, and by the fifth year, they will begin to see clear savings or profits (for example, saving 7 parts compared to the previous 5 parts).
Additionally, citizens can choose installation through the electricity authorities (MEA/PEA) to ensure proper procedures and enable selling surplus electricity back to the government, creating an additional income source. The program aims to have about 500,000 participants.