The government is expanding the "People's Solar" project to 10,000 megawatts, purchasing excess electricity at 2.20 baht per unit for 20 years, allowing installations on land and water surfaces, and ordering network preparation within one month.
On 18 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Lalida Pertvivatana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the government is advancing efforts to expand opportunities for citizens to generate solar power for their own use and to sell excess electricity to the grid. The National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC) meeting 3/2026 (the 177th meeting), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mr. Akniti Nitithanprapas, approved increasing the People's Solar promotion quota from the initial 5,000 megawatts to 10,000 megawatts, covering about 1 million households, to boost clean energy production and usage at the household level.
Regarding the electricity purchase approach, a Net Billing system will be used where citizens consume the electricity they produce first and can sell excess electricity to the grid at 2.20 baht per unit. The amount sold is limited to no more than 5 kilowatts per meter. The purchase contract duration is extended from 10 to 20 years to align with the lifespan of solar panels. This extended quota covers the years 2026 to 2028.
Ms. Lalida said the meeting also approved expanding installation types beyond rooftop solar to include ground and water surface installations for households. This allows citizens with limited roof space to participate more fully. While larger systems exceeding 5 kilowatts may be installed following relevant regulations, the purchase of excess electricity will remain capped at 5 kilowatts per meter.
"The principle is to produce electricity for self-use first, then sell any surplus back to the grid. Expanding to 10,000 megawatts will allow more citizens to contribute to clean energy production, but this must be accompanied by preparing the power grid to ensure that increased capacity does not compromise the stability of the electricity system," Ms. Lalida said. Ms. Lalida added.
The meeting assigned the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Interior, and the three electricity authorities to develop infrastructure plans within one month. These plans will cover four areas: power production forecasting, real-time data monitoring, transmission and distribution system control, and battery energy storage systems.
Additionally, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and the Provincial Electricity Authority are to link smart meter data with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to help manage voltage, frequency, and system fluctuations. They will also assess the readiness of transmission lines, distribution lines, smart grids, and energy storage systems in each area before establishing investment frameworks and suitable funding sources.
For citizens already participating under the previous 10-year purchase contracts, the meeting instructed relevant agencies to create unified standards and fairness measures and to consider contract amendments to avoid requiring participants to cancel existing contracts and reapply.
Furthermore, the NEPC tasked the Ministry of Industry with preparing recycling plans for solar panels and batteries. It will coordinate with the Board of Investment and Customs Department to consider easing import tax restrictions on parts, promote domestic production of panels and equipment, and prepare a workforce skilled in installation and maintenance.
Ms. Lalida added that the NEPC also approved policies to reduce electricity cost burdens from September to December 2026 by maintaining the retail Ft rate at 16.23 satang per unit and setting fuel cost management guidelines to mitigate impacts from rising LNG spot market prices.
The meeting also approved draft ministerial regulations setting energy efficiency standards for refrigerators, freezer refrigerators, and electric irons for Cabinet submission. It agreed on policy frameworks for managing the Oil Fuel Fund, crisis response plans for oil fuel, and strategic plans for the Oil Fuel Fund for 2026–2029 to prepare for price volatility and energy security.
"Increasing People's Solar to 10,000 megawatts is not just about raising the electricity purchase quota but requires preparing systems from the grid, smart meters, energy storage, to end-of-life management of panels and batteries. This ensures citizens benefit from clean energy while maintaining a stable national electricity system capable of supporting long-term energy transition," Ms. Lalida said. Ms. Lalida said.