Boss James Sujinda of the Thai Khao Mai Party questions who truly benefits from the 1 million household solar project, revealing that over 90% of the equipment must be imported from China. He advises participants to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of their home electricity use before joining.
On 31 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Sujinda Sengiamphaisan, also known as Boss James and an executive of the Thai Khao Mai Party, spoke about the government's 1 million household solar panel project, or "People's Solar Project," which uses a total budget exceeding 70 billion baht. This budget comes from a decree authorizing the Ministry of Finance to borrow funds for the country's energy transition. Ultimately, this money is national debt that all citizens must help repay, whether or not they participate in the project.
Importantly, the conditions for contractors or vendors are complicated and include a deposit guarantee that is only returned after government agency verification, making the timing uncertain. Small contractors with limited finances find it difficult to take on many projects, while large companies with full resources can accept unlimited work. Consequently, small contractors end up as subcontractors earning only basic wages, while the expected profit margins—potentially hundreds of thousands per household—go to large companies instead.
Sujinda cited Australia as an example of success in implementing solar projects, noting that Thailand can learn from Australia's experience, which is about 20 years ahead. This includes infrastructure preparation, management before and after installation, and consumer protection.
He also mentioned policies that could be adapted, such as the Solar Sharer Scheme, which provides discounts during peak sun hours when solar power production is highest during the day. He emphasized promoting hybrid systems and suggested the government support citizens in installing batteries alongside solar panels to achieve real electricity savings.
Additionally, Sujinda advised those interested in joining the project to study and analyze their household electricity usage to assess cost-effectiveness. He recommended that vendors on the approved list provide proper analysis and guidance tailored to each household's needs.
Furthermore, Sujinda, executive of the Thai Khao Mai Party, questioned what Thai people, the Thai economy, and Thai industries truly gain from this nearly 100 billion baht tax-funded project, given that over 90% of equipment is imported from China. Simply put, the real ultimate beneficiary of this project is the Chinese solar panel industry boss, who receives the full benefit.