Thailand now accepting applications for solar power FIT

Plans to generate 3 GW from solar energy.

Thailand’s Energy Regulatory Commission has begun accepting applications for a feed-in tariff or FIT from households and businesses keen on investing in rooftop solar panels that generate electricity to be sold to the government.

The application period is from September 23 to October 11. The proposed FIT is US$0.22 (Bt6.90 per unit), which is some US$0.096 (Bt3) higher than the rate utilities can charge users.

ERC is tasked with soliciting an initial 200 MW of rooftop solar electricity from both households and businesses. Of the total, 100 MW will be generated by households while the other 100 MW will come from businesses.

A household can install up to 10 kilowatts. In the future, households may use their own generated electricity when the tariffs charged by utilities rise above US$0.22 per unit.

ERC expects 8,000 households in Bangkok and its suburbs to join the rooftop solar program plus another 8,000 to 10,000 households in the provinces. Homeowners and housing estate developers can join the program.