Thailand approves ฿50 billion household solar programme
The cabinet also backed more than ฿20 billion for smart grids to let households sell excess solar electricity to the government.
Thailand’s cabinet has authorised a rooftop solar programme worth ฿50 billion, a Finance Ministry official said. The scheme forms part of the government’s energy transition policy and includes direct assistance of ฿50,000 for each participating household.
Energy Minister Akanat Promphan said the government would help one million households install panels within a year. He said the measure was intended to protect residents against rising energy prices driven by the Middle East war.
Registration assistance would be available through one-stop service centres run by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and Provincial Electricity Authority, both under the Interior Ministry.
Finance Ministry permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit said ministers also approved more than ฿20 billion for smart grid development. That investment would allow households to earn income by selling electricity they do not use to the government.
Lavaron said the cabinet had also approved lower biofuel taxes to help farmers. Separately, the government is considering excise tax reductions for gasohol E20 and biodiesel B20, with the aims of easing living costs, limiting dependence on energy imports and supporting agriculture.
