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Thailand: Feed-In Premium PV Systems <10 kW

Up To 10 kW Rooftop Solar Power Systems Eligible For THB 1.68/kWh Feed in Premium In Thailand Under Residential Segment; Law Firm Pugnatorius Says Launch Day Garners Interest For 393 kW

Anu Bhambhani
  • Residential solar power systems of up to 10 kW capacity will be eligible for THB 1.68 ($0.053) per kWh of tariff for exporting power to the grid, according to a new scheme launched in Thailand
  • This rate will be applicable to households that are connected to the grid of Provincial Electricity Authority
  • Interested homes will consume solar power and export excess to the grid with remuneration coming from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
  • A law firm based out of Bangkok says on the first day of the launch of this scheme, 70 households had secured a total of 393.11 kW for installation

Thailand authorities have fixed THB 1.68 ($0.053) per kWh as the remuneration for excess solar power fed by residential solar power plants with up to 10 kW capacity into the grid of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). The tariff will be valid for a period of 10 years.

The main condition for interested homes to participate in the scheme is that they should be connected to the electricity grid of the PEA. Primary power generated will be used for self-consumption of the homes to bring down their electricity bills.

Interested homes will have to shell out THB 8,500 ($267) to get an interconnection of their solar power plant with the grid. This amount does not include the cost of installing the solar PV system and 7% VAT.

All solar power fed into the grid by these homes will be bought by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). A total of 100 MW is planned to be installed under the scheme approved by the Energy Policy Administration Committee (NEPC). This is divided between the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (30 MW) and Provincial Electricity Authority (70 MW), both operating under the Ministry of Interior.

According to the information on the website of Renewable Energy Promotion Division and Small Power Producer Provincial Electricity Authority, the project end date is December 31, 2019.

Bangkok based law firm Pugnatorius Ltd. said on the first day of  the 100 MW pilot program, which was on May 24, 2019, 70 households had secured a total of 393 kW for installation.

Under its Power Development Plan 2018, approved by the NEPC in January 2019, and officially green signaled by the cabinet in May 2019, Thailand will aim for over 77 GW of total electricity capacity by 2037, with renewables contributing more than 20 GW (see Thai Cabinet Approves 77 GW Power Capacity Goal).