Thailand's rooftop solar scheme faces affordability challenge for low-income households
Quick Look
Toey Wattana Mongkhonnam, a Muay Thai trainer in Kuala Lumpur, considered installing solar panels at his family home in Yasothon province during the pandemic, noting rooftop systems could cost 100,000 to 200,000 baht while monthly electricity bills range from 1,000 to 1,500 baht, highlighting affordability concerns for Thailand's proposed 50-billion-baht rooftop-solar support scheme targeting both high and low-use households.
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Why It Matters
Toey Wattana Mongkhonnam began considering solar panels for his family home in Yasothon province during the Covid-19 pandemic due to rising electricity use with daytime heat.
Toey Wattana Mongkhonnam began thinking about outfitting his family home in Thailand’s northeastern province of Yasothon with solar panels during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his household of five, electricity use rises with the day’s heat, and the monthly bill could range from 1,000 to 1,500 baht (US$30 to US$45).
“Back then, I checked prices and a rooftop panel system that could put out enough power to run my household’s appliances could cost 100,000 to 200,000 baht,” said Toey, a Muay Thai trainer in Kuala Lumpur.
Toey’s calculations capture the challenge facing Thailand’s recently proposed 50-billion-baht (US$1.5 billion) rooftop-solar support scheme: whether it can make the switch attractive not just to high-use households but also to those with lower bills who may have less money to put towards the initial cost.
Open Questions
- What specific subsidies or financing mechanisms will Thailand's 50-billion-baht rooftop-solar support scheme offer?
- How will the scheme target low-income households with limited upfront capital?
- What is the expected timeline for implementation of the solar support scheme?
