Thai news outlets in September 2026 are reporting that the government plans to open registration for a rooftop solar scheme in mid-October, with a subsidy of ฿50,000 per household. If you've been thinking about installing solar, it's natural to ask: should I wait? This article walks through what has been reported, what is still unknown, and how to decide for your own situation.
Important: as of 21 September 2026, this is based on news reports of a planned scheme — not an official announcement. The amounts, eligibility, dates, and rules may change. Please check the official announcement before making any decision that depends on it.
What has been reported so far
- Registration is expected to open in mid-October 2026, initially targeting 1 million households, with talk of expanding the target to 1.5 million.
- Subsidy: ฿50,000 per household, one entitlement per household, for the registered electricity-meter holder.
- Financing: state banks are reported to provide a loan up front, repaid from the income of selling electricity back to the grid. The subsidy is reported to be paid after the utility has connected the system.
- System size: about 5 kW per system, as part of a 10,000 MW quota reserved for households. Reported approval time is about one week for self-use systems and about one month for systems that sell power back.
What is still unknown
- Whether a system installed before registration opens can still qualify — nothing we found says either way.
- Whether you must use a registered installer or approved equipment list to receive the subsidy.
- Whether hybrid systems with batteries qualify, or only on-grid systems.
- The exact buyback rate and contract terms under this scheme, and how quickly the quota fills. Reports on expected sell-back income also differ, so please don't build a budget on them.
Wait or install now? A simple way to think about it
| Your situation | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Home with a typical ~5 kW-sized need · บ้านที่ใช้ระบบขนาดราว 5 kW | Worth watching the scheme, but get a survey and design done now so you're ready either way · ควรติดตามโครงการ แต่ให้สำรวจและออกแบบไว้ก่อน จะได้พร้อมทั้งสองทาง |
| Larger system needed (big home, pool villa, guesthouse, hotel, business) · ต้องการระบบใหญ่ (บ้านหลังใหญ่ พูลวิลล่า เกสต์เฮาส์ โรงแรม ธุรกิจ) | The reported ~5 kW cap means the scheme may cover only part of what you need — waiting may not change your plan much · เพดานราว 5 kW ตามข่าวหมายความว่าโครงการอาจครอบคลุมแค่บางส่วน การรออาจไม่เปลี่ยนแผนมากนัก |
| Want a battery / Hybrid system · ต้องการแบตเตอรี่ / ระบบ Hybrid | Eligibility is unconfirmed — don't assume the subsidy applies · ยังไม่ยืนยันสิทธิ์ อย่าเพิ่งสมมติว่าจะได้เงินอุดหนุน |
| Very high electricity bill right now · ค่าไฟตอนนี้สูงมาก | Every month of waiting is another month of full bills — compare that with a ฿50,000 one-off · ทุกเดือนที่รอคือค่าไฟเต็มอีกหนึ่งเดือน ลองเทียบกับเงินอุดหนุนครั้งเดียว 50,000 บาท |
Based on the reported scheme — details may change once it is officially announced.
How to weigh the cost of waiting
The subsidy is a one-off amount, while solar savings build up every month for the life of the system. So the question is not just "is ฿50,000 worth having?" but "how much would I give up in bills while I wait, and could I still qualify if I install first?" Your own bill and roof decide the first half — a design based on your real bills shows what a month of solar saves you. The second half only the official rules can answer.
What to do this week either way
- Gather your last 6–12 months of electricity bills (PEA in Phuket) — these are the basis of any sensible design.
- Check that the electricity meter is in your name — the reported scheme is tied to the meter holder.
- Book a free site survey and system design so you know your real system size and numbers before the rules are final.
- Whoever you talk to, ask in writing whether a system installed before registration would qualify. If they can't point to an official source, treat the answer as unconfirmed.
- Follow the official government and PEA announcements once registration opens.
Not sure whether to wait? Book a free survey — we'll size a system from your real bills so you can compare "install now" with "wait for the scheme" using your own numbers. We'll tell you plainly what is confirmed and what isn't.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ฿50,000 subsidy official?
Not yet, as of 21 September 2026. It is based on news reports about a planned scheme with registration expected in mid-October. Wait for the official announcement before relying on it.
If I install solar now, will I lose the subsidy?
We don't know yet — the rules haven't been published. Some schemes only cover systems installed after registration; others don't. Ask for the official criteria before assuming either way.
Can I sell electricity back under the new scheme?
The reports describe selling surplus power back to the grid, with a household cap of about 5 kW per meter. See our article on selling solar power back in Thailand for how the existing programme works; the final terms of the new scheme still need to be confirmed.
Does my business or hotel qualify?
The reported scheme targets households, so commercial projects are unlikely to be the focus. Businesses generally plan on the merits of their own bills and payback. Contact us and we'll assess your case.