Following the first public consultation on the principles and rationale of the Draft Solar Energy Electricity Promotion Act from 26 March to 10 April 2025, the second consultation on the full draft Act was held from 15 to 30 May 2025. On 29 July 2025, the Thai Cabinet approved in principle the Draft Solar Energy Electricity Promotion Act. The Cabinet also endorsed the Ministry of Energy’s plan for issuing subordinate legislation under the Draft Solar Energy Electricity Promotion Act including the timeline and core content areas.
The Cabinet-approved reform addresses the lack of a unified legal framework for self-use solar installations in Thailand. By replacing fragmented regulations with a streamlined process, the new Bill aims to simplify compliance and reduce the time and costs associated with solar rooftop installation, encouraging broader adoption.
Notably, several provisions in the Draft Solar Energy Electricity Promotion Act embody these approaches.
- It permits the installation of solar rooftop systems for self-consumption without requiring prior government approval, provided that the installation complies with established rules and procedures.
- The Draft Solar Energy Electricity Promotion Act simplifies the process further by eliminating the need for separate approval to connect compliant systems to the electricity grid.
- It restricts the sale of generated solar electricity to specific entities, such as the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), other organizations designated by the Minister, or individuals residing or conducting business at the installation site, thereby ensuring the system’s primary focus remains on self-use.
To support the implementation of the Draft Solar Energy Electricity Promotion Act, the Ministry of Energy has further outlined a comprehensive legislative roadmap, comprising 17 subordinate instruments. This includes 8 draft Ministerial Notifications setting the criteria and conditions for installation locations, and 9 draft Regulations governing the procedures and technical requirements of solar rooftop systems. Together, these supporting laws aim to ensure the Solar Energy Electricity Promotion Act objectives are met in practice, reinforcing commitment of Thai energy sector to sustainable energy development, green economy promotion, and carbon neutrality.