Thailand plans to add 1 GW of solar with new feed-in tariffs by end-2014

The National Energy Policy Commission (NEPC) has approved new feed-in tariffs for both rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV. The new tariffs will be differentiated by size (below 10 kW, up to 250 kW and up to 1,000 kW) and applications (rooftop and community-owned ground-mounted plants).

Thailand has introduced a quota of 100 MW of rooftop capacity to be reached with installations below 10 kW (that will benefit from a Bht7/kWh tariff, i.e. US$22.4c/kWh) and another quota of 100 MW of rooftop installations between 250 kW and 1,000 kW (tariff of Bht6.2/kWh, i.e. US$19.8c/kWh). Rooftop installations between 10 kW and 250 kW will receive Bht 6/kWh (US$21.1c/kWh). These tariffs will be valid for 25 years.

For community-owned ground mounted installations, the NEPC has set a quota of 800 MW to be reached by the end of 2014. Tariffs will vary by time period: Bht9.75/kWh (US$31.4c/kWh) for the first 3 years, Bht 6.5/kWh (US$20.9c/kWh) for the fourth to tenth years and Bht 4.5/kWH (US$14.5c/kWh) for the last period (11^th to 25^th years).

Thailand aims then to add 1,000 MW in solar photovoltaic capacity by the end of 2014.These additional 1,000 MW are expected to raise Thailand's total target for solar PV to 3,000 MW. The country aims to reach 25% of renewables in its power mix over the next ten years. The NEPC estimates that power generation from renewables will reach 51% by 2021 (13,927 MW), compared to a current target of 9,201 MW. Under the new goal, the NEPC targets 4,800 MW from biomass, 3,600 MW from biogas, 3,000 MW from solar, 1,800 MW from wind and 727 MW from other renewables (hydropower and waste).