50,000 baht for home solar, but it isn't for every home
The meter must be in your name, the system must be 5 to 10 kW, the money comes after installation, and higher earners may do better with the tax deduction.
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The Thai government will pay 50,000 baht toward rooftop solar panels for up to 1 million homes. It sounds like money worth grabbing fast, but not every home qualifies, and for some it may not even be the better deal.
The scheme is called "Solar for the Public". The Cabinet approved it on 27 October 2026 with a budget of 50,000 million baht, and registration runs through the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) until 31 January 2027, or until the places run out. More than 50,000 people signed up on the first day, Lalida Periswiwatana, a deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, said, according to Thai PBS.
The idea is simple: the state covers part of the upfront cost, and the house uses sunlight to cut its own electricity bill. But the money arrives after installation, not when you register.
Which homes qualify, and which don't
The first test is your electricity bill. Applicants must be Thai and on a residential tariff, which shows as a user type code starting with 1 on the bill, and the name on the bill must match their ID card, according to PEA's scheme page.
Condominium residents and homes on temporary meters cannot apply. In a rented house where the bill is still in the landlord's name, the landlord has to apply or the bill has to be changed first, at an electricity authority office or, in PEA areas, through the PEA Smart Plus app. Each person can use the right only once, whether they register with PEA or MEA.
Install first, get paid later
Think of the 50,000 baht as money back once the job is done, not a deposit. The system must be 5 to 10 kW per meter and include at least solar panels and an inverter, the box that turns the panels' power into power the house can use. The installer must be PEA, MEA or a contractor registered with them, and the tax invoice must be dated from 27 October 2026, Thai PBS reported.
No lump sum? You can borrow. BAAC, the Government Savings Bank and the Government Housing Bank lend at about 2.5% a year over about 7 years, PEA says. The bank pays the installer, the government pays 50,000 baht to the bank, and you repay the rest. Those who pay themselves get the 50,000 baht back by PromptPay.
There are two deadlines: the grid connection request is due by 31 August 2027, and the connection must be complete by 30 September 2027, the scheme's last day.
Two coupons, but you can use only one
Picture two coupons. The first is the 50,000 baht in cash from this scheme. The second is the tax deduction of up to 200,000 baht for rooftop solar installation under Royal Decree No. 805, based on what you actually spend. You can use only one: take the cash and you cannot claim the deduction, in full or in part.
Which one pays more depends on your tax band. For someone whose top income falls in the 25% band, deducting a 200,000-baht installation cuts their tax by about 50,000 baht, roughly the same as the cash. Anyone in a lower band gets more from the 50,000 baht. Put simply, the less tax you pay, the better the cash looks.
State welfare card holders have a trade-off too. They can apply, but must give up the 315-baht monthly electricity subsidy for 20 years from the day the system is connected, though this does not mean losing all other welfare, the deputy government spokesperson said.
Register today, but that is not yet a place
Register at peoplesolar.pea.co.th for PEA areas, or peoplesolar.mea.or.th for Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan. Have your ID card or the ThaiD app, an electricity bill in your name for the account (CA) and meter numbers, and a phone or email for the OTP code, according to the MEA guide reported by Thairath.
Registered applicants still have to pass the eligibility checks, and places go in the order that registrations pass. The system can also sell surplus power back to the grid at 2.20 baht per unit, for up to 5 kW, Thai PBS reported, but the contract terms are worth confirming with the electricity authority.
Before you sign up, ask yourself 3 questions
There are 1 million places, open until 31 January 2027 or until they run out.
- Is the electricity bill in your name, and does its user type code start with 1?
- Does your home use enough power for a 5 kW system to pay off? Get quotes from at least 3 registered installers to compare.
- Does your tax band make the 200,000-baht deduction worth more than the 50,000 baht in cash?
FAQ
How much does Solar for the Public pay?
Up to 50,000 baht each toward equipment and installation, for up to 1 million people or until the 50,000-million-baht budget runs out. It is paid after the system is installed and connected.
Who can register?
Thai nationals on a residential electricity tariff whose name on the bill matches their ID card, installing a 5 to 10 kW system through an installer registered with the electricity authority. Condominiums and temporary meters do not qualify.
Where and until when can I register?
At peoplesolar.pea.co.th for PEA areas, or peoplesolar.mea.or.th for Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan, from 27 October 2026 to 31 January 2027.
Can I combine it with the solar tax deduction?
No. People who take the 50,000 baht cannot claim the rooftop solar deduction of up to 200,000 baht under Royal Decree No. 805, in full or in part.
Sources
- Provincial Electricity Authority: Solar for the Public
- Thai PBS: conditions and registration channels for Solar for the Public
- Thai PBS: Solar for the Public registration open until 31 January, no double tax claim
- Thairath: Solar for the Public registration guide
- Thai PBS World: Thai government launches ฿50,000 rooftop solar subsidy for households
