Thailand Solar Energy Market Trends and Insights
Rising Retail-Grid Tariffs and Electricity-Price Volatility
Retail tariffs remained at THB 4.15-4.18 per kWh in 2024; however, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand reported cumulative losses of nearly THB 98 billion, suggesting an 8-12% tariff hike by late 2025 is likely. Manufacturers in the Eastern Economic Corridor now view rooftop solar as a hedge against gas price swings, as a typical 1 MW installation pays for itself within seven years. Data from the Energy Policy and Planning Office show that gas-fired units still supply about 60% of the grid's electricity, linking tariffs to spot LNG imports. Commercial buyers facing European Union carbon-border fees have accelerated solar procurement to protect export margins. The resulting demand is giving the Thai solar energy market fresh momentum across both on-site and third-party financed systems.Rapid Cost Decline of Bifacial and TOPCon PV Modules
Average bifacial module prices declined to USD 0.10-0.12 per watt in 2024, while TOPCon cells achieved 24-25% efficiencies at only marginally higher costs. Developers now negotiate multi-year supply contracts, locking in component prices to 2027 and stabilizing levelized energy costs. Lower capital intensity has enabled smaller rooftops to achieve five-year paybacks even under net-billing. Oversupply in Chinese factories diverted products to Southeast Asia, further pushing down local prices. Although United States antidumping tariffs on Thai-assembled panels reshuffled export channels in 2024, domestic oversupply created broader price relief for local projects.Long-Cycle Grid-Connection Approvals and Curtailment Risks
Developers report approval times of six to eighteen months because utilities must conduct voltage-stability studies and substation-capacity reviews before granting interconnection. Projects larger than 10 MW also require environmental impact assessments and National Energy Policy Council sign-offs, which extend pre-construction periods and increase holding costs. In 2024, curtailment events totaled up to fifty hours in feeders where solar penetration exceeded 18% of daytime demand. Absent real-time pricing or mandatory storage, over-generation causes forced shutdowns that undermine project revenue. These obstacles shave nearly one percentage point off forecast growth.Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:
- Direct PPA Pilot Opening Commercial and Industrial Demand
- Government Push for 2.7 GW Floating-Solar Hybrids
- Saturated Feeders in Bangkok and Eastern Economic Corridor
Segment Analysis
Photovoltaic systems accounted for 100.00% of the installed capacity in 2025 and are expected to expand at a 6.72% growth rate through 2031. The Thailand solar energy market size for photovoltaic technology reached 5.20 GW in 2025 and is expected to reach 7.71 GW by 2031, maintaining a significant share, as concentrated solar power remains economically impractical under Thailand’s humid climate. Bifacial modules that capture reflected irradiance are quickly becoming standard in floating-solar tenders, with the Ubolratana project registering 5-8% higher output than monofacial arrays. TOPCon cells, which offer 24-25% conversion efficiency, are overtaking PERC modules in utility-scale bids where land constraints justify premium pricing.Continuous cost declines widen the economic gap between photovoltaic and concentrated solar power, which needs direct-normal-irradiance levels rarely achieved in the monsoon season. The Ministry of Energy’s 2024 feed-in-tariff schedule excludes concentrated solar power, effectively cementing photovoltaics’ monopoly. Looking forward, International Energy Agency data project module prices dropping another 15-20% by 2027, ensuring photovoltaic technologies remain the only commercially viable solar option in Thailand.
Complete Report Scope:
- By Technology
- Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
- Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
- By Grid Type
- On-Grid
- Off-Grid
- By End-User
- Utility-Scale
- Commercial and Industrial (C&I)
- Residential
- By Component (Qualitative Analysis)
- Solar Modules/Panels
- Inverters (String, Central, Micro)
- Mounting and Tracking Systems
- Balance-of-System and Electricals
- Energy Storage and Hybrid Integration
List of Companies Covered in this Report:
- SPCG PLC
- BCPG PLC
- Thai Solar Energy PLC
- B.Grimm Power PLC
- Energy Absolute PLC
- Solartron PLC
- Delta Electronics (Thailand) PLC
- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
- Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd.
- JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd.
- Trina Solar Co. Ltd.
- LONGi Green Energy Co. Ltd.
- Canadian Solar Inc.
- First Solar Inc.
- Risen Energy Co. Ltd.
- Seraphim Solar Group
- Sharp Energy Solutions Corp.
- Hitachi Energy Thailand
- Black & Veatch Holding Co.
- Marubeni Corp.
Additional Benefits:
- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
- 3 months of analyst support
Table of Contents
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- SPCG PLC
- BCPG PLC
- Thai Solar Energy PLC
- B.Grimm Power PLC
- Energy Absolute PLC
- Solartron PLC
- Delta Electronics (Thailand) PLC
- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
- Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd.
- JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd.
- Trina Solar Co. Ltd.
- LONGi Green Energy Co. Ltd.
- Canadian Solar Inc.
- First Solar Inc.
- Risen Energy Co. Ltd.
- Seraphim Solar Group
- Sharp Energy Solutions Corp.
- Hitachi Energy Thailand
- Black & Veatch Holding Co.
- Marubeni Corp.

