Thailand's Solar Power Leap: Cutting Red Tape for Factory Roofs

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File photo courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Thailand's solar scene is heating up as a new government initiative speeds up solar panel installations on factory rooftops. A one-stop service centre aims to eliminate bureaucracy, paving the way for more than 72,000 factories to jump on the solar bandwagon.

 

This collaboration between the Energy, Interior, and Industry ministries, approved on March 27, promises to streamline the permit process, possibly revolutionizing the sector.

 

Naruechon Dhumrongpiyawut, of Gunkul Engineering Plc, claims this could dramatically boost the photovoltaic market and sales of battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS enables factories to store surplus solar energy, providing power even during low-sunlight hours or selling excess energy, pending approval.

 

The current process requires navigating six state agencies, often delaying solar panel approvals for six months or more.

 

 

 

Treerat Sirichantaropas, CEO of New Energy Plus Solutions Co, is optimistic, envisioning more factories leaving behind costly grid power. He foresees increased revenues for his company, following last year's earnings of 200 million baht. Meanwhile, Pattaya City is pushing its green agenda, aiming to become a low-carbon tourism hub.

 

Pattaya's mayor, Poramet Ngampichet, supports solar power and clean energy solutions to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

With these forward-thinking initiatives, Thailand may be on the brink of a renewable energy boom, boosting its clean energy profile one factory rooftop at a time.

 

The implications for factories are profound, as they could soon swiftly transition to renewable energy sources, enhancing sustainability across the nation.

 

Based on a story by The Thaiger
 

-- 2025-04-01

 

 

[JoePai]

...this could dramatically boost the photovoltaic market and sales of battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS enables factories to store surplus solar energy, providing power even during low-sunlight hours or selling excess energy, pending approval.

The current process requires navigating six state agencies, often delaying solar panel approvals for six months or more.

 

Can someone please explain why (planning?) permission is even needed if these are installed on the roofs of factories - it's not like they would be seen ?

[brfsa2]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

...this could dramatically boost the photovoltaic market and sales of battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS enables factories to store surplus solar energy, providing power even during low-sunlight hours or selling excess energy, pending approval.

The current process requires navigating six state agencies, often delaying solar panel approvals for six months or more.

 

Can someone please explain why (planning?) permission is even needed if these are installed on the roofs of factories - it's not like they would be seen ?

 

It's quite a pain to get it approved. It took almost a year for MEA to get things right with me, after 10 months of waiting, they installed the wrong meter, they fined me 2,000 baht for sending electricity to the grid with wrong meter, then they realized it was wrong meter. They changed meter to the final correct one and I still lost 2000 baht 😄 TiT. 1 year later I can now sell my excess for 2.2 THB still a good deal since I break even in 4 years only.

 

Anyways, I can only give an estimated guess: because they want to ensure safety of the solar installation since most setups will be on-grid, and the workers need a tip to do their job.

 

Off-grid setups also need inspection, although anything over 15kW is almost always going to be on-grid.

in the small town here in south some new hospital have setup a massive 300kW setup on the parking lot roof, SMART!