What Is Solar Phak Prachachon 2026? — and Why Factories Need C&I Instead

Solar Phak Prachachon 2026 — Program Facts at a Glance

Note: this program is for RESIDENTIAL homes only and buys back EXCESS units under Net Billing (not a Net Metering unit-for-unit offset). Register via MEA MyEnergy or PEA PPIM — check the latest quota status with the utilities.

1. What the Program Is (The Facts)

Solar Phak Prachachon 2026 is a policy that lets homeowners install rooftop solar for self-use and sell the leftover EXCESS into the utility grid at a 2.20 THB/unit buy-back rate under a Net Billing scheme — meaning buying and selling are priced separately (you buy grid power at the normal rate and sell excess at 2.20 THB), NOT a Net Metering unit-for-unit offset. Each meter may install up to 5 kW, and the current round carries a 500 MW quota on a 10-year term. The decision came from the National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC) meeting on 29 April 2026; the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) then held a public hearing on the rules over 6–29 May 2026, MEA issued announcement 48/2569 on 30 June 2026, and the utilities (PEA/MEA) have been accepting registrations since 1 July 2026, first-come-first-served within the 500 MW quota, via MEA MyEnergy or PEA PPIM. Then, on 18 Sep 2026, NEPC meeting 3/2569 approved expanding the overall purchase target to 10,000 MW (including the original 500 MW), allowing ground-mounted and floating systems, and extending the purchase term from 10 to 20 years, existing participants included — and tasked the ERC with the implementing rules. As of 3 Oct 2026 no new ERC announcement has been found and PPIM still shows the 500 MW / 10-year terms. (Status as of 3 Oct 2026 — check the latest with PEA/MEA before deciding.)

2. Comparison: Solar Phak Prachachon vs Factory Solar (C&I)

These two models are built for different users, different sizes, and a different "source of value." The table below summarises the key differences:

3. Why Factories Can't — or Shouldn't — Use This Program

There are two main reasons. First, the 5 kW cap is far too small: a typical factory has a daytime load from tens of kW to several MW, so a 5 kW system covers only a sliver of demand and can't meaningfully cut a factory bill. Second, the value math: this program pays just 2.20 THB/unit for the EXCESS you sell into the grid, but a factory pays roughly 4–5.5 THB/unit for the power it buys from the grid (energy TOU + demand charge + Ft + VAT). So every unit a factory generates and consumes itself (self-consumption) is worth the ~4–5.5 THB it avoids paying — more than double the 2.20 THB you'd get for selling excess. A factory should therefore design its system to self-consume as much as possible rather than to export — a completely different goal and design from the residential program. (This is an economic explanation, not investment advice.)

4. So What Should a Factory Use Instead?

For factories and C&I businesses there are two main routes. The first is self-investment (EPC): install a system sized to your real load for self-consumption, with payback coming from the electricity you save. The second is a Direct PPA: a developer funds and installs the system for free, and the factory pays only for the power it actually uses at a rate below the grid, over a 15–25-year contract (zero upfront capex). Both focus primarily on self-consumption, and where there is surplus, some cases can still sell excess under Net Billing. A good starting point is to read your daytime usage off your bill, then size the system and estimate the savings — use the tools below.

Frequently Asked Questions