Solar-power rooftops could be deregulated in the near future as they allow people to generate their own power and the loss of revenue for state utilities is minimal, according to the latest study from the Chulalongkorn University.
The university presented the study to energy policymakers, who are expected to consider the proposal deregulating solar rooftops soon.
Chulalongkorn University's Energy Research Institute (ERI) was assigned by the Energy Ministry to conduct a feasibility study of the plan to deregulate solar rooftops, allowing the public to sell the power they generate back to state utilities.
ERI released its study yesterday in Bangkok, finding there would be not much effect to state utilities by allowing solar power to be sold back at a higher rate than carbon-based power to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat). The rising costs would be offset later, when solar rooftops start to pay off with greater economy of scale.
Sopitsuda Tongsopit, an ERI researcher, said solar rooftops could help households to generate power on their own, with the investment in installing a solar rooftop system paying off in seven to 10 years.
She said the solar power sold back to state utilities would be priced 0.067-2.8 satang per kilowatt hour (unit), higher than the carbon-based power Egat produces.
Solar rooftops are expected to have very minimal effect on state utilities in generating back-up power because the total solar power-generating capacity remains small compared with the overall amount electricity in the country's power supply system.
However, ERI suggested energy policymakers should study models to buy back power from household solar rooftops properly and set up fair and acceptable regulations before starting deregulation.
Regulation should facilitate investors in the sector, said Ms Sopitsuda.
Dusit Kruangam, president of the Thai Photovoltaic Industries Association (TPIA), said policymakers should start with allowing residents the right to generate their own power from rooftop solar panels.
Mr Dusit, who is also a member of the National Reform Steering Assembly, said mid-sized and large businesses in Thailand have already installed solar panels on their buildings, so policymakers should give first priority to residents and building owners who want to use solar panels by setting up fair regulations on how to buy power back.
Thailand has installed solar power of 2,990 megawatts. Some 2,860MW is from solar farms, while another 130MW is from rooftops.