When the sun goes down at Charoen Sukwibul's farmhouse in Lam Plai Mat district of Buri Ram, its light doesn't go away: all his light bulbs are powered by solar energy, one of the main power sources his family relies on.
They even have a solar-powered golf cart, which Mr Charoen's wife drives around the farm to pick vegetables for dinner.
"We use solar power as an alternative energy source," Mr Charoen says. "It saves on living costs, and it allows us to be self-reliant."
As a head of Khok Klang tambon administrative organisation (TAO) in Lam Plai Mat district, Mr Charoen received 34 solar panels a decade ago to distribute to villagers, sponsored by the Thaksin Shinawatra government's solar home project.
But the programme failed in Khok Klang after one year. The villagers didn't know how to use them.
"Solar panels are valuable things in our communities. Many villagers don't use them because they lack knowledge and sustainable support from the government," Mr Charoen said.
Without government subsidies, many others don't use them because they can't afford them, he said.
Seeing his village's panels being abandoned, Mr Charoen sought the help of a network of organisations promoting solar energy under the banner of a self-sufficient economy.
In Buri Ram, the groups helped residents install 400 solar panels and have hailed the village as a national model for a successful solar-powered community.
Initially, villagers there believed they would never use solar energy, and some Thai authorities have said solar systems were too expensive and unstable at night.
But the groups proved they could install the panels cheaply — three times lower than the cost estimated by authorities.
"Solar panels in the Thai market are still expensive because there are very few manufacturers in Thailand. Most of the panels must be imported," said Chat Chiaochanvisavakit, deputy director of Suan Thamtiansiri Learning Centre, one of the groups in the network.
"If it wants to make solar power cheaper and more popular, the government should encourage local businesses to produce solar-cell panels instead of importing them," he said.
Solar panels that generate 280 watts could be developed in Thailand for 5,000 baht each, compared with the market price of around 20,000 baht, Mr Chat said.
"I want the government to be open-minded," Mr Charoen said. "Farmers won't be so poor if they can generate their own energy."