☀️ Peak sun hours in Thailand
Egypt gets outstanding sun — roughly 5.5 to 6.5 peak sun hours. Upper Egypt and the desert are highest; the Delta and north coast a little lower.
| Region | Approx. peak sun hours (annual avg) |
|---|---|
| Bangkok & Central | ~4.7 – 5.1 |
| North (Chiang Mai) | ~4.8 – 5.2 |
| Northeast (Isan) | ~5.0 – 5.4 |
| South (Phuket) | ~4.5 – 4.9 |
Use your local figure in the solar panel calculator and the energy production calculator. Background: peak sun hours by location.
⚡ Electricity prices in Thailand
Household electricity runs roughly ฿4.2–4.8 per kWh under MEA/PEA's tariff, with a Ft fuel surcharge that keeps rising — solar offsets the expensive top tiers first.
💸 Incentives & net metering
Thailand's net metering scheme allows residential systems up to 10 kW to export at retail rate. The Board of Investment offers tax incentives for larger commercial installations, and provinces run periodic solar promotion windows.
💰 System cost & payback in Thailand
Local installation is relatively affordable; payback keeps improving:
| System size | Approx. cost | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kW | ~฿120,000 – 160,000 | Small home |
| 5 kW | ~฿180,000 – 240,000 | Typical family home |
| 10 kW | ~฿340,000 – 440,000 | Large home / small business |
Work out your own numbers with the ROI calculator and the bill savings calculator, or design the whole system with the system report builder.
💡 Local insight: Thailand
Thailand's monsoon is short — the real design factor is heat, not rain. Panels on Thai roofs sit at 60–70 °C, which alone costs 10–12% of nameplate output; choose modules with low temperature coefficients (-0.30%/°C or better) and leave a 10 cm air gap under the rack. The Ft surcharge is the other lever: billing tiers mean solar eats the costliest kWh first, so even a small system outperforms its paper rating.
🧰 Solar tools
Plan your system with these:
- Solar panel calculator — how many panels for your usage and sun hours.
- Solar bill savings calculator — how much you'll save.
- ROI calculator — payback period.
- Battery calculator — if you want backup.
- Full system report — design the whole system in one page.
Related reading: solar panels in hot climates, how many panels to run a house, and peak sun hours by location.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How many peak sun hours does Thailand get?
Roughly 4.5 to 5.4. Isan (northeast) is the sunniest (~5.0–5.4), Bangkok around 4.7–5.1, and the rainy south about 4.5–4.9.
Is solar worth it in Thailand?
Yes — high retail rates plus Ft surcharge and net metering up to 10 kW make payback around 4–6 years.
Does Thailand have net metering?
Yes — residential net metering up to 10 kW exports at the retail rate through MEA or PEA.
How much does solar cost in Thailand?
Roughly ฿36,000–46,000 per kW installed for a typical home system.
Note: Thailand electricity tariffs, net-metering rules and prices change frequently (and with the currency). These figures are approximate, for planning only — verify with your utility and a local installer.