Rooftop Solar Could Slash Thailand's LNG Imports

Thailand's reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports has become a significant concern, as domestic gas production declines and the country becomes increasingly dependent on global price volatility and supply disruptions. A recent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) suggests that boosting rooftop solar growth could help reduce LNG imports.

The report highlights that Thailand's rooftop solar growth is being held back by high costs, low buyback rates, restrictive quotas, and policy uncertainty. Rooftop solar accounted for only 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity as of early 2026, less than a third of total installed capacity.

The IEEFA report recommends transitioning from net billing to net metering, which would allow consumers to offset electricity consumption at retail rates and reduce payback periods to as short as 4.5 years. Increasing solar buyback rates and removing restrictive quotas are also suggested to boost rooftop solar adoption in Thailand.