Anutin Vows Bold Energy Push, 50m Baht Solar Scheme, as Gastech Opens in Bangkok

Anutin Charnvirakul launches a rooftop solar support scheme and sets out a three-point energy strategy as Gastech 2026 opens in Bangkok.
 

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, used his opening address at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok on Monday to unveil a new rooftop solar support programme and lay out a three-pronged energy strategy, positioning Thailand as what he called a “trusted partner” for global energy investment and cooperation.
Speaking to an audience of ministers, chief executives and industry delegates at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Anutin announced that, starting in mid-October, the government will launch a scheme worth 50 million baht to help households install rooftop solar panels. 
Tax exemptions will also be offered on selected imported solar components, he said, describing the move as “a practical step to help families reduce their electricity costs, expand access to clean energy, and strengthen our resilience against future energy price shocks.”
The announcement came as Anutin framed Thailand’s energy challenge in stark terms familiar to governments worldwide: how to secure sufficient, affordable energy for citizens and industry while moving towards a cleaner future. 
“This is not a theoretical question,” he told delegates. “Energy prices affect household expenses, the cost of doing business, our national security, and the decisions of investors.”

He noted that electricity demand in Thailand is rising rapidly, driven not only by industrial growth but increasingly by artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data centres — a trend echoed throughout the opening session by other speakers.