The plan to deregulate the country's solar rooftop power generating system will be revised to keep up with changes in technology and solar module systems, says Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan.
Siri: Plan needs to be cautiously revised
He said the revision is expected to be done shortly as the plan to deregulate solar rooftop systems has been delayed several times.
"We need to cautiously revise this plan. It is better than approving it quickly and then having to correct it again and again," said Mr Siri.
Several investors, ranging from solar panel producers, importers, solar rooftop project contractors to SET-listed firms are keen to develop related systems and have been waiting for signals from the government on this issue.
Energy policymakers were set to submit a deregulation plan to the National Energy Policy Council by the end of the year, when a combined 300 megawatts of power generated from solar rooftops is due to be freed-up.
That plan was to include licence granting, business models for residential owners who want to have their own solar rooftops and the regulations and conditions for state utilities in buying back surplus power from them.
Mr Siri said the project will be a major turning point for Thailand's power sector, allowing homeowners to become small power producers.
He said the revision of the deregulation plan is one part of rejigging the country's alternative energy development plan (AEDP: 2015-36).
According to the current AEDP, which was drafted during a time of high oil prices, the proportion of renewable power was intended to reach 20% by 2036.
But with oil prices dropping to below US$50 (1,630 baht) a barrel and unlikely to revisit previous highs in excess of $100, renewable power has become less competitive, prompting the alterations.
The exact proportion of alternative energy in the revised plan will be finalised later, he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Siri said the plan to help reduce the oversupply of crude palm oil (CPO), which reached a record high of 500,000 tonnes, entails using it as a raw material in producing biodiesel.
Thai energy policymakers will subsequently adjust the proportion of biodiesel or faddy acid methyl ester (FAME) blended into diesel from the current level of 3-7%.
A 1% rise in the ratio of FAME blended in pure diesel could help absorb 50,000 tonnes of CPO, said the Energy Policy and Planning Office.