Thailand Readies Solar Panel Standards Before September Enforcement

Industry Minister Weerawuth Silparch has directed the Industrial Products Standards Office to fast-track the enforcement of solar panel standards and related equipment ahead of their mandatory implementation this September. The government is backing the push to promote solar energy use among households and businesses to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower electricity bills, mitigate climate change impacts, and boost energy security as solar installations surge rapidly.

"I have instructed the standards office to accelerate enforcement of solar panel and related equipment standards with a focus on operational safety, while preparing businesses to apply for compliance licenses before the September 2026 deadline," Weerawuth said.

Standards Office Secretary General Ekniti Romyanon confirmed the office is readying over 2,000 solar equipment manufacturers, importers, and retailers across five product categories—circuit breakers, fuses, electrical wiring, batteries, and inverters—on standard requirements and inspection procedures. The licensing process has been streamlined to be fast, accurate, and non-disruptive to operations.

Facilitating measures include allowing use of factory assessments already registered with the standards office and accepting results from international (IEC) testing standards without retesting solar panels. So far, 260 businesses have applied for licenses, with the office completing factory assessments for over 170 manufacturers and registering about 30 additional facilities.

The standards office now accepts applications through its electronic licensing system around the clock, from document submission through fee payment, testing, and certificate issuance. It will prioritize issuing licenses to businesses with complete documents immediately after standards enforcement begins.