A local electrician in Thailand has developed a 5.5 kW on-grid solar PV inverter capable of delivering nearly 5,000 W of solar power. Following the prototype’s successful clearance of key national standards set by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the government is preparing for its large-scale production. 

Thaweechai Kraidwong, also known as Kru Noi, from Sakon Nakhon province, impressed Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, with his innovative inverter technology designed for local households. Despite not being a formally trained engineer, Kraidwong’s locally developed system is capable of offsetting a portion of residential electricity consumption. 

According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan, the inverter has successfully met key standards related to grid connectivity, protection against dust, heat, water, and electrical leakage, as well as electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). 

She added that the government now plans to manufacture an initial batch of 10,000 inverters, which will be made available to the public at a price lower than that of imported alternatives. However, an official statement from the government does not specify the cost difference, nor other technical specifications of the prototype. 

The idea behind the initiative is to lower electricity costs and promote homegrown clean energy innovation, added the spokesperson.  

Concurrently, Wattanachan shared that the government is advancing a new energy law designed to facilitate rooftop solar installations, restructure the energy sector for greater transparency and fairness, and curb monopolies – with an aim to expand public access to clean energy on equal terms. 

The proposed energy law aims to streamline the permitting process for rooftop solar systems, reducing installation costs and encouraging the feed-in of excess electricity into the grid. Eligible systems will receive financial support.