Wind Power vs Solar in Thailand: Which Costs Less per kWh in 2026?
Wind Power vs Solar in Thailand: Which Costs Less per kWh in 2026?
Thailand’s renewable energy mix is shifting fast. Solar generation surged 72% in 2025 to reach 9 TWh, while wind power remains a tiny 1.7% slice of the national grid (Energy Tracker Asia, 2025). If you’re weighing wind against solar for a project or investment, the cost gap isn’t the only number that matters. Capacity factors, build timelines, and government targets all shape the real economics.
This article compares the two technologies head-to-head using Thailand-specific data. We’ll look at levelized cost of energy (LCOE), how much power each source actually delivers, and where the market is headed through 2037.
TL;DR: Onshore wind in Thailand costs 2.7–6.0 THB/kWh, while utility-scale solar runs 1.14–2.59 THB/kWh (Energy Tracker Asia, 2025). Solar wins on price alone, but wind’s higher capacity factor and nighttime generation can make it valuable in a mixed portfolio. Choose solar for the lowest cost per kWh. Choose wind if you need round-the-clock output and have access to strong wind sites.
Quick Comparison: Wind vs Solar in Thailand
| Factor | Onshore Wind | Utility-Scale Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Steady baseload, windy sites | Lowest cost, fastest deployment |
| LCOE (Thailand) | 2.7–6.0 THB/kWh | 1.14–2.59 THB/kWh |
| Capacity Factor | 20–30% | ~18% |
| Installed Capacity (2024) | ~1,545 MW | ~9,900 MW |
| Generation Share (2024) | 1.7% | 2.7% |
| Feed-in Tariff | 3.10 THB/kWh (25-year PPA) | Varies by program |
| AEDP 2037 Target | 9,379 MW | Expanded but unspecified |
| Our Verdict | Niche, site-dependent | Better value for most projects |
Solar holds a clear edge on cost and scale. Wind’s case depends heavily on location and whether you need power when the sun isn’t shining.
Which Has Lower LCOE in Thailand?
Thailand utility-scale solar LCOE sits at $33–75 per MWh (1.14–2.59 THB/kWh), with BloombergNEF benchmarking the median at $47/MWh (Energy Tracker Asia, 2025). Onshore wind LCOE ranges from $75–170/MWh (2.7–6.0 THB/kWh) depending on turbine size and site quality. Solar undercuts even the cheapest wind estimate by a significant margin.
Globally, the gap is narrower. IRENA’s 2024 data puts global onshore wind at $34/MWh and utility-scale solar at $43/MWh (PV Magazine, 2025). In Thailand, solar benefits from intense local competition among installers and abundant land in the northeast. Wind faces higher upfront capital costs and a limited number of sites with strong, consistent wind.
Why the global ranking flips in Thailand: Globally, wind is often cheaper than solar. In Thailand, solar’s cost advantage comes from a mature domestic supply chain and straightforward permitting. Wind projects need environmental impact assessments, taller infrastructure, and grid upgrades that add hidden cost layers not captured in simple LCOE figures.
The chart above shows solar’s cost advantage holds at both low and high estimates. Even solar’s worst-case scenario (2.59 THB/kWh) beats wind’s best case (2.7 THB/kWh) by a thin margin. For developers chasing the lowest possible cost per unit, solar is the logical first choice.
Which Has Better Capacity Factor?
Thailand onshore wind achieves capacity factors of 20–25% at typical sites, with the best locations reaching roughly 30% (Mordor Intelligence, 2024). Utility-scale solar in Thailand averages a capacity factor of roughly 16–17% (Global Solar Atlas). Wind wins this category, but the margin is smaller than in Europe or North America where wind regularly exceeds 35%.
Why does this matter? A higher capacity factor means each installed megawatt generates more kilowatt-hours over a year. A 10 MW wind farm at 25% capacity factor produces about 21,900 MWh annually. A 10 MW solar farm at 18% produces roughly 15,770 MWh. That’s a 39% output advantage for wind from the same nameplate capacity.
The complementarity advantage: Thailand’s wind resource peaks during the night and in the November–February cool season. Solar peaks at midday and during the hot season. A grid that blends both gets smoother output curves and needs less backup power. This isn’t theoretical — it’s why the AEDP plan pairs wind and solar targets rather than betting on one technology.
Which Technology Is Growing Faster?
Solar is expanding far more quickly. Thailand’s installed solar capacity reached 9.9 GWp by 2024, split between 6.3 GW ground-mounted, 3.3 GW rooftop, and 281 MW floating (Energy Tracker Asia, 2025). Wind capacity has stayed essentially flat at roughly 1,545 MW across 34 projects. Solar has added roughly 3 GW in recent years. Wind has added almost nothing.
The government’s AEDP 2024 plan targets 9,379 MW of wind by 2037. Hitting that would require adding about 700 MW per year — a massive acceleration from the current standstill. Whether this happens depends on new feed-in tariff rounds, grid upgrades in windy provinces like Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chaiyaphum, and investor appetite after years of stagnation.
The generation mix chart reveals how small both renewables still are. Gas dominates at 68.3%. Coal holds 16.7%. Wind and solar together account for just 4.4% of generation. There’s enormous room to grow, but solar is clearly the technology investors and policymakers are betting on today.
Who Should Choose Wind vs Solar?
If your priority is the lowest cost per kilowatt-hour, solar is the better choice. If you need generation outside daylight hours or want to diversify a portfolio, wind has a role. Here’s how the decision breaks down.
Commercial developers seeking lowest LCOE: Choose utility-scale solar. The median cost of $47/MWh undercuts gas short-run marginal cost and beats wind at every price point.
Industrial buyers with 24-hour loads: Consider a wind-solar hybrid. Wind’s nighttime output complements solar’s midday peak. Pairing both with battery storage can shave peak-demand charges.
Rural landowners in high-wind provinces: Wind leases can provide steady income if you’re in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chaiyaphum, or Surat Thani where wind resources are strongest. But the project pipeline is thin — solar leases are easier to secure today.
Homeowners: Rooftop solar is the practical option. Small-scale wind turbines rarely make sense in Thai residential settings due to noise, height restrictions, and inconsistent wind at low altitudes. The 200,000 THB personal income tax deduction for rooftop solar is confirmed in the Royal Gazette through 2028 (up to 200,000 can be deducted from your income, lowering your overall tax burden. It’s not 200,000 TBH off your taxes).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wind power cheaper than solar in Thailand?
No. Utility-scale solar LCOE in Thailand is 1.14–2.59 THB/kWh, while onshore wind ranges from 2.7–6.0 THB/kWh (Energy Tracker Asia, 2025). Solar wins on price at every estimate. Wind’s value lies in higher capacity factors and nighttime generation, not lower cost.
Can wind and solar work together?
Yes. Their generation profiles complement each other. Solar peaks at midday during the hot season. Wind in Thailand peaks at night and during the cool season. Combining both smooths output and reduces the need for gas backup or oversized battery banks.
Why is Thailand’s wind capacity so low?
Thailand has limited sites with strong, consistent wind. Most good locations are in the southern and northeastern provinces. Wind farms also face higher permitting complexity, taller infrastructure costs, and grid connection challenges compared to solar. After filling the early feed-in tariff quotas, new project development slowed dramatically.
Will wind power costs drop in Thailand?
Possibly. Larger turbines, better site assessment, and economies of scale could lower LCOE. However, solar is also getting cheaper. BNEF notes that solar and batteries together could enable Thailand to reduce LNG imports significantly by 2030 (BloombergNEF, 2025). Wind would need sharp cost declines to catch up.
Is wind power still worth considering in 2026?
It depends on your goals. For pure cost, solar is better. For portfolio diversification, 24-hour output, or specific site conditions, wind has a niche. The AEDP target of 9,379 MW by 2037 implies policymakers still see a role, but execution has lagged far behind ambition.
Verdict and Next Steps
Solar holds a decisive advantage on cost, capacity, and deployment speed. Wind power in Thailand is a niche technology for specific sites and use cases, not the mainstream choice solar has become.
- LCOE winner: Solar
- Capacity factor winner: Wind
- Growth trajectory winner: Solar
- Overall recommendation: Choose solar unless you have a specific need for nighttime generation or portfolio diversification.
If you’re comparing options for a commercial or residential project, get quotes from multiple installers. Costs vary by location, roof condition, and grid connection distance. Factor in the 200,000 THB tax deduction for rooftop systems up to 10 kWp. See our guide to solar tax deductions. And remember — Thailand’s net billing program reopened in July 2026 (500 MW quota, up to 5 kW per meter, 2.20 THB/kWh), so export revenue is back alongside self-consumption savings.