Thailand’s Public Health Ministry and PEA are launching solar rooftops at 25 hospitals to cut power bills, reduce emissions and support green hospital development.

Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has partnered with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to install solar rooftop systems at 25 pilot hospitals, aiming to reduce annual electricity costs by US$1.63 million and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 7,211 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) a year.

The savings are expected to be redirected towards improving medical services for the public, while the project will later be expanded to hospitals under the ministry across the country.

Clean energy for green hospitals

Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat noted that the government is working to strengthen Thailand’s energy security while supporting sustainability and economic growth. Clean and renewable energy, he explained, is central to reducing environmental impact, improving long-term energy efficiency and lowering costs through a more efficient energy system.

The Ministry of Public Health has adopted the Net Zero MOPH policy to support the country’s transition towards carbon neutrality and net zero by 2050. Under the policy, health facilities are being upgraded into green hospitals that are more environmentally friendly, use cleaner energy and manage energy budgets more efficiently.

One of the key measures is the installation of solar rooftop systems, which generate electricity from sunlight and help reduce hospital power bills over the long term. Electricity remains one of the largest fixed costs for public hospitals, with hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health spending more than US$166.27 million on electricity last year.

25 hospitals in first phase

The Office of the Permanent Secretary for Public Health has worked with PEA to provide integrated electricity and energy management services, with an emphasis on safety standards and engineering efficiency.

The first phase covers 25 hospitals under the Office of the Permanent Secretary. The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7,211 tonnes of CO₂ a year, or about 288 tonnes per hospital annually.

It is also projected to save US$1.63 million in electricity costs each year, equivalent to around US$65,200 per hospital. The ministry plans to use those savings to improve healthcare services and support wider public access to medical care.

Pattana added that the ministry would expand the model to hospitals under its supervision nationwide as part of Thailand’s broader push towards carbon neutrality and net zero.

PEA to manage design, installation and maintenance

Deputy Interior Minister Polpeer Suwannachavee underlined that hospitals require electricity around the clock to protect public health and save lives, making energy security a critical issue for the healthcare system.

The Ministry of Interior has assigned PEA to use its technical expertise to manage the solar rooftop systems for hospitals on an integrated basis, covering design, installation and long-term maintenance.

He stressed that solar panel installation at state agencies “must not create debt, but must be cost-effective and 100% safe”.

Polpeer described the cooperation as beneficial in two main areas:

• Saving public funds. Hospitals use large amounts of electricity during the day, which is also when solar panels generate the most power. Producing electricity on site will help reduce power bills and free up more funding for public healthcare services.
• Supporting the environment. Solar energy is clean and renewable, helping hospitals reduce greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions by several tonnes a year. The project also supports Thailand’s Power Development Plan, or PDP, which aims to increase the share of clean energy in the country’s electricity system.

The pilot is expected to serve as a model for wider clean-energy adoption across Thailand’s public health system, helping hospitals reduce long-term costs while supporting the country’s carbon neutrality and net-zero goals.