IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v95y2016icp447-457.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Business models and financing options for a rapid scale-up of rooftop solar power systems in Thailand

Author

Listed:
  • Tongsopit, Sopitsuda
  • Moungchareon, Sunee
  • Aksornkij, Apinya
  • Potisat, Tanai

Abstract

Diverse solar PV business models and financing options exist in the international landscape, helping expand and accelerate the adoption of rooftop solar PV systems. The conditions for their emergence are context specific, depending on the policies, regulations, incentives, and market conditions of each country. After a review of the international landscape, this paper compiles and analyzes business models and financing options for rooftop solar PV investment in Thailand that have emerged during the period between 2013 and 2015. Despite policy discontinuity for the support of rooftop solar systems, diverse business models and financing options are driving market expansion and expanding solar access to more Thai consumers. Drawing on our policy and regulatory analyses and in-depth interviews with business representatives, we identify four types of business models and one financing option. The business models include Roof Rental, Solar PPA, Solar Leasing, and Community Solar, and the financing option is the solar loan. We analyze the drivers for their emergence, barriers to their success, and the risks from the business owners' and consumers' viewpoints. Our policy recommendation is focused on crafting a net-metering regulation with evidence-based studies on the potential costs and benefits to different stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Tongsopit, Sopitsuda & Moungchareon, Sunee & Aksornkij, Apinya & Potisat, Tanai, 2016. "Business models and financing options for a rapid scale-up of rooftop solar power systems in Thailand," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 447-457.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:95:y:2016:i:c:p:447-457
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.01.023
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421516300234
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.01.023?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Friebe, Christian A. & Flotow, Paschen von & Täube, Florian A., 2013. "Exploring the link between products and services in low-income markets—Evidence from solar home systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 760-769.
    2. Drury, Easan & Miller, Mackay & Macal, Charles M. & Graziano, Diane J. & Heimiller, Donna & Ozik, Jonathan & Perry IV, Thomas D., 2012. "The transformation of southern California's residential photovoltaics market through third-party ownership," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 681-690.
    3. Okkonen, Lasse & Suhonen, Niko, 2010. "Business models of heat entrepreneurship in Finland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 3443-3452, July.
    4. Asmus, Peter, 2008. "Exploring New Models of Solar Energy Development," The Electricity Journal, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 61-70, April.
    5. Tongsopit, Sopitsuda & Greacen, Chris, 2013. "An assessment of Thailand's feed-in tariff program," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 439-445.
    6. Huijben, J.C.C.M. & Verbong, G.P.J., 2013. "Breakthrough without subsidies? PV business model experiments in the Netherlands," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 362-370.
    7. Zott, Christoph & Amit, Raphael & Massa, Lorenzo, 2010. "The business model: Theoretical roots, recent developments, and future research," IESE Research Papers D/862, IESE Business School.
    8. Bryan Bollinger & Kenneth Gillingham, 2012. "Peer Effects in the Diffusion of Solar Photovoltaic Panels," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(6), pages 900-912, November.
    9. Pode, Ramchandra, 2013. "Financing LED solar home systems in developing countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 596-629.
    10. Richter, Mario, 2013. "Business model innovation for sustainable energy: German utilities and renewable energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1226-1237.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Junlakarn, Siripha & Kittner, Noah & Tongsopit, Sopitsuda & Saelim, Supawan, 2021. "A cross-country comparison of compensation mechanisms for distributed photovoltaics in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    2. Li, Yan & Zhang, Qi & Wang, Ge & McLellan, Benjamin & Liu, Xue Fei & Wang, Le, 2018. "A review of photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects in China: Current status, challenge and policy recommendations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 214-223.
    3. Kittner, Noah & Gheewala, Shabbir H. & Kammen, Daniel M., 2016. "Energy return on investment (EROI) of mini-hydro and solar PV systems designed for a mini-grid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 410-419.
    4. Siripha Junlakarn & Phimsupha Kokchang & Kulyos Audomvongseree, 2022. "Drivers and Challenges of Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading Development in Thailand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-25, February.
    5. Methee Srikranjanapert & Siripha Junlakarn & Naebboon Hoonchareon, 2021. "How an Integration of Home Energy Management and Battery System Affects the Economic Benefits of Residential PV System Owners in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, March.
    6. Chavid Leewiraphan & Nipon Ketjoy & Prapita Thanarak, 2024. "An Assessment of the Economic Viability of Delivering Solar PV Rooftop as a Service to Strengthen Business Investment in the Residential and Commercial Sectors," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(2), pages 226-233, March.
    7. Koerner, Sonja Angelika & Siew, Wei Sian & Salema, Arshad Adam & Balan, Poovarasi & Mekhilef, Saad & Thavamoney, Nisha, 2022. "Energy policies shaping the solar photovoltaics business models in Malaysia with some insights on Covid-19 pandemic effect," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    8. Suntiti Yoomak & Theerasak Patcharoen & Atthapol Ngaopitakkul, 2019. "Performance and Economic Evaluation of Solar Rooftop Systems in Different Regions of Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-20, November.
    9. M. M. Hasan & Shakhawat Hossain & M. Mofijur & Zobaidul Kabir & Irfan Anjum Badruddin & T. M. Yunus Khan & Esam Jassim, 2023. "Harnessing Solar Power: A Review of Photovoltaic Innovations, Solar Thermal Systems, and the Dawn of Energy Storage Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-30, September.
    10. Li, Na & Okur, Özge, 2023. "Economic analysis of energy communities: Investment options and cost allocation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    11. Shahriyar Nasirov & Paula Gonzalez & Jose Opazo & Carlos Silva, 2023. "Development of Rooftop Solar under Netbilling in Chile: Analysis of Main Barriers from Project Developers’ Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    12. Wichsinee Wibulpolprasert & Umnouy Ponsukcharoen & Siripha Junlakarn & Sopitsuda Tongsopit, 2021. "Preliminarily Screening Geographical Hotspots for New Rooftop PV Installation: A Case Study in Thailand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-30, June.
    13. Bankel, Amanda & Mignon, Ingrid, 2022. "Solar business models from a firm perspective – an empirical study of the Swedish market," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    14. Petrovich, Beatrice & Kubli, Merla, 2023. "Energy communities for companies: Executives’ preferences for local and renewable energy procurement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    15. Andrea A. Eras-Almeida & Miguel A. Egido-Aguilera & Philipp Blechinger & Sarah Berendes & Estefanía Caamaño & Enrique García-Alcalde, 2020. "Decarbonizing the Galapagos Islands: Techno-Economic Perspectives for the Hybrid Renewable Mini-Grid Baltra–Santa Cruz," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-47, March.
    16. Horváth, Dóra & Szabó, Roland Zs., 2018. "Evolution of photovoltaic business models: Overcoming the main barriers of distributed energy deployment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 623-635.
    17. Yujie Lu & Fangxin Yi & Shaocong Yu & Yangtian Feng & Yujuan Wang, 2022. "Pathways to Sustainable Deployment of Solar Photovoltaic Policies in 20 Leading Countries Using a Qualitative Comparative Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.
    18. Chawin Prapanukool & Surachai Chaitusaney, 2020. "Designing Solar Power Purchase Agreement of Rooftop PVs with Battery Energy Storage Systems under the Behind-the-Meter Scheme," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, August.
    19. Tahir, Muhammad Usman & Siraj, Kiran & Ali Shah, Syed Faizan & Arshad, Naveed, 2023. "Evaluation of single-phase net metering to meet renewable energy targets: A case study from Pakistan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    20. Schleich, Joachim & Tu, Gengyang & Faure, Corinne & Guetlein, Marie-Charlotte, 2021. "Would you prefer to rent rather than own your new heating system? Insights from a discrete choice experiment among owner-occupiers in the UK," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sopitsuda Tongsopit & Sunee Moungchareon & Apinya Aksornkij & Tanai Potisat, . "Business Models and Financing Options for a Rapid Scale-up of Rooftop Solar Power Systems in Thailand," Chapters, in: Shigeru Kimura & Youngho Chang & Yanfei Li (ed.), Financing Renewable Energy Development in East Asia Summit Countries A Primer of Effective Policy Instruments, chapter 4, pages 79-136, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    2. Juntunen, Jouni K. & Hyysalo, Sampsa, 2015. "Renewable micro-generation of heat and electricity—Review on common and missing socio-technical configurations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 857-870.
    3. Sufang Zhang, . "Innovative Business Models and Financing Mechanisms for Distributed Solar Photovoltaic (DSPV) Deployment in China," Chapters, in: Shigeru Kimura & Youngho Chang & Yanfei Li (ed.), Financing Renewable Energy Development in East Asia Summit Countries A Primer of Effective Policy Instruments, chapter 6, pages 161-191, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    4. Horváth, Dóra & Szabó, Roland Zs., 2018. "Evolution of photovoltaic business models: Overcoming the main barriers of distributed energy deployment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 623-635.
    5. Zhang, Sufang, 2016. "Innovative business models and financing mechanisms for distributed solar PV (DSPV) deployment in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 458-467.
    6. Karakaya, Emrah & Nuur, Cali & Hidalgo, Antonio, 2016. "Business model challenge: Lessons from a local solar company," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1026-1035.
    7. Jesús Rodríguez-Molina & Margarita Martínez-Núñez & José-Fernán Martínez & Waldo Pérez-Aguiar, 2014. "Business Models in the Smart Grid: Challenges, Opportunities and Proposals for Prosumer Profitability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-30, September.
    8. Overholm, Harald, 2015. "Spreading the rooftop revolution: What policies enable solar-as-a-service?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 69-79.
    9. Li, Changsheng & Shen, Bo, 2019. "Accelerating renewable energy electrification and rural economic development with an innovative business model: A case study in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 280-286.
    10. Hall, Stephen & Roelich, Katy, 2016. "Business model innovation in electricity supply markets: The role of complex value in the United Kingdom," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 286-298.
    11. Burger, Scott P. & Luke, Max, 2017. "Business models for distributed energy resources: A review and empirical analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 230-248.
    12. Michael Hamwi & Iban Lizarralde, 2019. "Demand-side management and renewable energy business models for energy transition A systematic review," Post-Print hal-02448505, HAL.
    13. Galassi, Veronica & Madlener, Reinhard, 2014. "Identifying Business Models for Photovoltaic Systems with Storage in the Italian Market: A Discrete Choice Experiment," FCN Working Papers 19/2014, E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN).
    14. Palm, Alvar & Lantz, Björn, 2020. "Information dissemination and residential solar PV adoption rates: The effect of an information campaign in Sweden," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    15. Joshi, Lalita & Choudhary, Deepak & Kumar, Praveen & Venkateswaran, Jayendran & Solanki, Chetan S., 2019. "Does involvement of local community ensure sustained energy access? A critical review of a solar PV technology intervention in rural India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 272-281.
    16. Huijben, J.C.C.M. & Verbong, G.P.J., 2013. "Breakthrough without subsidies? PV business model experiments in the Netherlands," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 362-370.
    17. Simpson, Genevieve & Clifton, Julian, 2016. "Subsidies for residential solar photovoltaic energy systems in Western Australia: Distributional, procedural and outcome justice," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 262-273.
    18. Sommerfeldt, Nelson & Lemoine, Ida & Madani, Hatef, 2022. "Hide and seek: The supply and demand of information for household solar photovoltaic investment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    19. Johannes Mauritzen, 2017. "Cost, Contractors and Scale: An Empirical Analysis of the California Solar Market," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 6).
    20. Karakaya, Emrah & Sriwannawit, Pranpreya, 2015. "Barriers to the adoption of photovoltaic systems: The state of the art," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 60-66.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:95:y:2016:i:c:p:447-457. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.