Solar power for households and rooftops should be more widespread in Thailand soon, says the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency.

"The department is working with the Provincial Electricity Authority to draft a plan that offers incentives for households to install more solar cells," said Twarath Sutabutr, the department's deputy director-general.

Thailand tried household solar cell projects many years ago but failed due to high production costs and lack of proper maintenance and operation.

Thailand produces 75 megawatts of power from solar cells, 30 MW of which is off-grid.

The department expects the kingdom's capacity will increase to 100 MW by the end of this year, reaching 460 MW in 2012.

The Energy Ministry aims to increase renewable energy to 25% of the country's total energy consumption by 2022, up from 8% currently.

Biomass, biogas and solar energy are expected to be supported in the new renewable energy plan.

Research and development of alternative energy were initiated in the 1980s, as heavy industry for exports was growing, and in 1992 the government enacted an energy conservation law.

A decade later, the government launched incentives and biomass and biogas were the first projects to find success. The development of renewables sped up in 2007 when the government began offering a so-called adder tariff, paying more than the normal rates for electricity from renewable sources.

Producers pledging to develop 3,000 MW of solar energy and 1,000 MW of wind farms were granted licences by the Energy Ministry from 2008 to 2009.