The department deputy director-general Yongyuth Sawatdisawanee said the projects will include preparing a revolving fund to promote energy conservation, actions to support the use of energy-saving machinery, the promotion of solar rooftops, and demonstration projects targeted to farmers showing how to use less energy.

The department will this month hold a fifth and final hearing into its draft plan for developing alternative energy from 2018-2037.

The plan aims to raise the ratio of electricity generated by alternative energy sources to 30 per cent of total produced energy, representing 29,358 contracted megawatts, within 2037.

The contribution from solar energy will be increased to 15,574 megawatts in that year.