BOI backs 1 trillion baht of data centres in two meetings
Five of the approved projects disclose 702 megawatts of IT load between them, while the draft power plan sees data centres adding up to 8,800 megawatts.
Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) approved three data centre projects worth 913 billion baht on 6 May 2026, after approving seven worth 96.88 billion baht in January. The two rounds add up to about 1 trillion baht, our own sum, and most of it is one project.
May: TikTok leads
BOI's release lists three data centre projects at the meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas:
- TikTok System (Thailand): 842 billion baht, adding servers and expanding data storage and processing in Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao. The BOI gave no megawatt figure.
- Skyline Data Center and Cloud Services, part of UAE-based DAMAC Group: 46 billion baht in Chachoengsao, supporting 200 megawatts of IT load.
- Bridge Data Centres IIO (Thailand), from Singapore: 24.6 billion baht in Chonburi, supporting 134 megawatts.
The TikTok number is far above what the company said earlier. CRN Asia noted that TikTok had previously talked of investing US$8.8 billion over five years. The BOI figure is about US$25 billion. The release does not explain the gap.
January: seven projects
At the first board meeting of 2026, W.Media reported, the BOI approved seven projects:
- True Internet Data Center: 223 megawatts, 45.3 billion baht, three projects.
- GSA Data Center 05: 120 megawatts, 37.2 billion baht, two projects.
- Stellar DC, a STECON Group project with SC Zeus Data Centers of Singapore: 25 megawatts, 8.1 billion baht.
- Freyr Technology (Thailand): 6.3 billion baht, no capacity given.
Most are in Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Rayong and Bangkok. The BOI received 36 data centre applications in 2025 worth more than 728 billion baht, in Bangkok, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Pathum Thani, Rayong and Samut Prakan.
Adding the five projects that disclosed capacity gives about 702 megawatts. That is our sum. It leaves out TikTok and Freyr, so it understates the total.
The power question
[S]peed, power readiness, clean energy access and skilled talent will be decisive.
That line is from the May release. The same release says the board discussed urgent power needs for incoming investment in the Eastern region with the energy ministry and regulator, and directed faster issue of the Power Development Plan (PDP). It also said criteria and grid-service charges for direct renewable power purchase agreements would be announced soon.
The numbers show why. The draft PDP 2026, which was due to open for public consultation on 8 September, says data centres and AI could add up to about 8,800 megawatts of demand in its high-growth scenario, against a demand forecast of 57,273 megawatts in 2037.
The government's direct PPA pilot is sized at 2,000 megawatts for data centres. WHA Utilities and Power said in July that the rules were still in draft. Eligible buyers are BOI-promoted data centres with at least 50 megawatts of IT load. Cooling water is a second limit: the company says data centres need 12 to 16 times more water than a typical industrial user.
What to watch
Two decisions matter for anyone supplying or hosting near these sites: the final direct PPA rules, and the approval of the PDP once its public consultation ends.
FAQ
How many megawatts of data centre capacity has the BOI approved in 2026?
The five projects that disclosed capacity total about 702 megawatts of IT load by our sum. TikTok's and Freyr's projects gave no figure.
Where are the new data centres going?
Mostly Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Rayong, Chachoengsao and Bangkok, according to the BOI and W.Media.
Why does power supply matter for these projects?
The BOI board raised urgent power needs in the Eastern region in May, and the draft PDP says data centres and AI could add up to about 8,800 megawatts of demand.
Sources
- Board of Investment: Thailand approves $29 billion investment wave as data center demand surges
- W.Media: Thailand approves 7 new data centers valued at US$3.1 billion
- CRN Asia: Thailand going all out on data centers as government approves US$29 billion in projects
- The Nation: PDP 2026 maps 50.9GW power build-out for green economy
- The Nation: WHAUP urges Bangkok to fast-track direct PPA rules as data-centre demand surges
