Thailand's Cabinet approves seven-tier data centre rules with 70 dB noise and 1–2°C heat limits
Projects are tiered by power use from under 0.5 MW to over 200 MW, those of 20 MW or more must sit in industrial estates, cooling water must be recirculated, and a screening committee will weed out speculative power reservations; officials said only about a quarter of more than 110 applicants seeking over 30,000 MW were genuine.
Why it matters
Thailand is one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing data centre markets: its investment board says AI-related projects made up about 70% of more than $50 billion in investment-promotion applications in the first nine months of the year. The rules move the country from courting capacity to rationing it, tying approval to jobs, local supply chains and clean energy rather than headline investment. Watch the public consultation on the tier conditions and how the one-year deadline for existing sites is enforced.
Key facts
- Seven tiers from under 0.5 MW to over 200 MW
- 20 MW or more must be in industrial estates
- Backup-power noise capped at 70 dB at the boundary
- Heat rise limited to 1–2°C
- 110+ applicants sought over 30,000 MW
- About a quarter judged genuine investors