Thailand AI data center regulation

Thailand initially suspended 166 AI data center projects, including 49 under construction and 117 pending approval, to review electricity, water, and environmental requirements. The suspension was intended to address challenges caused by decentralized licensing and to clarify resource demands, safety protocols, and community impacts.

Following this review, the government approved a new regulatory framework to manage the industry expansion. This framework introduces a seven-tier system to categorize facilities by power consumption, ranging from under 0.5 MW to over 200 MW.

Under the new rules, larger hyperscale operations in Tiers 5 through 7 must undergo stricter environmental reviews, ensure independent water security, and provide computing resources to local small businesses. The regulations also establish environmental standards for noise levels, temperature increases at facility boundaries, and mandates for recycling cooling water and testing wastewater. These measures aim to balance significant digital investments with national power reserves and net-zero carbon goals.