The Net Energy Metering solar energy consumption scheme has been introduced in Malaysia since 2016 to provide incentives for the public to try solar energy in their homes to reduce monthly electricity bills.
The scheme (NEM 3.0) is ending in the middle of this year and will be replaced by a new solar program called the Enhanced Solar Energy Transition Program or Solar ATAP, which is a continuation of the NEM program, but with a number of improvements to the scheme, according to the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA).
Among them is that consumers are no longer bound by the limit of installing solar on the roof of the house. If it fits and can withstand the weight of the solar panels, homeowners can cover the entire roof area without issue.
Depending on the use of the house's power phase, 1-phase domestic consumers are allowed to install solar with a capacity of 5.0kW and the capacity of the house with a 3-phase installation is increased from 12.5kW to 15kW.
For owners of high-rise buildings with large roof spaces, they can also take advantage of this latest scheme to install or add solar panels to generate sustainable energy for their own use more efficiently.
The introduction of the latest ATAP Solar scheme is seen as a step by the government to achieve 70 percent renewable energy capacity nationwide by 2027.