KUALA LUMPUR: In a swift move to sustain momentum in solar adoption, the government has introduced an additional 100 megawatts (MW) to the Net Energy Metering (NEM) Rakyat rooftop solar quota. This comes just two days after the initial 600MW allocation was fully taken up, reflecting strong demand among residential consumers.
According to a joint statement by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) and the Energy Commission on Friday, the additional quota under the NEM Rakyat programme will remain available until 30 June 2025, or until the new capacity is fully subscribed.
The ministry is also reviewing potential new frameworks and mechanisms for future rooftop solar programmes. The goal is to make renewable energy initiatives more inclusive, equitable, and accessible to all electricity users.
Beyond the NEM Rakyat initiative, residential consumers have other options such as the Solar for Self-Consumption (SelCo) programme. Unlike NEM, SelCo does not allow users to export excess electricity to the grid but enables households to use their solar-generated energy entirely for their own needs.
Meanwhile, innovative models such as the Community Renewable Energy Aggregation Mechanism (CREAM) are gaining traction. Under CREAM, aggregators can rent rooftop space from homeowners and sell solar power to commercial users, paying a 15 sen per kilowatt-hour (kWh) network usage charge.
PETRA reaffirmed its commitment to Malaysia’s energy transition, positioning rooftop solar as a key pillar in achieving the national target of 70% renewable energy capacity in the electricity mix by 2050. This ambition aligns with the Madani Malaysia framework, which emphasises sustainability and inclusive development.
The NEM Rakyat programme is one of three major components under the NEM 3.0 framework, which also includes:
-
NEM Nova, targeting commercial and industrial (C&I) users, with 524.65MW quota still available from an initial 1,700MW; and
-
NEM GoMEn, aimed at government entities, with 17.2MW of its 100MW quota remaining.
As demand for rooftop solar surges, Malaysia continues to refine its renewable energy strategies to support widespread adoption, ensuring economic and environmental gains across all segments of society.–THE EDGE
