The government has announced a significant expansion of the rooftop solar quota under the Net Energy Metering (NEM) mechanism, aimed at boosting renewable energy adoption across households, commercial, and industrial sectors.
Under the revised scheme, the NEM Rakyat quota for residential users will increase by 150 megawatts (MW) to reach a total of 600MW. Meanwhile, the NEM Nova quota, targeting commercial and industrial consumers, will grow by 300MW, bringing its total allocation to 1,700MW, according to a statement from the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra).
Additionally, the rebate for solar system installations under the Solar Incentive Scheme for the People (SolaRIS) will be extended until April 30, 2025. Eligible domestic users can continue to claim rebates of up to RM4,000, subject to existing terms and conditions.
In a further effort to drive solar adoption, households with existing rooftop solar installations under earlier schemes will now be permitted to upgrade and expand their system capacity. These users will also have the option to transition to the updated NEM programme.
In a notable development, the NEM scheme will now be extended to include electricity users in the agriculture sector, broadening the scope of solar adoption across key industries.
The application deadline for the NEM quotas has been pushed to June 30, 2025, or until the quotas are fully allocated—whichever occurs first. These updates, including the extended rebate scheme, will come into effect on January 1, 2025.
In its statement, Petra reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the nation’s renewable energy goals, stating: “Petra remains committed to ensuring the comprehensive implementation of solar system installation initiatives on building rooftops, supporting the National Energy Transition aspiration to achieve a 70% renewable energy capacity mix in the country’s electricity supply by 2050.”
The enhancements mark a significant step forward in Malaysia’s renewable energy journey, positioning the country closer to its long-term sustainability targets.