Govt Introduces SolaRIS Scheme To Encourage Solar Panel Installation, Offers Up To RM4,000 Rebate

The government has said that it will introduce a new initiative by the name of Solar for Rakyat Incentive Scheme (SolaRIS), which seeks to encourage domestic users to install solar photovoltaic (solar PV) panels at home.

Set to take effect from 1 April 2024, a rebate of RM1,000/kWac (kilowatt alternating current) will be given to participating individuals via the SolaRIS initiative, up to a maximum of RM4,000. It is open only to those who are applying for the New Energy Metering (NEM) programme for the first time, with claims limited to one for each Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) accountholder.

To note, NEM here refers to a programme where Malaysians can install solar PVs at home so that they can produce their own energy to use. Excess energy generated can also be exported to TNB for some profit. Malaysia is currently on the third iteration of the programme, called NEM 3.0, which has been running since 2021 and will continue until the end of 2024 or when the quota allocated for the programme runs out.

Minister of Energy Transition & Water Transformation (PETRA), Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Yusof – who is also the Deputy Prime Minister – further explained that the rebate payments under SolaRIS will only be made after the installation and operation of the solar PV systems.

“The rebate will be provided based on a first-come first-served basis for NEM quotas applied from 1 April to 31 December 2024. Approved applicants must have their solar PV systems operational no later than 31 March next year, or until all the SolaRIS rebate quotas are distributed, whichever comes first,” said Dato’ Sri Fadillah, adding that the payments will be made under the name of the bill holder, to be deposited into their local bank account.

Aside from that, Dato’ Sri Fadillah also revealed that the government has approved an additional quota of 100MW (megawatt) to the NEM programme. This brings the total allocated quota up from 250MW to 350MW (under the sub-category NEM Rakyat programme), thereby allowing more Malaysians to tap into the SolaRIS initiative.

“The installation of solar PV systems on residential premises will also allow the roof space of buildings to be utilised for renewable energy generation,” the minister further reminded.

If you’re interested in installing solar panels at home, be sure to apply to the NEM 3.0 programme under the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) for quotas for the installation via the SolaRIS initiative.