Malaysia Expands Solar Quota Access for Government-Aided Vernacular Schools

The Malaysian government has announced that government-aided vernacular schools with solar panel installations will now be eligible to apply for quotas from the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA). This move aims to alleviate competition with the private sector and promote cost savings on electricity.

Previously, these schools could only apply for quotas under the NEM Nova category, which is designated for the commercial and industrial sector. However, under the new policy, they can now seek allocations under other schemes to ease their access to solar energy incentives.

Petaling Jaya Member of Parliament and SEDA board member Lee Chean Chung highlighted the challenges vernacular schools faced when competing for limited quotas under NEM Nova. He pointed out that while NEM Nova quotas are consistently oversubscribed, the NEM GoMEn category—meant for government premises—often has unutilized allocations.

“Allowing these schools to apply for SEDA quotas will help them reduce electricity costs and contribute to carbon emission reductions,” Lee said at a press conference outside Parliament.

SEDA board member V Ganabatirau also welcomed the decision, emphasizing its role in advancing Malaysia’s energy transition agenda.

The Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme, introduced in 2021 to support consumers in lowering electricity bills through solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, has a total quota of 1,600 megawatts (MW) distributed across three categories:

NEM Rakyat (400MW) for residential consumers
NEM GoMEn (100MW) for government premises
NEM Nova (1,100MW) for commercial and industrial users
The policy adjustment is expected to provide greater access to renewable energy resources for government-aided schools, aligning with Malaysia’s broader sustainability goals.