Malaysia to Launch New Solar ATAP Scheme on December 1, Enhancing Rooftop Solar Adoption

Malaysia will roll out its new Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme (Solar ATAP) on December 1, 2025, introducing the next phase of the country’s rooftop solar policy following the closure of the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme earlier this year.

Solar ATAP allows households, commercial establishments, and institutions to install rooftop solar systems capable of meeting up to 100% of their maximum electricity demand—an upgrade from the previous framework. The initiative aims to maximize rooftop utilization nationwide and enable consumers to fully offset their electricity needs with solar power.

A major policy shift under Solar ATAP is the adoption of a market-based crediting mechanism. Instead of NEM’s fixed one-to-one offset, exported surplus solar energy will now be credited based on the System Marginal Price (SMP), reflecting real-time market electricity prices. The government says this approach ensures transparency, enhances sustainability, and aligns consumer incentives with prevailing market conditions.

Guidelines and registration portals for the programme will be available on the Energy Commission and Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia websites starting December 1. Officials noted that Solar ATAP is designed to offer greater flexibility and support the growing demand for distributed generation—electricity produced close to where it is consumed—reducing transmission losses and improving grid stability.

The initiative forms a key part of Malaysia’s broader energy transition efforts, supporting the national target of achieving 70% renewable energy capacity by 2050 under the Malaysia MADANI framework. By focusing on rooftop installations across commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors, the government expects the scheme to drive substantial growth in solar adoption.

Solar ATAP is positioned as a major step in accelerating Malaysia’s clean energy transition by enabling consumers to generate their own power, improve energy efficiency, and contribute to long-term sustainability.