People who are interested in solar malaysia will tell you that they are both hopeful and doubtful about what will happen next. Headlines shout about record installations, rumors in the industry say new laws are coming, and average Malaysians tell anecdotes about how their electricity bills are going down and “the neighbor’s solar that survived last night’s thunderstorm.”
The future of solar in Malaysia looks like a sunrise: it moves slowly but surely and can’t be stopped. We’re lucky to receive it all year because most places only get 1,600 hours of sunshine a year. As of the end of 2023, the total amount of solar power available is roughly 2 GW. It’s not a big deal, but wait for the next big jump. The National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) makes it clear that the government plans to get at least 40% of its power from renewable sources by 2035, with solar power leading the way.
More labor is needed to reach bigger goals. The Large Scale Solar (LSS) program is now in its fourth stage and is gaining significant funders. There are new fields all over the map, and the whole of Kedah and Perak sparkles in the light of day. Floating solar panels? That is also becoming more common. Panels are placed on top of old mining ponds and reservoirs, which makes better use of land that was once unoccupied.
For most homes, solar panels on the roof are starting to look like a practical upgrade instead of a luxury. Prices have dropped by more than 80% since 2010. Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0 speeds up this transformation by enabling people and businesses lower their bills and send energy back to the grid. Thanks to community-led buy-ins and amicable bank financing, even rooftops in kampungs that used to be disregarded are now getting solar panels.
Of course, there is always a problem with the plan. Grid integration needs to improve so it can handle all this new “prosumer” output. Storage, like batteries, which are hard to locate and cost a lot, has to get better. People say that businesses and schools in the neighborhood are working on batteries that are safer and less expensive.
Solar Malaysia is not just a fad that will go away. The base is strong, the benefits keep arriving, and the sun never seems to go away for long. Don’t be surprised if every school, neighborhood, and shop house is part of the solar story in the next ten years. They will be saving money, getting sunlight, and planning for the future. The horizon? It’s brighter than it has ever been. Remember to bring your sunglasses.