PUTRAJAYA (July 1): A total of 151.86 megawatts (MW) or 20,418 installations under the Rakyat Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme are now operational, said Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) chief executive officer Datuk Hamzah Husin.

He said the programme, introduced in 2021, offered a quota of 350 MW and until last June, 241.46 MW or 68.98%, had been approved.

According to him, SEDA has been entrusted with the responsibility of developing the country's Sustainable Energy (TL) industry through the implementation of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and the Sustainability Achieved Via Energy Efficiency (SAVE) programme.

"The implementation of these programmes is in line with Malaysia's commitment to ensure environmental sustainability and the commitment to reduce up to 45% of greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2030," he said in a statement here Monday.

Under the Rakyat NEM Programme, domestic users who installed the solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of their premises will use the energy produced first while the excess energy will be exported to the Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) grid

Among the benefits of installing solar panels is that users can obtain clean and environmentally friendly energy, in addition to saving their electricity bills in the long run.

Hamzah said the government has also introduced the Solar for Rakyat Incentive Scheme (SolaRIS) to encourage the installation of solar PV systems in residential premises under the NEM programme.

"The programme, which started on April 1, is expected to increase the adoption of solar generation among the people under the NEM Rakyat programme.

“Those who qualify will receive a rebate of RM1,000/kWac up to a maximum of RM4,000," he said.

Regarding the SAVE 4.0 programme, which offers an e-rebate of up to RM400 for the purchase of four or five-star energy-efficient refrigerators and air conditioners at registered stores or e-commerce platforms, he said, rebates for 239,977 units out of the 250,000 units allocated have been enjoyed by consumers nationwide.

The amount involved RM48 million out of the total RM50 million, he said.

He hoped that Malaysians would play a role in realising Malaysia's target of becoming a net zero carbon emission country by 2050 and to increase the capacity of renewable energy in the electricity supply system from 25% to 70%.

More information about sustainable lifestyle practices is available at the website www.seda.gov.my and SEDA Malaysia social media, he said.

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