Local experts unanimously advocate for the expansion of solar energy usage in Malaysia to unlock its potential as the primary electricity source.
Bernama reports that Dr. Shahino Mah Abdullah, a senior lecturer at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Science and Technology Faculty, highlights the low percentage of energy from solar sources despite Malaysia’s ample sunshine.
He emphasises the need for Malaysia to prioritise solar energy, citing its cleanliness, renewability, and affordability due to the booming solar panel manufacturing sector.
Dr. Shahino notes various incentives supporting solar system installations. He underscores the importance of making solar energy accessible to all Malaysians, addressing concerns about high initial costs and home suitability for installations.
Dr. Shahino encourages the Net Energy Metering (NEM) program for those who can afford solar panel systems. The program allows surplus solar energy to be redirected to the grid, reducing monthly electricity bills and contributing to meeting the country’s energy needs.
Assoc Prof Dr. Jasrul Jamani Jamian from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Electric Engineering Faculty supports photovoltaic solar panel installations to decrease reliance on Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and mitigate the impact of Imbalance Cost Pass-Through (ICPT) on consumers.
ICPT is a mechanism under the Incentive Based Regulation (IBR) framework which allows TNB as the utility to reflect changes (either increase or reduction) in fuel and other generation-related costs in the electricity tariff every six (6) months.
While acknowledging the initial costs, he highlights the significant price reduction in the past decade, making solar installations more affordable for consumers. For instance, a 10-kilowatt peak (kWp) system, which was RM140,000 a decade ago, is now only RM40,000.
