We’ve all heard it; probably seen it everywhere in the news and ads related to solar. But what exactly are they?

Solar is not new in Malaysia. To promote the adoption of solar installation in Malaysia, the government had run a few programmes: Feed in Tariff (FIT), Net Energy Metering (NEM) 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and most recently, Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme (Solar ATAP). What are the differences?

Now you know a bit more, let’s dive into Solar ATAP.

The New: Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme (ATAP)

ATAP is the next-generation rooftop solar programme, designed to fix limits its predecessors had and make going solar more sustainable.

Here’s how it works:

1. Install solar panels that’s adequately sized for your home or business.

2. Use the energy you generate first.

3. Export extra electricity to the grid and earn credits, which can be used to offset future bills.

The key improvements over NEM are:

• No quota limits: No more limits and no more first-come, first-served. Everyone can apply.

• Better flexibility: You can scale your system to match your energy needs.

• Bigger size and bigger participation = faster adoption of solar. Hence the name.

In short: NEM started the hype, ATAP makes it easier, bigger, and fairer.

The Good 

Solar ATAP is a good mechanism to allow homeowners and business owners alike to maximise their generation. For homeowners, we are not home all day. Having an export mechanism allows us to get credits in place of the solar generation that we do not use during daytime.

For businesses, solar helps reduce operating costs in the long run and signals virtue and commitment to sustainability.

The Bad & The Catch

1. No carrying forward credits.

- What you generated for the month has to be consumed for the month. To ensure your Return of Investment (ROI) is optimised, you need to make sure your system size is optimised to your consumption.

2. Credits are valued at energy charge (RM0.27/kWh), excluding other charges, like network charge and capacity charge and etc.

- To make the most bang out of your buck, install a battery. This will extend the value of the power generated from your solar.

To get the most from Solar ATAP, working with trusted experts can make a big difference. United Solar Energy Malaysia (USEM) can guide you through the process from choosing the right system size to installation, monitoring, and maintenance so your solar journey is simple, efficient, and rewarding. 

To find out more on their green packages, you are welcome to visit their website: www.unitedsolarenergy.com.my. 

This Sustainable Energy Series is in collaboration with United Solar Energy Malaysia (USEM).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.