KUALA LUMPUR: A special incentive to promote the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is a positive step towards increasing the utilisation of solar energy in the national grid, said experts.
Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten)'s green technology expert, Dr Tan Ee Sann, said the incentive could encourage the public to actively participate in transitioning away from reliance on fossil fuels for power generation.
He said this move also aligns with the government's energy transition goals, particularly in reducing net-zero emissions by 2050.
"The incentive is perceived as a means to lower the investment cost, thereby indirectly reducing our electricity bills. "The adoption of solar PV systems helps to diminish our dependence on fossil fuels for power generation, which is the primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia," he told the New Straits Times.
However, Tan said it is important to have effective communication between the government and the public to build trust and encourage participation in these initiatives.
"The public should be educated about the advantages of solar energy and the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme, as well as the availability of maintenance and technical support for solar PV systems to ensure their effectiveness."
Meanwhile, the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer) president S. Piarapakaran cautioned that the use of solar PV systems comes with hidden costs that the public may not be aware of.
"Solar PV only generates electricity when there is sunshine. Hazy, cloudy, and rainy days are not favourable for solar PV. To compensate for this unreliability, the government relies on fossil fuel power plants as a backup.
"There is a cost associated with these standby plants, and solar PV owners do not bear this cost. Instead, the government passes this cost to the public through electricity tariffs," he said.
Piarapakaran said increasing the installed capacity of solar PV will only exacerbate the risk of intermittency, leading to a higher cost burden for both individuals and businesses through electricity tariffs, regardless of the program's name.
"It is imperative for the government to address this issue by ensuring that solar PV owners bear the actual costs of installing solar PV, including the charges for standby fossil fuel power plants.
"Earlier, it was reported that the government is introducing a special incentive to encourage the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems known as the Solar for Rakyat Incentive Scheme (SolaRIS).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the government has also agreed to approve an additional quota of 100 megawatts (MW) under the People's Net Energy Metering (NEM) Programme.