ONE in every 10 customers under the Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme (Solar ATAP) in Peninsular Malaysia is from Penang, placing the state third nationwide.
Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) said that as of June this year, the state recorded 825 Solar ATAP customers, comprising 768 residential and 57 commercial users.
Nationwide, there are 8,130 Solar ATAP customers, including 7,683 residential and 447 commercial customers.
“In terms of customer numbers, Penang accounts for about 10% of all Solar ATAP customers in Peninsular Malaysia, making it the third highest after Selangor and Johor,” said TNB in a statement.
Adoption of rooftop solar, according to TNB, has also grown steadily over the past five years as consumers become more aware of renewable energy and its long-term benefits.
“Customer interest has evolved alongside the introduction and evolution of programmes such as Net Energy Metering 3.0, Solar ATAP, Solar for Rakyat Incentive Scheme and SuriaHome.”
On electricity bill savings, TNB said homeowners generally achieve savings that are broadly in line with expectations when their rooftop solar systems are appropriately designed, installed and maintained.
“The level of savings varies depending on the size and performance of the solar photovoltaic system, available solar irradiation, household electricity consumption patterns and the proportion of solar energy generated that is consumed during daylight hours.
“For example, some households may increase their daytime electricity usage after installing rooftop solar, which could partially offset the expected reduction in electricity bills,” it said.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said Malaysia had achieved nearly 33% renewable energy (RE) in its power generation capacity, putting the country on track to surpass its 35% target for 2030 ahead of schedule.
The government aims to increase the share to 40% by 2040 and 70% by 2050, with solar remaining the nation’s fastest-growing RE source.
