Additional quotas for solar energy on the horizon (Poll Inside)

PUTRAJAYA: The Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme will continue with additional quotas provided as part of the implementation of the Integrated Clean Energy scheme this year, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

A total of 100 megawatts (MW) will be allocated for individuals under NEM Rakyat and 300MW for commercial entities under NEM Nova.

Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Public Utilities Minister, said that the quota offer period is set until December or until the allocated quota is exhausted.

Applications can be submitted from Feb 5 through the eNEM system on the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) website at www.seda.gov.my.

“This programme will enable at least 25,000 domestic users and 100 users in the commercial and industrial categories to utilise the roof space of their buildings for electricity generation through the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar systems,” he said in a statement in conjunction with the International Day of Clean Energy yesterday, Bernama reported.

Besides NEM, Fadillah said the Large Scale Solar (LSS) programme for the development of solar power plants with a quota offer of 2,000MW will be opened starting April 1, with the sale of Request for Proposal (RFP) documents by the Energy Commission.

Several updates would be made to enhance the success of the LSS programme.

This includes the creation of a special category for the development of floating solar power plants with a quota of 500MW and an increase in the participation limit for a company up to 500MW.

“The implementation of the LSS programme will be conducted through a bidding process and on a larger scale to ensure a transparent and fair developer selection process and to secure energy generation tariff offers at the most competitive rates,” he said.

Fadillah said that the Low Carbon Energy Generation Programme through the New Enhanced Dispatched Arrangement mechanism would be implemented with a total quota of 400MW.

This is to open up opportunities for participation in the development of generation projects from non-solar sources such as wind, small hydro, biogas, biomass and hydrogen, among others.

Participation in the programme is based on a first-come, first-served basis, and applications can be submitted from Feb 5 through the Single Buyer website at www.singlebuyer.com.my.

In addition, the Battery Energy Storage System pilot project with a total capacity of 400MW will commence in the first quarter of this year.

It will be implemented by Tenaga Nasional Bhd, operated by the grid system operator and supervised by the Energy Commission.

“The implementation of this pilot project will support the nation’s energy transition aspirations by strengthening the electricity supply grid network,” he said.