Make hay while the sun shines: To reduce electricity costs, people are installing solar panels in their homes. — NG KOK LEONG/The Star
Homeowners can now rent out their rooftops under new plan
PUTRAJAYA: Imagine making some extra money right from the comfort of your own home.
Introducing the Community Renewable Energy Aggregation Mechanism (CREAM), a cutting-edge renewable energy initiative that allows homeowners to monetise their rooftops while powering communities with green electricity.
Led by the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (Petra), the initiative is set to elevate support for the country’s energy transition.
This initiative will be implemented based on the concept of open grid access through the adaptation of the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS) programme, which was introduced in September 2024.
According to Petra, CREAM will allow homeowners to lease or rent their rooftop space to third parties, who can then aggregate multiple rooftops to develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation system. This system will produce and supply green electricity to local consumers, Bernama reported.
“Renewable energy developers can consolidate rooftop space, in accordance with federal, state, and local authority regulations, to establish solar power generation systems. The green electricity generated will then be distributed to local consumers through the existing utility company’s distribution network.
“Additionally, corporate entities seeking renewable energy solutions will have the opportunity to source green electricity generated locally,” Petra said in a statement.
The guidelines for implementing CREAM are currently being finalised, with the Energy Commission set to announce the full details and framework soon.
Following the introduction of the CRESS and Cross-border Electricity Sales for Renewable Energy (CBES RE) initiatives, CREAM is expected to add value and create new economic opportunities for industry players and local communities, further driving the nation’s energy transition agenda.
In addition to CREAM, Petra will continue to enhance and expand existing renewable energy initiatives.
This includes launching a new bidding round under the Large Scale Solar (LSS-6) programme, set to open as early as the second quarter of 2025, to further boost the country’s renewable energy capacity.
“The new bids for energy storage systems, aimed at strengthening the national electricity grid, will be opened no later than the third quarter of 2025,” it said.
Petra remains optimistic that CREAM, along with broader efforts to advance renewable energy development, will play a key role in achieving the target of a 70% renewable energy capacity mix in the national electricity system by 2050, while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the country’s power sector.
