The government is currently reviewing the Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme and is expected to announce a new solar-based scheme this month, revealed Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry’s deputy secretary general Mareena Mahpudz. During a luncheon talk earlier today, she told reporters that a replacement for NEM 3.0 is still being finalised.
The new scheme is said to be in line with the revised electricity tariff structure to ensure a more equitable distribution of energy subsidies. While details are still unconfirmed, Mareena suggested that the replacement programme might be a hybrid between NEM and self-consumption (SelCo), or even a new programme altogether.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who was also present, emphasised that the new programme will be designed in a way that gradually shifts away from subsidy dependency. Citing the existing SelCo model as an example, he explained that households can install solar panels for personal consumption, and by adding a battery, they can extend their solar usage from about three to four hours up to seven or eight hours. Any remaining electricity needs beyond that can then be met by drawing power from the grid.
Fadillah, who is also the minister of energy transition and water transformation, noted that another model being considered is the Community Renewable Energy Aggregation Mechanism (CREAM), which involves aggregated rooftop solar systems benefiting communities within a 5km radius. Fadillah said this initiative would enable local groups to manage their own energy systems, allowing them to collectively access subsidies and take charge of building, governing and using solar power. The approach is aimed at enabling access to renewable energy by shifting from individual ownership to more inclusive, community-based solutions.
(Source: The Edge Malaysia)
