PUTRAJAYA, May 14 (Bernama) — Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participating in the newly enhanced net energy metering (NEM) programme stand to enjoy better tax allowances, in addition to being able to manage their electricity costs more effectively.

Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) Minister Yeo Bee Yin said easier access to financing through the Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS) would encourage SMEs to take up the NEM scheme and find innovative ways to harness renewable energy sources.

“SMEs which have (factories with) the right rooftop structures can get tax allowance by installing solar photovoltaic (PV) system and can sell any excess energy produced to Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) on a ‘one-on-one’ offset basis.

“I hope the relevant tax allowances and GTFS can help facilitate and catalyse more growth in terms of rooftop solar (power) among commercial and industry players,” she told a press conference after launching the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia’s new website, which features a renewable energy microsite and a NEM calculator here today.

The NEM programme is a solar PV initiative by MESTECC to encourage Malaysia’s renewable energy uptake.

Under the programme, energy produced from the installed solar PV system will be consumed first, and any excess energy can be exported to TNB on a “one-on-one” offset basis.

The scheme is applicable to all domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors as long as they are TNB customers.

The total quota allocation for NEM is 500 megawatts (MW) up to the year 2020 — 50MW for the domestic segment, and 450MW for commercial, industrial and agriculture sectors.

Yeo said since NEM’s launch in January 2019, there has been an encouraging growth in the scheme’s take-up rate.

As of May 10, a total of 16.6MW has been approved, compared with the total approved capacity of 18.24MW in 2018.

She said the NEM quota of 500MW was expected to create jobs for 15,000 people and RM2.12 billion capital investment for the solar PV systems.

Commenting on SEDA’s newly revamped website, Yeo said the website was designed to provide an improved user experience for the public and giving them access to information on the NEM scheme and renewable energy programmes.

SEDA Malaysia has also created two solar PV directories, allowing the public to browse for services they need.

Currently, the directories provide a list of 110 registered PV service providers and 27 registered solar PV investors.

Source: BERNAMA