In mid-2025, The Edge Malaysia reported the government was preparing a new rooftop solar mechanism and had added +100 MW to the existing scheme as an interim measure. The new mechanism — subsequently named Solar ATAP — would eventually replace NEM with continuous enrolment and broader eligibility. From our installer view, the interim 100 MW addition was the bridge that kept customer applications moving while the new programme finalised.
- +100 MW added to existing rooftop solar scheme as interim capacity
- Government signalled a structurally new mechanism was being designed
- The new mechanism later became Solar ATAP
- Interim 100 MW kept residential applications open during transition
- Avoided a hard gap between NEM closure and ATAP launch
Why the interim 100 MW addition mattered
Between NEM Rakyat's first quota expansion (also 100 MW) and the eventual Solar ATAP launch, the government needed to keep residential applications moving without a gap. A hard pause would have stranded customers mid-design and forced installers to renegotiate quotes and timelines. The mid-2025 +100 MW addition provided bridge capacity, and the eventual ATAP launch absorbed the queue smoothly.
What the "new mechanism" signal told the market
By mid-2025, the policy direction was clear even if the brand name (Solar ATAP) hadn't been finalised: continuous enrolment, no fixed national quota, broader eligibility, and tighter integration with the LSS and CRESS programmes the Energy Commission was running in parallel. Installers and EPC contractors used the lead time to pre-stage customer pipelines for the late-2025 / early-2026 launch.
What this means today
The 2025 interim moves are settled background. The customer-facing path is the current Solar ATAP programme — open for applications, no fixed quota, with the SuRIA Home rebate layered on top for residential. The 2025 history is mainly useful for context: it tells you the policy direction has been consistent for over a year+, which is reassuring if you're weighing a 10-25 year solar investment. See Solar ATAP Malaysia 2026.
Source
This summary is based on reporting from The Edge Malaysia. Read the full original report at the source link for the publisher's complete coverage.