Solar ATAP is live. PETRA's 19 December 2025 media statement confirmed 1 January 2026 as the launch date, with one big structural change from NEM 3.0: no fixed national quota. The "rush before slots close" pressure that defined the NEM Rakyat years is gone. As installers, we've already been processing applications under the new programme continuously since launch and the door isn't closing on schedule.
- Launch date: 1 January 2026
- Replaces: NEM 3.0 (closed to new applications late 2025)
- No fixed quota cap at the programme level
- Annual capacity ceilings still apply by category (residential, commercial)
- Operated by Energy Commission (ST) and SEDA Malaysia
What "no fixed quota" actually means in practice
Under earlier NEM rounds, the government set a national cap (e.g. 500 MW for NEM Rakyat) and the programme closed once it hit. Solar ATAP runs differently — continuous enrolment, with annual capacity budgets that are reviewed and rolled forward. In practice this means new applicants in 2026, 2027, and beyond can keep entering the queue. We saw the difference immediately: in January and February 2026, we processed customer applications without the frantic quota-checking calls that NEM Rakyat used to generate every quarter.
What stays the same as NEM
The core mechanics carry forward — solar is self-consumed first, surplus is exported to TNB, credits offset future imports. The big upgrade for commercial: 100% Maximum Demand sizing (up from 75% under NEM 3.0). For a factory in Shah Alam previously stuck at 75 kWp on a 100 kW MD profile, the same site can now go full 100 kWp. Applications still route through SEDA-registered installers (us); TNB still handles grid connection.
What this means for you
If you've been waiting for "quota to reopen" — that wait is over, and the structure is now better than NEM. Two practical pointers: (1) The base Solar ATAP enrolment is open-ended, but the SuRIA Home cash-back on top has a hard 250 MW / RM 150 million envelope. Apply in 2026 to capture the rebate. (2) Commercial buyers with a Sdn Bhd should pair Solar ATAP with the GITA tax allowance in the same financial year — most of our SME customers in Klang Valley find the GITA timing matters as much as the install timing.
Source
This summary is based on reporting from PETRA Media Statement (PDF). Read the full original report at the source link for the publisher's complete coverage.