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- Sime Darby Property group managing director and CEO Datuk Seri Azmir Merican: Through rooftop leasing, they can earn additional income without bearing the cost of installing solar panels. At the same time, the generated energy supports nearby low- and medium-voltage commercial and industrial developments, reducing reliance on fossil-based energy.
SHAH ALAM (Sept 26): Sime Darby Property Bhd today launched the country’s first residential rooftop solar initiative under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
The launch was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister and Energy and Water Transformation Minister (PETRA) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Also at the event was Sime Darby Property group managing director and CEO Datuk Seri Azmir Merican who said the initiative benefits homeowners, who are not only consumers but also “prosumers”—producers and contributors to the energy ecosystem.
“Through rooftop leasing, they can earn additional income without bearing the cost of installing solar panels.
“At the same time, the generated energy supports nearby low- and medium-voltage commercial and industrial developments, reducing reliance on fossil-based energy,” Azmir said during the launch at the Elmina Sales Gallery here today.
The project operates within a 5km radius, covering more than 6,000 homes across four residential areas in City of Elmina: Elmina Green, Elmina Garden, Ilham Residence, and Elmina Valley.
“The solar capacity generated will support Local Green Consumers (LGCs), particularly nearby commercial and industrial developments. Among these LGCs is Innovation Park, a Sime Darby Property initiative for innovation-led development, which will act as the first off-taker,” he explained.
Azmir added that Chong Hwa Academic Secondary School in City of Elmina has expressed interest in becoming a solar energy off-taker when it opens in 2027, aligning with efforts to expand cleaner and more sustainable energy usage.
The pilot project is the result of a collaboration between Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), GSPARX Sdn Bhd and Sime Darby Property.
“We can see the tangible outcomes of this collaboration, which we hope can be expanded and implemented nationwide,” he said.
CREAM initiative aims to boost renewable energy
Meanwhile, Fadillah said Sime Darby Property’s residential solar project is among the early participants in Community Renewable Energy Aggregation Mechanism (CREAM).
“This programme is part of PETRA’s efforts under National Energy Transition Roadmap, aiming to increase renewable energy’s share in the national electricity supply to 70% by 2050.
“To achieve this, we are determined to diversify generation methods so electricity supply is not solely dependent on large-scale power plants, but also actively engages all layers of society in distributed generation at building and residential premises,” he added.
Fadillah also noted that the Community Access Charge (CAC) for CREAM has been reduced by 40%, from 15 sen/kWh to 9 sen/kWh, which is expected to enhance commercial viability and make the programme more attractive.
“Malaysia has already achieved 30% of power generation from renewable energy (RE), with a target of 31% by December 2025, putting the country on track to meet this goal by year-end,” he said.
As Penang girds itself towards the last lap of its Penang2030 vision, check out how the residential segment is keeping pace in EdgeProp’s special report: PENANG Investing Towards 2030.
