Solar ATAP: the new way Malaysians get paid back for rooftop solar
Since 1 January 2026, ATAP - the Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme - has replaced NEM as the programme that lets homes and businesses export extra solar power to the grid for a bill credit. Here's exactly how it works, in plain words.
Sources: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) & Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA Malaysia)
Start here
What is ATAP, really?
ATAP stands for Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme. Strip away the acronym and it's simple: you put solar panels on your roof, you use that power in your own home or business first, and whatever you don't use gets sent to the TNB grid. In return, TNB gives you a credit on your bill for the power you exported.
It's Malaysia's current rooftop solar programme, run jointly by SEDA Malaysia and TNB - replacing the older NEM (Net Energy Metering) scheme, which stopped taking new applications on 30 June 2025.
!The one thing that's different from NEM
Every ATAP account has a monthly export cap called the MAQ (Maximum Allowable Quantity). Credit above that cap - or credit you simply don't use - is forfeited at the end of each billing month, rather than rolling over like it used to under NEM. Sizing your system to match your own usage matters more under ATAP than it used to.
The mechanism
How your bill credit is earned
Four things happen, in this order, every single day your system is switched on.
Generate
Your rooftop panels turn sunlight into electricity throughout daylight hours.
Use it first
Your home or business draws on that solar power immediately - it's always used before anything from the grid.
Export the extra
Whatever you don't use in the moment flows automatically into the TNB grid - no action needed from you.
Earn ATAP credit
You're credited for the power you exported, up to your monthly MAQ limit, and it comes off your next TNB bill.
Old vs. new
ATAP compared to the old NEM programme
If you looked into solar before and remember "NEM," here's exactly what changed.
| NEM Closed | ATAP Current | |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | Stopped taking new applicants 30 June 2025 | Open now, since 1 January 2026 |
| Unused export credit | Rolled over to future bills | Capped monthly by your MAQ - unused credit is forfeited |
| Contract length | No fixed end date | Fixed 10-year term |
| After the contract ends | N/A | Self-consumption only - no further export credit |
Eligibility
Who can apply, and how big can your system be?
Your category is decided by your TNB account type - the limits below come straight from SEDA and TNB.
Real MAQO installations across Peninsular Malaysia
Homes
Domestic accounts
- ≤ 5 kWSingle-phase supply - no technical study required at all.
- ≤ 15 kWThree-phase supply - needs a quick Connection Confirmation Check.
You must be a registered TNB account holder who hasn't previously joined SelCo or NEM. Multi-tenant accounts aren't eligible.
Businesses
Non-domestic accounts
- Up to 100%of your registered Maximum Demand, capped at 1,000 kW (1 MW).
- > 425 kWHigh-voltage systems need a full Power System Study, including fault-current analysis.
Smaller commercial systems typically need a lighter Connection Assessment Study instead of a full study.
Getting started
Applying for ATAP, step by step
You never deal with SEDA or TNB's paperwork directly - your installer does it for you.
Appoint an RPVSP
Engage a Registered Photovoltaic Service Provider - like Maqo - to assess your roof and design your system.
Install & commission
Your RPVSP installs the system and commissions it so it's ready to generate and export power.
Apply through eATAP
Your RPVSP submits your application on the eATAP online portal (atap.seda.gov.my) on your behalf.
Technical review
TNB confirms your connection - the depth of the check depends on your system size, as shown above.
Paying for it
Two ways to fund your system
Zero upfront cost
Solar lease (PPA)
Lease your system from a Registered Solar PV Investor and pay for the power you use, at a lower rate than TNB - no capital outlay, savings from day one.
Own it outright
Direct purchase
Buy your system with cash, a bank loan, or a credit card, and keep 100% of your ATAP credits and long-term savings.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What happened to NEM?
NEM (Net Energy Metering) stopped accepting new applications on 30 June 2025. ATAP is Malaysia's current rooftop solar programme, and the only one open to new applicants today.
I already have a NEM contract - does this affect me?
No. Existing NEM contracts continue running under their original terms. ATAP only applies to new applications from 1 January 2026 onward.
What exactly is the MAQ?
MAQ stands for Maximum Allowable Quantity - the maximum amount of exported solar power that can earn you a bill credit in a single billing month. Anything above that, or any credit you don't use, is forfeited at month-end rather than carried forward.
What happens when my 10-year ATAP contract ends?
Your system can keep running, but only to power your own home or business. Export credits stop - there's no roll-over or renewal of the export arrangement built in.
Do I need a technical study before I can apply?
Only if your system is larger than a small single-phase home. A ≤5kW single-phase home needs no study at all; three-phase homes need a quick check; larger and business systems need a deeper assessment, up to a full Power System Study above 425kW.
Ready to make ATAP work for your roof?
Maqo is a Registered PV Service Provider. We design your system, install it, and submit your entire eATAP application for you.