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Inclusive Solar Access: Why Community Energy Models Matter
Malaysia’s energy transition is no longer defined solely by technology or capacity targets. Increasingly, it is also about who gets to participate.
The introduction of SolarRIS under Budget 2024 marked a meaningful shift in how solar access is approached. As highlighted by The Star in April 2024, the programme allows households, particularly B40 and M40 groups to benefit from solar energy without needing to install panels on their own rooftops.
This represented a turning point. Solar was no longer tied strictly to asset ownership or roof availability but to shared access and collective participation.
At SimpliSolar, SolarRIS may not be our primary deployment model but its underlying intent strongly aligns with what we stand for: energy equity, decentralised access and shared progress.
As Malaysia reflects on the SolarRIS initiative one year on, the lesson is clear. Community-based solar models complement traditional rooftop and commercial deployments by widening participation and strengthening public support for clean energy. They remind us that the energy transition is not about competing models but about building momentum across multiple pathways.
For SimpliSolar, this reinforces our commitment to designing and delivering energy systems that are:
- Technically sound
- Financially viable
- Accessible to a broader segment of users navigating rising energy costs
Whether through rooftops, car parks, industrial sites or community-based models, the future of solar lies in inclusion as much as innovation.
Malaysia’s clean energy journey will be measured not only by megawatts installed but by how widely the benefits are shared.
👉 Read our full reflection on SolarRIS and inclusive solar access in our LinkedIn post below:
