Should You Get Solar Batteries in 2026?

solar atap

solar battery

solar panels

Simon

February 20, 2026

Key Takeaway:

Under Solar ATAP, the grid acts as your "free" battery, making physical ones an unnecessary RM30k expense. Solar panels can ensure your system pays for itself within a decade. Only consider a battery after your ATAP tenure is complete and tech prices drop.

The shift from NEM 3.0 to Solar ATAP (the Accelerated Transition Action Programme) in 2026 has fundamentally changed the math for Malaysian homeowners. When we say "the sun pays your bills," we mean it literally.

To learn more about Solar ATAP and how it compares to the now-obsolete NEM 3.0, check out our dedicated article here.

While the idea of being "off-grid" with solar battery sounds futuristic and empowering, the financial reality tells a very different story.

If you’re wondering whether to add a battery to your setup right now, here's a clear breakdown of why sticking to a pure solar panel system is currently the smartest move for your wallet.

1. The Grid Is Your "Free" Battery

Under the Solar ATAP scheme, the grid essentially acts as a massive, maintenance-free battery. When your panels produce excess energy during the blistering Malaysian afternoons, that energy is fed back into the grid and offsets your electricity bill.

Because Solar ATAP offers such favourable terms over its 10-year validity period, buying a physical battery is like paying for a storage unit when you already have a free warehouse next door.

2. The Price Tag of Solar Batteries

A high-quality solar battery setup typically costs between RM 20,000 to RM 30,000. To put that in perspective, a standard solar system costs roughly RM 10,000–RM 12,000 per kilowatt.

Adding a battery effectively doubles your initial investment.

Without a battery: Your system pays for itself in roughly 10 years through electricity savings.
With a battery: Your payback period (ROI) stretches to nearly 20 years.

In practical terms, doubling your wait time for the same outcome is rarely a smart financial move.

3. The 10-Year Lifespan Mismatch

Most solar batteries come with a 10-year warranty because that's the realistic limit of their chemical life cycle. Coincidentally, the Solar ATAP scheme also runs for 10 years.

If you buy a battery now, you’re likely to be replacing it just as the ATAP scheme ends. A more economical strategy is to use Solar ATAP to let your savings fully pay for your panels over that decade, effectively getting your system "paid off" first.

Once the tenure is over and battery technology becomes cheaper and more efficient, that is the better time to consider an upgrade.

4. Safety and Maintenance: Less is More

Batteries are complex chemical components. They require specific environmental conditions to stay cool, safe, and reliable over time. Adding a battery also means adding worrying about more systems that needs monitoring and potential maintenance.

On the other hand, our solar panel systems come with 5 years of free maintenance, helping ensure your energy production stays hassle-free from day one.

On top of that, solar panels are built to last for 20-25 years, which comfortably outlasts the lifespan of typical solar batteries by almost a decade.

We're not "anti-battery" but we're definitely pro-savings. Batteries will eventually become standard, but right now, paired with the Solar ATAP scheme, they simply don't make financial sense for the average Malaysian household.

Are Solar Batteries Still Viable in 2026?

The recommendation is straightforward: stick with the panels and reap the rewards of Solar ATAP.

Forgoing a solar battery today ensures that the money you save on electricity actually stays in your pocket rather than being locked into hardware that won't see a return for nearly two decades.

Think of Solar ATAP as a 10-year window to let your system pay for itself. Once that tenure is up and battery technology matures further, that is the time to upgrade.

Until then, let the grid do the heavy lifting for you.