Solar Panel Installation Malaysia: Step-by-Step Guide

Rent-to-Own Solar

Solar Installation Malaysia

Solar Installer

Simon

July 13, 2026

[Updated, July 2026]

A solar panel installation in Malaysia takes 4–8 weeks from site visit to a live, TNB-approved system, and typically costs RM18,000–RM35,000 for a landed home, or RM0 upfront on a Rent-to-Own plan. Getting there properly comes down to three things: a SEDA-registered installer who's accountable for the work, a system sized to your actual usage rather than your maximum roof space, and a Solar ATAP application filed correctly from day one.

This step-by-step article covers everything from choosing the right solar panels to understanding the post-installation processes, including the financial benefits.

Key Takeaway: Vet your installer's SEDA registration before comparing prices, size your system to your actual TNB usage rather than your roof's maximum capacity, and confirm your Solar ATAP application is filed correctly at commissioning. A well-sized 5–10 kWp system on a landed home typically costs RM18,000–RM35,000 fully installed (or RM0 upfront via Rent-to-Own) and pays back within 5–8 years.

Step 1: Finding Solar Panel Installers In Malaysia

1. Research And Compile A List Of Installers

Looking for solar installers can be daunting with the abundance of options. A good starting point is checking the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) of Malaysia's registered PV service provider directory. SEDA registration confirms that the installer physically doing the work meets the required technical and safety standards.

2. Assessing Installer Credentials: Track Record And Certifications

Ensure whoever is carrying out your installation holds current certification from SEDA or the Energy Commission of Malaysia. This guarantees they possess the necessary technical expertise.

Companies will typically showcase past projects and customer testimonials on their website. Although this content is cherry-picked for marketing purposes, it still gives a useful gauge of how credible a company is. Social media accounts and Google reviews are good additional sources for project reviews.

3. Quality Checks And Tailored Solutions

When selecting a company, prioritise one that customises its price plans and solutions to fit your specific needs (e.g., electricity consumption, roof space, and budget).

Additionally, ask about the products being used, especially the solar panels and inverters. Reputable suppliers will use high-quality, Tier-1 solar products to ensure reliability and performance.

Note that "Tier-1" is a bankability classification from BloombergNEF, not a quality rating on its own, so ask what brand and specification you're actually getting.

4. After-Sales Support

After-sales support is an important yet often overlooked factor when choosing solar installers.

Ask about maintenance and warranty details to keep your system running smoothly throughout its lifespan. This tells you whether the company will stay responsive once the panels are up. If you're unsure what a fair warranty should cover, our guide to solar panel warranties in Malaysia breaks down what to check for before signing.

5. Request Quotes And Compare

After you've obtained multiple quotes from various suppliers, compare them to see which one suits your needs best. Don't base your decision on price alone; consider the overall benefits each installer offers to get the most out of your solar panels.

Step 2: Choosing The Right Solar Panel

Monocrystalline Solar Panels: The Premium Choice

Monocrystalline Solar Panels stand out for their efficiency and longevity. Made from single-crystal silicon, they excel at converting sunlight into electricity more effectively than other panels types, making them a strong fit for homes in tropical regions with abundant sunlight.

Before you settle on a panel choice, it’s worth doing a quick check on whether your roof is ready to go solar. Your installer will usually run through this with you, but knowing what to expect beforehand helps you ask the right questions.

How Many Kilowatts (kW) Do I Need?

Determining the right kilowatt (kW) capacity for your system comes down to two factors: your household's energy usage and the roof space available for solar panels. Fully utilising your roof's potential to accommodate an appropriately sized system boost your savings, and selecting high-quality panels ensures sunlight is converted to electricity as efficiently as possible. For real RM figures by system size and house type, see our 2026 solar panel cost guide for Malaysia.

Concerned About High Upfront Cost For Solar Panels?

GetSolar installs solar panels for zero upfront cost through our Rent-to-Own Solar plan (RTO), available now for homeowners in Malaysia.

What that means is that you'll be able to pay off your system in monthly instalments, while enjoying instant monthly savings and a performance guarantee.

Get in touch with our team via WhatsApp or our free solar calculator to see what an RTO plan looks like for your home.

Step 3: Site Assessment

A professional site assessment is the next step. Professionals evaluate the best installation spots on your property, taking into account roof condition, shading, and orientation, to maximise energy generation. This is also when your electrical supply (60A, 100A, or three-phase) is checked to confirm it can support the proposed system size.

Step 4: Solar System Installation Process

1. Safety Measures And Pre-Installation Checks

On installation day, the team sets up safety measures such as barricades and warning signs to keep the site secure, and brings in scaffolding for hard-to-reach roofs.

First, they inspect your roof's structural integrity to confirm it can bear the weight of the panels. If they find any issues, they handle repairs or reinforcements before installation continues.

2. Solar Panel Installation

With the initial checks out of the way, the team installs the racking system, which forms the foundation for the panels.

The installation method varies by roof type: tiled roofs need temporary tile removal, while metal roofs use a clamp-on approach without penetration. Installers may also recommend waterproofing to guard against potential leaks.

Find out more on the suitability of roof types here!

3. Wiring & Inverter Setup

Once the panels are installed, the team wires the system together and set up the inverter, which converts solar energy into usable electricity. Installers typically place the inverter indoors to maintain a stable Wi-Fi connection and optimal performance.

4. Inspection And Testing

Licensed professionals carry out a final inspection and electrical test to confirm the system meets safety and quality standards and functions as expected.

Step 5: Post-Installation Process

After installation, your solar PV system undergoes a thorough inspection by our professional team. Your installer then submits the Solar ATAP application to TNB and SEDA on your behalf. TNB installs a bi-directional meter, and your system goes live once the application is approved.

Types Of Financial Incentives For Solar In Malaysia

How Is The Government Supporting Solar Energy Adoption?

Malaysia's commitment to a greener future is evident through its National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). The country surpassed its 2025 renewable energy target, reaching 32% of installed capacity, and is now working toward 40% by 2035 and 70% by 2050.

The Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme has been replaced by the Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme (Solar ATAP), which runs without a fixed national quota. Under Solar ATAP, domestic customers export surplus solar energy at a retail-linked rate of roughly RM0.27–RM0.37/kWh, depending on consumption tier, rather than NEM's old 1-to-1 offset.

If you're eligible, the government's SuRIA Home rebate also pays RM600 per kWac installed, capped at RM3,000, on top of Solar ATAP.

Factor	String Inverter	Microinverter
Roof Type	Best for simple, uniform roofs with consistent sun exposure.	Best for complex roofs with multiple angles or those that experience partial shading.
Performance & Efficiency	System efficiency can drop significantly if even one panel underperforms.	Panels operate independently, maintaining high efficiency even if individual panels are shaded.
Installation & Maintenance	Easier and quicker installation; usually wall-mounted for simple access.	More complex installation (on the roof) and can be harder to access for repairs.
Cost	More affordable upfront with a lower initial investment.	Higher initial investment, though often offset by longer warranties.
Scalability	Challenging to add new panels later as the inverter has a fixed capacity.	Simple to expand; you can easily add new panels and inverters as needed.

Solar ATAP applications are open with no fixed quota, though the separate SuRIA Home rebate is first-come, first-served until it's exhausted or 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.

Incentive	Who It's For
Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA)	Businesses purchasing approved green technology assets featured in the MyHIJAU Directory, or undertaking eligible green technology projects. Extended to 31 Dec 2026
Green Investment Tax Exemption (GITE)	Green technology service providers listed in the MyHIJAU Directory, including solar leasing. Extended to 31 Dec 2026

More information can be found here: Green Investment Tax Allowance & Green Income Tax Exemption

How Much Can I Save From Self-Consuming And Exporting Solar Energy?

Here's a breakdown for a domestic tariff, 6 kWp system, at an estimated upfront cost of RM24,000.

With TNB's current RP4 tariff structure, a household consuming around 890 kWh a month can expect its bill to fall sharply once solar covers daytime usage first, before any surplus is exported under Solar ATAP. We’ve a comprehensive TNB bill calculator to help you estimate what your monthly TNB bill looks like based on your house type, energy usage, and how much solar can help you save.

For this system size, GetSolar's Rent-to-Own plan starts from RM250/month, with estimated monthly savings of around RM250, meaning the plan is close to bill-neutral from day one. On an outright purchase at RM24,000, most homes in this range see payback within roughly 6–8 years.

The biggest saving comes from self-consumption (avoiding the TNB rate entirely on power you use as it's generated), with export credits as a secondary benefit rather than the main driver, a shift from how NEM used to work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still apply if I missed NEM 3.0? Yes. Solar ATAP has no fixed national quota, so there's no waitlist to get stuck behind the way there was under NEM.

How long does installation actually take? From site visit to a live, TNB-approved system, expect 4–8 weeks, largely dependent on TNB's meter installation schedule.

Does a bigger system always mean bigger savings? Not under Solar ATAP. Export credits reset monthly, so oversizing beyond your actual usage means surplus generation goes unused. Sizing to your TNB bill, not your roof's maximum capacity, is what determines real payback.

Is a battery necessary? Not by default. It adds RM12,000–RM30,000 to your system cost and only pays off for homes with heavy night-time usage or frequent outages.

Getting Started WithGetSolar In Malaysia

As we wrap up our comprehensive guide to solar panel installation in Malaysia, featuring a step-by-step walkthrough and a cost and savings breakdown, the path to a lower electricity bill becomes increasingly clear. For a deeper look at solar's overall state in Malaysia, including eligibility and the end-to-end process, see our complete guide to solar energy in Malaysia.

Ready to see what your roof could save? Use our free solar calculator for a personalised estimate, or chat with our solar advisors on WhatsApp for a no-obligation assessment.

Here's to a brighter, greener future for all.

Visit getsolar.ai/en-my or chat with the team on WhatsApp whenever you're ready.