Build your solar plan — no payment until you approve
Configure solarThe complete 2026 guide for Malaysian condo and apartment owners. Strata title rules, JMB approval strategy, community solar ROI, balcony panel options, and what to do if your building won’t budge.
The core issue: you don’t own your roof. In a strata property, the rooftop, corridors, lifts, car park, and shared walls are common property owned collectively by all unit owners. No individual can modify them unilaterally.
This is the governing law. Key provisions for solar installation:
Not all routes are equal. Your best option depends on your committee’s receptiveness, your budget, and your ambition.
The best option by far. The JMB or MC applies for Solar ATAP as the account holder. Solar powers lifts, corridor lighting, pool pumps, and other common area loads. Savings flow directly into the sinking fund, reducing maintenance fees for all residents.
Feasibility: High if committee is progressive
A well-prepared proposal dramatically increases your chances. Follow these steps to build an unrejectable case.
Request a copy of the House Rules and Management By-Laws from your JMB/MC office. Look for any clauses about rooftop modifications, solar panels, or renewable energy. Some progressive buildings already have approval frameworks.
Numbers win committees. Prepare a cost-benefit analysis showing:
A credible quote from a licensed installer (like Trexon Energy) gives your proposal professional credibility. Include site survey results, proposed system size, panel and inverter brands, warranty terms, and projected annual kWh generation.
Request to add the solar proposal as an agenda item at the next Annual General Meeting. Present your cost-benefit analysis clearly. Bring visual aids — before/after electricity bills, payback period charts, and testimonials from other Malaysian condos that have done it.
Under the Strata Management Act 2013, modifications to common property require a special resolution. This means 75% of votes cast at a general meeting with at least 25% of total owners present. Lobby key opinion leaders in your building beforehand.
Once approved, the JMB registers the TNB account under the building’s name and applies for the Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme through a SEDA-registered installer. The application process is the same as a landed property, but the account holder is the JMB, not an individual.
"I propose that the Management Corporation engage a SEDA-registered solar energy contractor to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of a grid-connected photovoltaic solar system on the rooftop of [Building Name], for the purpose of reducing common area electricity costs and improving the environmental sustainability of our development. The estimated system size is [X] kW with a projected payback period of [Y] years and annual savings of RM [Z]."
When the whole building goes solar, everybody wins. Here’s how the economics work — and why the numbers are compelling.
JMB gets a site survey — a SEDA-registered installer assesses available rooftop space, shading, and TNB connection point
System is designed and installed — typically 20-100kW for a medium condo block. Connected to the building’s common area meter
Solar powers common areas — lifts, corridor lighting, swimming pool pump, lobby air-con, car park lighting
Excess sold back to grid — under Solar ATAP NEM, surplus units exported to TNB at current Displaced Cost rate
Savings reduce maintenance fees — annual savings split across all units, typically RM 20-60 per unit per month
Example: 200-unit condo, 50kW rooftop system
| System cost (50kW) | RM 120,000 - 150,000 |
| Annual common area electricity savings | RM 18,000 - 24,000 |
| Simple payback period | 6-8 years |
| Savings per unit per month | RM 7-10 off maintenance fee |
| System lifetime (panels) | 25 years |
| Total 25-year net savings | RM 300,000 - 450,000 |
Solaris Dutamas, KL — Rooftop solar installed for common areas. Regularly cited as a model for green condominium management in Malaysia.
Several Setia developments — SP Setia has incorporated solar in multiple high-rise residential projects as standard specification since 2023.
Government-linked condos (PPR) — Several Perumahan Penjawat Awam Malaysia (PPAM) projects now include solar as part of sustainability mandates.
No approval needed. No contractor required. Order online, set up yourself, and start saving from day one. Here’s what’s actually available in Malaysia right now.
You place a foldable or frameless panel (200-400W) on your balcony floor, railing, or mount it on the wall (check your by-laws for wall mounting)
A small plug-in micro inverter converts DC solar power to AC household current
You plug it into your wall socket — the generated electricity reduces what you draw from the grid
No Solar ATAP required, no TNB application, no rewiring — just plug and generate
Foldable ETFE panels, 400W peak. Available on Shopee from Chinese brands (Renogy, Dokio). Price: RM 600-1,200. Best for horizontal balcony placement.
2x 400W panels + Hoymiles HM-800 micro inverter. The most popular balcony solar setup in Malaysia. Full kit: RM 1,800-2,500. Generates 60-100 kWh/month.
Semi-transparent thin-film panels that double as window tinting. Generates 80-150W per panel. Available from selected solar retailers. Price: RM 800-1,500 per panel.
An 800W balcony system saves roughly RM 50-80/month on your personal TNB bill. At RM 2,000-2,500 investment, payback in 2.5-4 years.
The easiest way to get solar in a condo is to buy one that already has it. This is a fast-growing trend in Malaysia’s property market.
Developer-installed solar is becoming a standard feature in new high-rise developments, driven by:
System size relative to common area load — A 50-unit boutique condo with 20kW solar is better than a 500-unit block with the same system
EV charging provision — Are there solar-integrated EV charging bays in the car park?
Battery storage inclusion — Some premium developments include battery storage for evening usage
Transparency about savings — Ask the developer for historical common area electricity bills and projected savings
Green Building Index (GBI) — Malaysia’s home-grown rating system
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies)
MyHIJAU — Malaysia’s green recognition mark
If your condo cannot install solar, you can still financially participate in Malaysia’s solar revolution — without owning a single panel.
TNB’s Green Energy Tariff lets you pay a small premium on your monthly bill to guarantee your electricity comes from renewable sources (mostly large solar farms). It’s not solar ownership, but it achieves the same environmental outcome. No installation required.
Emerging in Malaysia: private operators build utility-scale solar farms and sell subscription units to the public. You “own” a portion of a large solar farm and receive credits on your electricity bill proportional to your subscription size. Companies like Cypark, Solarvest, and new fintech-solar hybrids are pioneering this model.
Invest in solar through the stock market. Several Malaysian REITs and infrastructure trusts hold solar plant assets. YTL Power and Malakoff have significant solar in their portfolios. As the sector matures, dedicated solar REITs similar to those in the US and Singapore are expected to list on Bursa Malaysia.
In Singapore and Australia, peer-to-peer energy trading lets individuals buy solar energy directly from neighbours. Malaysia’s Energy Commission is studying this model. When implemented, condo residents could buy solar credits from nearby landed homeowners who have excess solar generation.
| Option | Approval Needed | Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community solar (JMB) | 75% AGM vote | RM 50K-200K (building) | RM 5-15/unit/month |
| Individual rooftop | JMB written approval | RM 20K-40K | RM 200-400/month |
| Balcony solar (800W) | None required | RM 1,800-2,500 | RM 50-80/month |
| Green Energy Tariff | None | Small premium on TNB bill | Environmental only |
| Solar REIT / investment | None | Any amount (stock market) | Dividend yield 4-7% |
For landed property owners, solar is one of Malaysia’s best investments in 2026. Use our calculator to get a personalised estimate based on your electricity bill, home size, and location.
SEDA-registered installer • RM100 priority site visit (fully credited when you proceed) • Serving Klang Valley, Selangor, KL, Penang & Johor