Solar Panel Sarawak 2026 — Kuching, Miri, Sibu: Prices & Installation Guide
Key Takeaways
- • Trexon sizes Sarawak systems on 3.5 peak sun hours/day, the same planning basis used in the Peninsula, so the difference in return comes from the scheme and tariff, not the sunshine.
- • Sarawak uses Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), not TNB — NEM Sarawak applies, not Peninsula's Solar ATAP scheme.
- • NEM Sarawak caps a domestic system at 10 kWac single phase and 30 kWac three phase, sized off your last three months' consumption.
- • Eligible landed homes can claim a Sarawak Energy subsidy of RM8,000–RM12,000, paid into your own bank account.
- • GITA 60% tax allowance applies for Sarawak factories and commercial properties.
- • Green bank loans are available to Sarawak residents over tenures up to 10 years.
Sarawak — the Land of the Hornbills — has a solar resource comparable to the Peninsula, but a different scheme and a lower tariff. With a unique electricity grid (Sarawak Energy Berhad / SEB), and competitive electricity rates, going solar in Kuching, Miri, Sibu, or Bintulu in 2026 can deliver a worthwhile return.
This guide covers everything you need to know: why Sarawak's conditions are uniquely suited to solar, the critical differences between NEM Sarawak and Peninsula's Solar ATAP scheme, 2026 pricing data, available financing options, and how local installation works through our Sarawak partners.
Why Sarawak Works for Solar
Most Malaysians assume Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru get the most sun. In reality, Malaysia has a good, fairly even solar resource, and Kuching and Miri are no exception. Trexon plans every site on the same basis:
Planning Basis Comparison — Malaysia 2026
| City | Peak Sun Hours/Day (planning basis) | Grid | Solar Programme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuching, Sarawak | 3.5 hrs | SEB / SESCO | NEM Sarawak |
| Miri, Sarawak | 3.5 hrs | SEB / SESCO | NEM Sarawak |
| Johor Bahru | 3.5 hrs | TNB | Solar ATAP |
| Kuala Lumpur | 3.5 hrs | TNB | Solar ATAP |
| Penang | 3.5 hrs | TNB | Solar ATAP |
Trexon plans every site at the same 3.5 peak sun hours/day. SESCO and TNB tariffs differ by consumption band, so we read your rate off your own bill instead of publishing one headline figure.
At 3.5 sun hours/day a standard 8kWp system in Kuching generates approximately 840 kWh per month, the same planning figure as in Kuala Lumpur. What differs in Sarawak is the scheme (NEM Sarawak and the Sarawak Energy subsidy) and the SESCO tariff, so we work out your payback from your own bill.
NEM Sarawak vs Peninsula Solar ATAP — Key Differences
One of the most critical things to understand about solar in Sarawak is that it operates under a completely different grid and regulatory framework from Peninsular Malaysia. Here is what you need to know:
| Factor | NEM Sarawak (SEB) | Solar ATAP (TNB Peninsula) |
|---|---|---|
| Grid Operator | Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) | Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) |
| Regulator | Sarawak Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU) | SEDA / Suruhanjaya Tenaga |
| Inverter Capacity Cap | 10 kWac single phase / 30 kWac three phase | 5 kWac single phase / 15 kWac three phase |
| Installer Requirement | SESCO Registered Contractor + EIU-certified personnel | SEDA RPVSP only |
| Application Process | Your contractor submits to Sarawak Energy | Through TNB myNEM portal |
| State Subsidy | RM8,000–RM12,000 by inverter band, paid to you | Not applicable |
Key warning: If you hire a Peninsula-based installer who only holds SEDA RPVSP registration, your NEM Sarawak application will be rejected. Sarawak licenses through its own Electrical Inspectorate Unit — always verify your installer is a SESCO Registered Contractor with EIU-certified wiremen, an EIU GCPV designer and an EIU Chargeman L4.
Harga Solar Panel Sarawak 2026
We do not publish a Sarawak price ladder, and you should be sceptical of any installer who does. A turnkey system in East Malaysia costs materially more than the same system in the Peninsula — shipping, mobilisation, travel and Sarawak licensing admin all land on the job, and they barely shrink as the system gets smaller. Our East Malaysia systems therefore start at RM29,499, and everything above that is quoted from your own Sarawak Energy bills rather than from a table.
What actually sets your price and your system size
- • Your last three months of consumption. Under NEM Sarawak the proposed system must generate no more than 75% of your previous three months’ average consumption — not 75% of your connected capacity. Without the bills there is no defensible system size.
- • Your supply phase. Sarawak Energy caps a domestic installation at 10 kWac on single phase and 30 kWac on three phase, with 50 kWac the maximum for an individual system.
- • The Sarawak Energy subsidy band. RM8,000 for 2–3.5 kWac, RM10,000 for above 3.5–6 kWac, RM12,000 for above 6–50 kWac. You pay us the full price, file the subsidy form yourself within 7 days of signing the NEM contract, and Sarawak Energy pays you directly into your own bank account. It is never a discount on our invoice.
- • The PV meter fee. RM500 on single phase or RM1,000 on three phase, paid by you to Sarawak Energy, not to us. It is not in our price and we will show it on your quotation.
- • Eligibility and quota. Domestic tariff, landed property, no existing solar and no previous subsidy claim. One subsidy per Sarawak Energy contract account owner, NEM contract signed by 31 December 2026, and the programme runs first-come first-served against a 10 MW allocation.
We also do not publish a Sarawak savings or payback figure. Sarawak Energy has not published how unused export credit is treated, and we will not model a number on a rule that is not in writing. Send us your bills and we will show you the arithmetic we can actually stand behind.
Main Sarawak Cities Covered Through Our Local Partners
Kuching
Sarawak's capital and largest city. Typical residential system: 8–10 kWp. Trexon is a Peninsular RPVSP, so Sarawak installations, including the NEM Sarawak application, are delivered with local partners.
Miri
Sarawak's second city and Malaysia's oil capital. Miri is planned on the same 3.5 peak sun hours per day. Popular with both residential homeowners and SME commercial businesses in the energy sector. We work with registered local partners covering Miri, including Piasau, Permyjaya and Marina.
Sibu
The commercial hub of Central Sarawak. Sibu is particularly strong for commercial solar installations — shophouses, factories, and warehouses along the Rajang River corridor. GITA tax incentive is especially relevant for Sibu's manufacturing base.
Bintulu
Home to Malaysia's LNG complex and heavy industry. Large-scale commercial and industrial solar installations (100 kWp and above) with excellent ROI due to high energy consumption. We work with registered local partners for sites in Bintulu, including the BIDA, Tanjung Kidurong and Kemena industrial areas.
Kota Samarahan
University town adjacent to Kuching with rapidly growing residential areas. Popular for 6–8 kWp residential systems among UNIMAS and government staff housing.
GITA Tax Incentive for Sarawak Businesses
The Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA) is one of the most powerful incentives available to Sarawak businesses in 2026. Under GITA Asset (administered by MGTC), companies can claim an allowance of 60% of qualifying solar capital expenditure, set off against up to 70% of statutory income each year. The system must be commissioned and submitted to MGTC by 31 December 2026, subject to MGTC verification.
For a factory in Kuching that invests RM300,000 in solar, the GITA allowance is RM180,000 — worth up to RM43,200 in tax at the 24% corporate rate (less for SMEs on lower rates), claimed over the years it takes to absorb the allowance.
For rural properties in interior Sarawak — including longhouses, plantation estates, and remote industrial sites — where SEB grid access is limited or unavailable, our off-grid solar for Sabah & Sarawak solutions provide full energy independence with battery backup.
How to Finance Your Sarawak Solar System
Option 1: Bank Loan (Your Own Bank)
Note on EPF (KWSP): Solar panels are not currently on KWSP's approved home improvement withdrawal list, so Account 2 withdrawals cannot be used to pay for a residential solar installation. Instead, Sarawak residents can apply for a green bank loan such as Maybank Solar PV Financing (up to RM100,000, up to 10 years, floating rate; check the current terms of each bank). Ask your bank for its current terms.
Option 2: Islamic Financing
Some banks offer Islamic green financing. Ask your bank whether it covers a residential solar system, and for its current terms.
Option 3: Cash / Credit Card Instalment (0% EPP)
For those with sufficient savings or a credit card with instalment plans, 0% easy payment plan (EPP) options of up to 24 months are available through participating banks.
Ready to Go Solar in Sarawak?
Trexon Energy delivers Sarawak installations through SESCO Registered Contractors with EIU-certified personnel. Book the RM100 site visit and personalized quote for your Kuching, Miri, Sibu, or Bintulu property; the full RM100 is credited when you proceed.