Solar Rakyat Sabah
Domestic NEM with export credits. Official limits are 5 kWac single-phase and 10 kWac three-phase, under a 20 MW quota through 30 June 2028 or until filled.
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Configure solarECoS programmes · Sabah
Solar Panel Sabah 2026: Solar Rakyat, SELCO-PV and Off-Grid
Sabah does not use TNB Solar ATAP. We first identify whether your property fits Solar Rakyat Sabah, SELCO-PV Sabah 2.0 or an off-grid design, then verify the bill and site before quoting. Local scheme applications are filed through our local partners.
✓ Solar Rakyat: domestic NEM
✓ SELCO: self-consumption, no export
✓ Off-grid: load and autonomy design
✓ No invented savings or package size
The programme depends on the property
SELCO-PV Sabah 2.0
Solar for self-consumption. Excess generation is not exported. BESS and an off-grid category are supported under the current ECoS framework.
Evidence before quotation
Supply type, bill history, daytime load, roof or site constraints and the selected programme determine capacity, equipment, savings and approval requirements.
Sabah Solar FAQ
Does Sabah use TNB Solar ATAP?
No. Sabah does not use TNB Solar ATAP. Properties on a Sabah Electricity account are assessed against Solar Rakyat Sabah, SELCO-PV Sabah 2.0, or an off-grid design instead.
What is Solar Rakyat Sabah?
Domestic net energy metering with export credits, capped at 5 kWac for single-phase and 10 kWac for three-phase supply, under a 20 MW quota running through 30 June 2028 or until filled.
What is SELCO-PV Sabah 2.0?
A self-consumption solar programme — excess generation is not exported. Battery energy storage (BESS) and an off-grid category are supported under the current ECoS framework.
How is my system sized before quotation?
Supply type, bill history, daytime load, and roof or site constraints are verified first. Capacity, equipment, savings, and approval requirements all follow from that evidence, not an assumed package.
Which solar programme fits your Sabah property?
Sabah has its own regulator, the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), and its own utility, Sabah Electricity (SESB). Peninsular schemes such as Solar ATAP and the SuRIA rebate do not apply here. A Sabah home or business usually fits one of three routes, and the right one depends on your SESB account, how much power you use in the day, and whether you want a battery.
| Programme | Who it suits | Export to grid | Size limit | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Rakyat Sabah | Homes on a domestic SESB account | Yes: exported energy is credited (net energy metering) | 5 kWac single-phase, 10 kWac three-phase | Not the purpose of the scheme |
| SELCO-PV Sabah 2.0 | Homes and businesses using the power themselves | No export: generation is for self-consumption | Domestic 5 / 10 kWac; non-domestic up to 85% of maximum demand | Allowed (BESS); sizing is based on 24-hour demand |
| Off-grid | Sites with no SESB supply: estates, homestays, island and interior sites | Not grid-connected | No capacity cap; ECoS application needed above 5 kWp | Required for night-time supply |
Solar Rakyat Sabah: rooftop solar that exports to SESB
Solar Rakyat Sabah is the domestic net energy metering programme. Energy your roof exports is credited against what you draw from SESB. Systems are capped at 5 kWac on single-phase supply and 10 kWac on three-phase supply. The programme runs on a 20 MW quota until 30 June 2028 or until the quota is used, on a first-come, first-served basis. ECoS publishes the remaining quota on its live quota dashboard.
If you searched for “Solar ATAP Sabah”: Solar ATAP is a Peninsular TNB programme. In Sabah, Solar Rakyat Sabah is the scheme that does the same job.
SELCO-PV Sabah 2.0: self-consumption, with batteries allowed
SELCO-PV Sabah 2.0 took effect on 1 March 2026. The system powers your own load and does not export. It is the Sabah route for a grid-connected system with a battery. When a battery is included, the system is sized on your 24-hour demand. Homes are limited to 5 kWac single-phase or 10 kWac three-phase. Businesses can install up to 85% of their maximum demand. Approval to install (SATI) is needed before work starts, and approval to operate (SATO) before the system is switched on. Larger systems, above 24 kWac single-phase or 72 kWac three-phase, also need a licence. See solar battery storage for battery options.
Off-grid solar in Sabah
For estates, homestays, island resorts and interior sites without SESB supply, an off-grid system is sized from the actual load, the days of battery autonomy you need, and how equipment reaches the site. Off-grid systems above 5 kWp need an ECoS application by a contractor registered for off-grid work. More on off-grid solar in Sabah.
Commercial and factory solar in Sabah
Sabah businesses usually go solar under SELCO-PV Sabah 2.0, sized up to 85% of the site's maximum demand, with battery storage as an option. Companies that own the system may claim the federal Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA): 60% of qualifying capital expenditure, for systems commissioned and submitted to MGTC by 31 December 2026, subject to MGTC verification. Every commercial quote shows cash and hire-purchase options. See commercial solar.
Sabah solar price
East Malaysia systems start from RM29,499 for a 5.58 kWp system. The final size and price come from your own SESB bill and supply type, not a generic package. No Sabah rebate is deducted from this price.
Who files and installs in Sabah
Sabah applications must be filed by an ECoS-registered Electrical Contractor Class PV: grid-connected for Solar Rakyat and SELCO-PV, off-grid for off-grid systems. Since January 2025, ECoS recognises only its own competency certificates. Trexon sizes, designs and prices your system, and our local partners file the application and install it.
What to send us
- Your latest SESB bill, ideally with the two before it
- Whether your supply is single-phase or three-phase
- Your town or district in Sabah
- Whether you want a battery now or later