Self-consumption solar for large industrial and commercial consumers above 1MW demand. No export to grid. Full GITA tax benefits.
SARE (Self-consumption for Appointed Retailer and Exporter) is a Malaysian Energy Commission programme that enables large electricity consumers to install rooftop or ground-mounted solar PV systems purely for on-site self-consumption. Unlike NEM, there is no grid export — all generated electricity is consumed within your own premises.
SARE is separate from Solar ATAP (which targets residential and small commercial users below 72kW) and is designed specifically for heavy industry, manufacturing, and large commercial operations that need megawatt-scale solar solutions.
Designed for large MV/HV tariff consumers
100% self-consumption, no grid export allowed
100% investment tax allowance on capex
To participate in SARE, your business must meet the following criteria set by the Energy Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Tenaga).
SARE operates entirely behind the meter. Your solar system feeds electricity directly into your facility's internal distribution network, reducing the amount you draw from TNB. Any deficit is topped up from the grid as usual.
Rooftop or carpark canopy solar installed behind your TNB meter. System size matched to your daytime load profile.
Solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours. Power flows directly to your machinery, HVAC, and lighting.
All generated electricity is consumed within your facility. Export prevention relay or zero-export controller is fitted.
Your TNB meter records lower import. Maximum demand charges and energy charges both decrease.
| Feature | SARE | Solar ATAP | NEM 3.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Consumer | Industrial (>1MW demand) | Residential & SME | Residential & Commercial |
| Minimum System Size | Typically 500kWp+ | No minimum | No minimum |
| Maximum System Size | No cap (matched to load) | 72kWp | 1MWp |
| Export to Grid | Not allowed (zero-export) | Not applicable | Yes, at displaced cost |
| Tariff Category | E1, E2, E3 | B, C1, D | B, C1, D, E |
| GITA Tax Incentive | Yes | GIAT (individual) | Not directly |
| Application Body | Energy Commission | Energy Commission / SEDA | SEDA Malaysia |
| Best For | Factories, data centres, malls | Homes, shops, schools | Those with consistent export surplus |
SARE delivers compelling financial and operational advantages for heavy industry and large commercial operations in Malaysia.
No dependency on government FiT or NEM rates. Your savings come directly from displaced grid electricity, which is immune to policy changes.
With zero-export control, your monthly savings closely track your solar yield — highly predictable for financial modelling and investor reporting.
Claim 100% investment tax allowance (ITA) on solar capex under GITA, offsetting up to 70% of statutory income annually.
Solar generation during peak demand periods directly reduces your maximum demand (MD) recorded by TNB, cutting a major cost component.
On-site generation reduces your Scope 2 emissions (market-based). Valuable for sustainability reporting, TCFD, and customer ESG requirements.
Unlike virtual PPAs or REC purchases, SARE provides genuine physical on-site generation — the most credible form of renewable energy for ESG.
SARE stands for Self-consumption for Appointed Retailer and Exporter. It is a government-facilitated programme under the Energy Commission of Malaysia that allows large electricity consumers to install solar PV systems for on-site self-consumption without participating in NEM (Net Energy Metering) export.
Consumers must have a maximum demand exceeding 1MW (1,000 kW) as billed under TNB Medium Voltage (MV) or High Voltage (HV) tariffs — E1, E2, or E3. Consumers below this threshold should consider Solar ATAP or NEM instead.
No. SARE is a pure self-consumption programme. All solar generation must be consumed on-site behind the meter. There is no provision to export surplus electricity to the grid under SARE. This differentiates it fundamentally from NEM and SELCO programmes.
SARE-eligible solar installations qualify for GITA (Green Investment Tax Allowance) — a 100% investment tax allowance on capital expenditure that can be set off against 70% of statutory income. This significantly improves the financial return for industrial investors.
The SARE application process, including Energy Commission registration and TNB notification, typically takes 3 to 6 months. Trexon manages the full application process for qualified clients as part of our B2B turnkey service.
SARE systems are installed behind the existing utility meter. A sub-meter or generation meter is required for monitoring and Energy Commission reporting purposes. The primary TNB billing meter continues to record net consumption normally.
Our B2B team handles the full Energy Commission registration, site assessment, and turnkey installation for SARE-eligible industrial clients.
Side-by-side comparison of SARE and NEM for large commercial consumers
How to claim 100% investment tax allowance on your industrial solar system
How to model payback periods for factory and data centre solar installations
Tell us about your property and we'll guide you through SARE application.
Fill in your details and our B2B team will contact you within 15 minutes
🛡️ 14-day satisfaction guarantee • Your data is secure