The solar industry has seen a vast uptake of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across the globe in recent years to help reduce environmental impacts and increase the number of houses and businesses to facilitate their daily functions via renewable energy. In Malaysia specifically, the last 20 years have seen the development of the solar PV industry spearheaded by the Malaysian Photovoltaic Industry Association (MPIA). MPIA’s role engages with the energy ministry, regulators, and authorities to champion the development of the solar PV industry and expand its operations for a more sustainable future.
In 2006, the Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaic (MBIPV) Project, made up of the United National Development Program (UNDP) and the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication (KTAK), funded a seed grant which established MPIA. The project was crucial to driving both energy efficient and renewable energy initiatives, with the mission to reform and democratize the electricity supply industry in every aspect from generation to transmission and distribution. MPIA’s operations work with key governmental figures to make solar PV prices competitive, reliable, and sustainable to ensure their efficiency as an energy source for the country. It is MPIA’s main vision to create a climate of renewable energy availability, where everyone can reliably generate their electricity via solar PV systems to remove reliance on fossil fuels and reduce the daily running cost of electricity for people across Malaysia.
To achieve this mission, MPIA brings together key players across Malaysia’s photovoltaic industry to promote the distribution, education, and regulation of the industry. When the Association began in 2006 there were only 45 members under MPIA, however, today there are close to 200 active members which highlights the current push towards the application of solar PV systems already evident across the country. This is confirmed by the approval of more than 350MW of solar PV projects implemented by SEDA under the Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme in 2020. This covers more than 400 completed new installations by the end of 2020. This positive growth of the industry is also reflected in the large-scale solar (LLS) program which since 2016 has accumulated more than 850MW in operational capacity.
One of the central focuses of MPIA is education, as the Association hopes that through education it can help successfully achieve Malaysia’s national target of 40% renewable energy capacity by 2040, with the goal of increasing this to 70% by 2050. To achieve this, MPIA has developed its Solar Roadshow 2024, which is hoping to make these governmentally established targets a reality through education and networking. The roadshow focuses on sharing knowledge to help better spread awareness and necessary development into grid readiness, how to enable the energy transition, and discussing the future of electric vehicles in the motoring landscape.
The roadshow will stop at cities all over Malaysia to share the work of MPIA and bring into conversation the role of solar PV moving forward. It is hoped that through the workshops, which will feature speakers from governmental organisations to big organisations, such as the Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), the Association will bring greater awareness to the solar PV market and its member companies. The goal is to bring economic development for the country and MPIA members, whilst pushing the country towards a necessary energy transition.
In January this year, the work of MPIA was highlighted with the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration with Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX), to establish awareness of the Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) market all whilst educating project developers on how to monetise it through BCX. This will mark the first collaboration between the two organisations, and through the MPIA Solar Roadshow 2024, MPIA and BCX hope to create a more transparent market for RECs in Malaysia.
Overall, MPIA has spent the last 20 years developing the solar PV market in Malaysia by promoting its members and education surrounding the renewable energy industry to encourage greater uptake of solar PV systems. For MPIA, development throughout its members continues to bring vital investment into Malaysia and in turn, continues to push the country towards a greater application of renewable energy supported by reliable energy infrastructure for future-proof energy generation. Therefore, through the Association’s focus on education and collaboration, MPIA looks set on easily achieving its renewable energy targets whilst establishing Malaysia as a hub for solar PV development.
