
SD Property first to harness solar energy under ministry's CREAM initiative
The pioneering project is the first of its kind in the country under the newly-established CREAM framework, introduced by the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry in March 2025.
The initiative empowers community-based renewable energy production by leveraging local energy generators and aggregators (LEGA) to decentralise green electricity generation.
SD Property group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Azmir Merican, said its participation in the CREAM initiative with TNB presents a practical and scalable model to unlock solar energy potential within its townships.
"By leasing roof spaces from residential properties, without requiring homeowners to install panels, we enable clean energy generation that supports our nearby commercial and industrial developments.
"This approach complements our broader decarbonisation strategy, aligns with national energy objectives, and directly contributes to our emissions reduction targets," he said in a statement.
Working with TNB's solar subsidiary GSPARX Sdn Bhd, SD Property will enter into lease agreements with residential homeowners interested in participating in this programme, starting with those in the City of Elmina.
Rooftops of participating homes will be utilised to generate electricity, which will be exported via the local distribution line within a 5km radius for use at SD Property's commercial and industrial developments.
The CREAM mechanism enables local green consumers (LGC) such as businesses and commercial users to source electricity from LEGA participants through TNB's distribution network.
It allows homeowners to lease rooftops to third parties who manage and aggregate these spaces into efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems.
The latest collaboration between the two parties comes on the heels of a joint venture established by SD Property and TNB's GSPARX in July 2024, focusing on financing, developing and operating rooftop solar generation projects across selected assets and properties in the former's portfolio.
This followed an MoU between the two parties in 2023 to explore sustainable energy infrastructure including solar, EV charging and microgrid systems across the group's townships.

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Malaysian Reserve
35 minutes ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Clean energy shift in Malaysia targets equity, regional growth
The govt is prioritising energy sector as a high-impact launch point MALAYSIA is accelerating efforts to recalibrate its clean energy transition, with fresh moves to reform tariffs, consider nuclear energy, expand Asean energy trade and reduce its over-reliance on subsidies — all while ensuring equitable access and sustainable development. Speaking at the Malaysia Energy Policy Forum hosted by MBSB Group recently, Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the country must adopt a pragmatic, people-centred approach to meet its energy security and climate goals. 'Malaysia's energy transition must be pragmatic, people-centred and equitable. No sector or community should be left behind,' he said during his keynote address, reaffirming the government's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). As of July 2025, the share of renewables in Malaysia's electricity mix has reached 31%, driven by large-scale solar (LSS) and rooftop systems. The next milestone is 40% by 2035 and 70% by 2050 — an ambitious target, especially as the energy sector accounts for 70% of the country's total carbon emissions. Fadillah, who is also deputy prime minister, said this goal is not just about installing new generation capacity, but about 'mobilising hearts and minds' across ministries, industries and communities. When asked whether Malaysia's net zero target could be brought forward from 2050, Fadillah acknowledged that while technically possible, it would be financially and institutionally challenging. 'Our energy transition cuts across sectors — energy, transport, agriculture, land use — and involves federal and state jurisdictions. Some industries still rely heavily on coal and fossil fuels,' he said. The government is prioritising the energy sector as a high-impact starting point. With the right pace of migration to renewables and energy efficiency, he added, Malaysia may even exceed its 2050 target ahead of schedule. NEM4.0 to Replace Costly Net Energy Inventory Scheme Deputy Secretary General (Energy) Mareena Mahpudz revealed that a new iteration of the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme — tentatively called NEM4.0 — is being finalised and will be announced by this month. This comes after the government discontinued the earlier net energy inventory programme due to its unsustainable subsidy burden. 'The previous NEM structure cost the government nearly RM250 million in subsidies due to avoided energy costs. With the new tariff structure implemented in July, we are moving towards more targetted and transparent support,' Mareena said. While she did not confirm whether the new scheme will retain the NEM name, she hinted that it could be a hybrid of NEM, Self-Consumption Renewable Energy System (SelCo) and the Community Renewable Energy Aggregation Mechanism (CREAM) — which facilitates shared solar generation and consumption at the community level. In a separate media session, Fadillah explained that SelCo enables consumers to install solar panels primarily for their own use, reducing dependency on the grid. 'If you add a battery, you can go from three to four hours of solar usage to seven to eight hours before needing to draw from the grid.' He also highlighted community-based models within a 5km radius, where residents can collectively subscribe, use and manage their energy system. 'This community-sharing approach aligns with the goals of CREAM, allowing communities to govern how energy is generated and used,' he added. 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We want to see actual consumption first before making decisions like launching LSS6. LSS5 has been announced while LSS6 will depend on real demand,' he noted. ASEAN Power Grid to Support Cross-border Resilience Fadillah said Malaysia's long-term energy security cannot be achieved in isolation, and the government is banking on deeper cross-border electricity integration under the ASEAN Power Grid (APG). Malaysia has agreed to transmit up to 2,000-megawatt (MW) of hydroelectric power from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia through inter-regional transmission lines, with interconnections to Singapore, Thailand and Laos already operational. New links to Vietnam and Brunei are being explored. 'We are also working with Laos, Thailand and Singapore under the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (LTMS) framework to facilitate energy exports. We top up any shortfall, ensuring reliable flow,' he added. 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These users will bear the cost of their demand, while 85% of consumers — especially domestic users — will not be affected,' she added. Fadillah added that the earlier system unfairly benefitted those who could afford solar, while others paid full tariff rates. 'Some users with solar panels can sell energy back to the grid. But those without solar still pay full price. That is why we must revisit the system to ensure it is fair and equitable for all,' he said. Financing the Transition: Capital must Meet Climate Action Additionally, Fadillah said Malaysia will need over US$143 billion (RM605.46 billion) in green investments by 2050 to support renewable energy (RE) deployment, clean mobility and energy efficiency. He urged financiers to expand their green portfolios and support innovative funding structures such as blended finance and green sukuk. MBSB Group chairman Datuk Wan Kamaruzaman Wan Ahmad shared that the group had mobilised RM4.75 billion for sustainable and transition-aligned projects in 2024, including floating solar plants, low-emission locomotives and carbon-smart data centres. 'Finance is the oxygen of the transition. Every solar panel, every green locomotive begins as a line item on someone's term sheet,' he added. The group aims to increase its green and sustainable financing commitment from RM10 billion to RM15 billion by next year. MBSB representatives noted that its majority shareholders, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), are both pushing for stronger environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards across their portfolio companies. 'We now assess climate risk alongside credit risk. Unmanaged exposure is the real threat,' said Wan Kamaruzaman. Malaysia also leads the world in Islamic green sukuk issuance, accounting for 262 out of 291 issuances globally. Fadillah said this is an advantage the country must leverage to fund renewables and nature-based solutions. Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) Low Carbon Transition Facility (LCTF), which offers concessional financing of up to RM10 million for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) decarbonisation, was also cited as a scalable model. Wellbeing Economy, Madani Values In response to civil society calls to shift away from GDP-centric development, Fadillah reiterated that the Madani government is focused on economic inclusivity, sustainability and long-term wellbeing. 'The challenge is to balance economic growth with cost and affordability, especially for low-income groups. We need policies that are fair and just — not just ambitious.' He added that innovation and private-public collaboration will be key to achieving a managed and investable energy transition. 'Energy and water are linked. Without water, there is no energy. Without energy, there is no water. Our policies must reflect this interdependence,' he added. A Future Anchored in Resilience, Regional Integration Fadillah called on all stakeholders — government, industry, financiers and communities — to co-own the transition and deliver outcomes that are both inclusive and scalable. 'This is not just about megawatts and emissions. It is about momentum. It is about the future of our economy and the legacy we leave behind,' he said. With investments ramping up, policy reforms underway and regional power linkages expanding, Malaysia's energy transformation now hinges on coordinated execution — and the political will to ensure that no Malaysian is left behind. This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition


The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Solar, grid upgrades to drive RE momentum
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The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Power infrastructure push to benefit TNB
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