Credits: Chelsea
There is a robust narrative commemorating the profound purpose of solar panels, and how its variable use has advanced across the globe – to be meticulously integrated into today’s architectural livelihood. At its initial stages, solar panels offered minimal return in efficiency, to which spectators may have been apprehensive of its efficacy at full integration. Nonetheless, backed up by substantial funding for research and a global collective focus to enhance ecological rehabilitation, solar energy as a compounded prodigy has spearheaded relevant technological breakthroughs to productively enable the cultivation of renewable offerings.
Albeit the spiralling policies administered by the Trump administration to lengthen the reign of fossil fuels and developing nuclear-use energy, there has been however, notable progress in solar panel advancements, reporting at least 25% conversion efficiencies. What it indicates is that almost a quarter of solar energy is efficiently captured to produce renewable energy. This boils down to an impeccable promise for the global landscape to potentially lift the global warming caveat, that abominably appears to translate into a higher pollution index.
The Rise of Next-Gen Solar Panels
Focussing on Malaysia’s ESG prerogative, the local landscape has witnessed demand and development in solar panels installation works, especially as essential home facilities. This potentially presents the economy with a lucrative option to categorically compete on a global scale and upscale the quality of living, whilst advocating eco-green living standards.
Image: From LONGi’s 9MWp project installed at Proton Tanjung Malim car manufacturing plant
According to Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the country has achieved top global exporter status for solar PV products, as the industry accounts approximately 10% of global solar panel production. With manufacturing giants like LONGi Solar and First Solar, they have positioned Malaysia on track to evolving as the natural leader in next-gen solar panels.
This trajectory henceforth aligns with the country’s target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It may come as a curveball, but the recent implementation of U.S. tariffs on certain solar imports could serve as a silver-lining detour. With international supply chains disrupted, Malaysia has the chance to deepen domestic innovation, recalibrate its value proposition, and champion homegrown alternatives that address both national energy needs and export ambitions.
Into the Next Phase
Since the government’s 2023 declaration to scale up renewable energy—particularly solar—the momentum is pacing itself, as the renewable industry gears up for large-scale implementation, increased private sector collaboration, and the acceleration of clean technology adoption across both urban and rural landscapes.
From the Green Energy Tariff to initiatives like the Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0 programme, policy direction has been catalytic. As per Budget 2024 announcements, tax incentives, green financing schemes, and investments into local solar startups further signal a shift towards a thriving clean tech ecosystem. And so, the next phase will likely focus on perovskite and bifacial solar panels – energy storage solutions, and smart grid integration—areas where Malaysia has the capacity to lead, if supported by the right public-private partnerships.
Credits: Daniele La Rosa Messina
Moving forward, as the global transition accelerates, Malaysia’s solar rise may not just power homes, but redefine its economic and environmental future entirely.
The Solar Outlook: A Billion-Dollar Opportunity
Credits: Mahmud Ahsan
Revolutionising in response to economic circumstances, the solar sector presents a compelling case, as the cost of materials and installation continues to decrease, the long-term savings in energy expenditure make it a monetarily viable solution. Especially in a climate where inflation and energy prices are volatile, solar adoption emerges not only as an environmentally conscious decision but also a strategic financial investment. Given Malaysia’s tropical weather conditions, offering consistent sunlight throughout the year—it is imperative that the local market seizes this natural advantage.
The evergreen landscape provides the ideal setting for harnessing solar energy, and the consecutive rise in property development further amplifies this opportunity. As demand for smart urban-home grows, developers and homeowners alike are increasingly factoring in renewable energy infrastructure as a standard, rather than a luxury.
Powered by Solar: A Lucrative Opportunity in Green-Industrialisation
The market trade in photovoltaic (PV) solar materials remains a quiet yet increasingly lucrative sector—one that subtly exemplifies the evolving dynamics of economic trade. Often overlooked in mainstream discourse, this niche is steadily gaining traction, bolstered by global demand for renewable infrastructure and the growing urgency for climate action.
Credits: Hossein Nasr
However well the economy adapts to the transition from fossil-fuel energy to relying on an expanded scope of sustainable output, depends on whether eco-conscious technology can scale and thrive at a comparable capacity to traditional fuels. This could very well be the catalyst for a new era of green industrialisation, where Malaysia brands itself not just as a user of solar technology, but as a key supplier and exporter of PV components.
With the right incentives, trade policies, and R&D investments, the country has the potential to carve out a high-value segment within the global clean energy supply chain—fuelling both GDP growth and environmental progress.
