MAXIS POWERS UP HOME SOLAR
While the nation drives towards the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) goals, to achieve 70% renewable energy installed capacity by 2050, a critical piece of the puzzle – accessible home solar energy – has lagged.
This is precisely the gap that integrated telecommunications provider Maxis Bhd aims to fill with its innovative Maxis Home Solar package, launched in 2024, and expanded across Peninsular Malaysia earlier this year.
'The reason why solar energy adoption is not moving forward as fast is that people are still unsure.
'They would ask: 'Do I have to invest thousands of ringgit?' or 'Am I going to get the value for that money?'', said Maxis Green Solutions director and Maxis chief people and transformation officer Patrick Er.
'We feel that there is still a way to give worry-free experiences for Malaysians.
'Not everybody is comfortable with making such big upfront investments,' he added, highlighting the intention of Maxis Home Solar – to de-risk solar adoption and empower more households to embrace cleaner energy alternatives.
A household name connecting millions daily, through its mobile and fibre solutions for consumers, homes and businesses, the company realised its expertise and experience in customer service and reliability could be a game-changer in unlocking home solar market potential.
'Our roofs could be doing more. We need to think of them as prime real estate for solar energy,' said Er. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Maxis Home Solar
The move to solar is a natural extension of Maxis' converged home solutions ecosystem. As part of its broader push into home solutions across fibre broadband and a wide range of devices, solar is the 'next piece' in the mission to improve lifestyle experiences through technology.
Er said that Maxis Home Solar is built on a 10-year subscription model, with a low RM1,000 upfront payment, to address consumer apprehension about solar energy.
'Customers can opt for a fixed rate, which most prefer because there is less uncertainty, or a consumption-based rate based on the amount of energy produced.'
The fixed-rate options provide unparalleled peace of mind, locking in rates for a decade (even if tariff rates increase), after which the solar assets are fully transferred to the homeowner.
To ensure quality and reliability, Maxis exclusively utilises Tier 1 solar panels and inverters and provides insurance coverage for the system.
But the difference that Maxis offers extends far beyond just hardware, as Er explained that the company's comprehensive support sets Maxis Home Solar apart from fragmented market offerings.
'We ensure that what we install will be around for a very long time, and we are happy to choose only the best products for our customers.
'On top of that, we will also monitor the system for you. If maintenance or repairs are required, we will conduct them as needed and even handle warranty claims where necessary.
'So, over the subscription period, you do not have to worry about anything,' said Er.
Sustainable energy consumption
Leveraging its deep expertise in network operations, Maxis extends this capability with its remote energy monitoring system, enabling the company to proactively identify and rectify any performance issues.
'At one point, we found that about 15% of installations were not optimal, where certain panels were not producing the desired amount of energy. When we saw this, we were able to quickly address it.
'We have already learnt a lot since launching this service. If we were to just install the systems and 'walk away', we would not know if your house had not been generating power optimally,' said Er.
He explained that this vigilance allows Maxis to identify issues impacting panel performance, ensuring reliable and consistent performance in customers' solar energy systems.
Looking ahead
Moving forward, Maxis sees significant potential beyond residential homes, with interest from commercial and industrial sectors, and a keen eye on East Malaysia, should a scheme such as Net Energy Metering (NEM) be made available there.
Er believes that reaching the NETR goal necessitates 70%-80% of landed homes adopting solar, making the case for home rooftops as a viable alternative to vast solar farms.
'If you look at the last 10-15 years, solar adoption is less than 5% of households nationwide, and I do not think that we would want to wait another decade or more for minimal growth,' said Er.
'Our roofs could be doing more. We need to think of them as prime real estate for solar energy.'
When asked about the future of the NEM scheme, Er states that the hope is for the scheme to continue to thrive and evolve, potentially increasing the adoption rate of solar energy among more households.
'The government has done an excellent job in supporting solar adoption, and I believe that withcontinued commitment, we can push this even further. In the long term, it's a win-win for everybody,' he said.
'I am confident that we are one of the few companies that can make this ambition come to pass.'
For those hesitant about making the switch to solar, Er opines that there is 'no downside' to adopting renewable energy solutions.
'With Maxis Home Solar, there is low risk. Coupled with the low barrier of entry, it could create almost instant savings. And, at the very least, you will be doing your part to protect the environment,' said Er.
In all, Maxis Home Solar is not just about providing clean energy but also simplifying complex technology and driving Malaysia towards a sustainable, connected future, one rooftop at a time.
For more information, visit www.maxis.com.my/solar.
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