The government will launch the sixth round of the Large Scale Solar (LSS6) programme with a total offered quota of 2,500 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity alongside 1,250MW of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity, as part of efforts to accelerate Malaysia’s energy transition.
The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) said LSS6 will be implemented through three packages, comprising an open tender for 2,200MW of solar capacity paired with 1,100MW BESS, a Bumiputera open tender involving 300MW solar capacity with 150MW BESS and a separate 150MW solar-only package for Bumiputera companies.
PETRA said the programme will introduce several improvements to ensure a more transparent and competitive bidding process, including setting bidder capacity between 60MW and 500MW for the first two packages and between 10MW and 30MW for the Bumiputera solar-only package.
Bidders will be required to have experience in developing solar projects, although BESS experience will not be mandatory. Projects using domestically manufactured renewable energy products such as solar photovoltaic (PV) modules will also be given priority.
The government will prioritise projects in strategic areas with rising electricity demand, particularly in the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia, to optimise generation planning and strengthen the national electricity transmission system.
PETRA expects LSS6 to attract between RM13 billion and RM15 billion in private investment and create between 15,000 and 20,000 employment opportunities during the development and construction phases. The programme is also projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.6 million tonnes annually.
The LSS6 projects are targeted to begin commercial operations progressively, with the programme aiming for completion by Dec 31, 2029. The Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the first two packages will run from Jul 27 to Aug 7, 2026, while the Bumiputera solar-only package will open from Aug 17 to Aug 28, 2026.
