How much carbon does a solar system save?
A simple way to estimate the emissions your system avoids, using Malaysia's official grid emission factor.
Every unit of electricity you generate from solar is a unit that does not have to come from the grid. Because most grid electricity in Malaysia still comes from gas and coal, each of those units avoids a known amount of carbon dioxide.
The number to use
The Energy Commission publishes a grid emission factor: the average greenhouse gas emitted for each unit of electricity generated on the grid. The provisional figures for 2024 are:
| Grid | Emission factor (tCO₂e per MWh) |
|---|---|
| Peninsular Malaysia | 0.740 |
| Sabah | 0.539 |
| Sarawak | 0.199 |
In plain terms, each 1,000 kWh of grid electricity in Peninsular Malaysia is responsible for about 0.74 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent.
The calculation
Carbon avoided per year = solar energy generated (MWh) × grid emission factor
The examples below assume a system produces about 1,300 kWh a year for every kWp installed. That is a common planning figure for Peninsular Malaysia, not a guarantee. Your actual yield depends on your roof's direction, tilt and shading.
| System | Energy per year | Carbon avoided per year |
|---|---|---|
| Home, 5 kWp | about 6,500 kWh | about 4.8 tonnes CO₂e |
| Shop or office, 50 kWp | about 65,000 kWh | about 48 tonnes CO₂e |
| Factory, 500 kWp | about 650,000 kWh | about 481 tonnes CO₂e |
Using the figure in your reporting
- Use the factor for your own grid. Sabah and Sarawak are different from the Peninsula.
- Use your system's actual metered generation once it is running, not the estimate.
- Update the factor each year. It falls slowly as the grid gets cleaner, from 0.769 in 2022 to 0.740 in 2024 for the Peninsula.
Want the numbers for your building?
Our proposals include projected generation and the carbon it avoids, ready for your sustainability report.