Why solar generators, hand-crank lamps are selling like hotcakes in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – For the past few weeks, freelance consultant Zamuri Sulaiman has been spending his evenings scrolling through listings for solar power stations.

These portable, indoor-safe battery units – roughly the size of a printer – store energy from a wall socket or solar panels, with the panels typically sold separately.

Mr Zamuri, 40, has been thinking about contingencies. “What if the power goes out?” he said.

Concerns over possible energy supply disruptions sparked by the Middle East conflict have driven demand in Malaysia for such devices, also known as solar-powered generators, as a backup during outages.

Sellers told The Straits Times that the prices of solar power stations have risen by around 20 per cent since the war began in February, reflecting stronger demand and supply pressures.

Searches conducted by ST on online shopping platforms such as Shopee, TikTok and Lazada found portable power stations priced between about RM200 (S$64) and RM3,000, depending on battery capacity. Some listings include solar panels, while others are sold as standalone units without panels.

Mr Macsonn Chew, owner of Great Mind Enterprise in Selangor, sells portable power stations as well as solar systems for homes. He said he now sells as many as 50 power stations a month, up from around 10 a month before the Middle East war.

Some buyers are seeking backup power for critical uses, including medical equipment.

“A lot of customers are worried there will be power cuts, especially those using medical machines such as ventilators,” he told ST.

Concerns over higher electricity bills are also prompting households to look for other options. Malaysia’s Energy Commission had earlier warned that the public will have to pay more for electricity amid higher coal and gas prices.

Mr Chew’s products range from compact hand-carried units of about 300 watts, priced at RM580 and typically used for camping, to larger systems of up to 3,000 watts costing RM5,900 that can power multiple household appliances.

A 400-watt power station is recommended for charging a laptop and a mobile phone, while a 200-watt unit is sufficient to charge a mobile phone.

Mr Chew said rising fuel costs have also made conventional generators, which usually run on diesel, more expensive to operate, pushing consumers towards solar alternatives.

Other sellers are also seeing a surge in sales.

Content creator Muhamad Saiful Khalib said he pivoted to selling survival gear after noticing rising interest ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri in March, amid growing concerns about potential energy disruptions.

Between March 26 and April 21, he sold 251 portable power stations priced between RM160 and RM999.

One of his best-selling items – a hand-crank dynamo lamp – recorded 1,700 units sold in March alone. The portable light is powered by manually turning a crank to generate electricity. It usually retails at RM95 but is sold for RM39.90 during live promotions.

“I was selling other things too, but the dynamo lamps sold out first,” he told ST.

“Food is not the first concern. People are still able to get groceries at the supermarkets. But when it comes to energy, that’s where the fear is,” he added.

Despite the growing interest, he cautioned that many buyers may not fully understand how the devices work or what capacity they need.

“There has to be more education,” said Mr Saiful.

Meanwhile, some online sellers of solar panels said they had run out of stock.

Six of the 11 online sellers that ST checked with on April 30 said new supplies are expected only from mid-May to early June. The remaining five said they still had panels in stock.

Interest in more expensive rooftop solar systems has also increased.

Mr Fared Hassan, chief operating officer of Agas Mentari Solar, a company that provides solar power generation solutions, said interest in rooftop systems has grown.

“Most customers are anticipating (electricity) rates will increase, after seeing diesel price hikes following the war in the Middle East,” he told ST.

A typical home solar system with battery storage can cost up to RM45,000.

Prices could rise further due to higher logistics costs and changes in export conditions for solar equipment, he noted.

For some households, rising bills are prompting them to consider switching to solar energy.

Homeowner Dalilah Rahim, 54, is deciding whether to install solar panels, noting that her family of eight consumes a significant amount of energy each month.

“I want to install solar panels to reduce my electricity bill,” she said, adding that their monthly bill is typically around RM600 but rose to nearly RM700 in March.

She attributed the increase partly to higher daytime usage as her eldest child works from home.

“I just checked this week and the cost (of getting solar panels) is about RM16,000. It’s a lot, but I am seriously thinking about it,” she said.