KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) aims to pursue an active role in supporting Malaysia’s renewable energy (RE) generation target by leveraging on its competitiveness and strength, both locally and overseas.
Locally, the national utility company has formed joint ventures (JV) for a biomass power generation station in Jengka, Pahang with Felda; two biogas power stations in Layang-Layang, Johor and Bagan Datuk, Perak with Sime Darby; and two biogas power stations in Puchong and Jeram, Selangor with Worldwide Holdings.
As part of its international RE drive, Tenaga Nasional has for the past two years acquired major RE assets portfolios in solar, wind and hydro in the United Kingdom, Turkey and India with an accumulated generation capacity of almost 600MW.
“The JVs and foreign assets’ acquisitions reflect the company’s commitment to grow its RE business to champion RE efforts in Malaysia and Asean,” Tenaga Nasional said in a statement.
Tenaga Nasional said it has also gained a foothold in the country’s first Large Scale Solar (LSS) through a 50MW project in Kuala Langat, Selangor, the first of its kind in the country. The project is part of TNB’s non-regulated business.
“The project, to be built on a 98 hectare (over 240 acres) land, serves as a catalyst to TNB’s aspiration in developing RE projects in the country and the region,” it said.
When completed in November 2018, Tenaga Nasional’s capacity of electricity generated from RE sources will increase from 23.2MW to 73.2MW.
The LSS project is developed by TNB Sepang Solar Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TNB. The former signed a 21-year Solar Power Purchase Agreement with TNB in early March this year.
TNB Sepang Solar has secured financing and working capital requirement for the project, totalling RM348 million, from Affin Islamic Bank on July 19.
Tenaga Nasional said the LSS project will provide employment opportunities for nearby residents during construction stage and later, educational exposure to the public, particularly students on solar technology and the operation of solar power projects.