KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the Perak state government are working together to explore the possibility of floating solar systems near the Sungai Perak hydroelectric project, reservoir, and dam.
This is a major step forward toward promoting large-scale renewable energy (RE) in accordance with the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), according to TNB.
TNB and Majuperak Holdings Bhd (MHB), a Perak government-affiliated company, are collaborating on a 100 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted solar project as part of a parallel endeavor under NETR's centralised solar park project.
In the first strategic alliance, TNB will work with Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak (PKNPk) through its fully owned subsidiary, TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco).
The second collaboration is between MHB and TNB's wholly owned subsidiary TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd (TRe).
TNB said these actions show a shared commitment to accelerating Malaysia's switch to greener, more sustainable energy sources in line with NETR's goals.
According to Datuk Seri Ir. Baharin Din, the company's president and chief executive officer, these innovative initiatives are in line with the NETR and would help Malaysia transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
"The strategic partnerships with the Perak state government entities signify a collective commitment to expedite the transition to environmentally friendly energy," he said in a statement.
The collaborations were formalised through the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoUs) during The Energy Transition Conference 2023 held last August, with each geared towards enhancing Malaysia's renewable energy portfolio and concurrently reducing its carbon emissions.
On the TNB Genco-PKNPk collaboration, Baharin said this pioneering initiative is poised to redefine energy generation as both parties will embark on an extensive feasibility study for the development of floating solar photovoltaic (FSPV) systems.
The two-year timeline for this comprehensive study underscores TNB Genco and PKNPk's strong determination in the realms of RE and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.
"By harnessing the power of hybrid technologies, specifically hydro and FSPV, our objective is to support the country's RE targets by efficiently utilising land and existing bodies of water," he said.
As for the TRe-MHB partnership, he said that Perak has been identified as one of the potential states for this development, with MHB entrusted as the state entity for this initiative.
"TRe is set to develop a substantial 100 MW ground-mounted solar project across five sites in several states under NETR's centralised solar ark project. The project will be co-owned by TRe as the master developer, together with small and medium enterprises (SME) and state agencies," he added.