KUCHING (Sept 7): The Malaysian Photovoltaic Industry Association (MPIA) launched its Sarawak chapter at the Sustainability & Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF) 3.0 organised by Sarawak Energy Bhd on Thursday.
The launch was officiated by Datuk Julaihi Narawi, the minister of utility and telecommunication for Sarawak.
One of the primary focuses of the Sarawak MPIA chapter is to ensure smoother implementation of Net Energy Metering (NEM) projects across the state.
The MPIA is a non-profit organisation representing the Malaysian solar industry, and comprises companies from the local solar supply chain, including manufacturers, service providers and training providers.
“With its commitment to collaboration and advocacy, the chapter aims to facilitate the deployment of NEM projects, thereby enabling individuals, businesses and industries to harness the benefit of solar energy in the near future,” said Julaihi.
NEM is a scheme by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia that allows renewable energy generators to sell excess electricity to the grid.
Sarawak Energy, which is the state’s utility, has said that it aims to install at least 400MW of floating solar power capacity at its dams by 2030. The utility’s first 50MW floating solar farm is in its Batang Ai dam.
Sarawak primarily relies on large hydropower to generate electricity, but it is expanding into other forms of renewable energy, including solar power. This is also meant to increase its capacity to export renewable energy to neighbouring countries. The state already has an interconnection with Indonesia, and is working with Brunei and Singapore on power exchange agreements.