The Malaysian state utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has announced plans to expedite the installation of 2,500 MW hybrid hydro floating solar (HHFS) projects in the country, using the water reservoirs at the dams it operates.
It plans to start with the implementation of 30 MW capacity at its Chenderoh Hydro-reservoir. Next projects are planned for the Temenggor and Kenyir hydro reservoirs. The utility has been on the lookout for an EPC company for the deployment of a 30 MW AC floating solar plant at the Chenderoh reservoir since last year (see Floating Solar Power Tender Launched In Malaysia).
This 2.5 GW HHFS capacity forms part of Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap Part 1 to provide round-the-clock (RTC) clean power supply (see Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap Part 1).
TNB has also entered partnerships with other state agencies to realize these plans to ensure successful and responsible development of these projects. These include Perak state's Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak (PKNPk) and Terengganu state's Terengganu Incorporated (TI).
With PKNPk, it is studying the possibility to install up to 100 MW HHFS capacity at Sg Perak Hydro Scheme.
It is motivated to charge ahead with the 2.5 GW HHFS plan after seeing the successful implementation of the 105 kW floating solar plant at the utility's Stesen Janakuasa Sultan Azlan Shah (SJSAS) Power Station in Manjung in Perak. Operational since 2019, the project is located on a 175-hectare ash pond of the power station. The facility, equipped with 288 solar modules, has generated over 600 MWh of energy, according to the utility.
"The pilot project in SJSAS was a remarkable success," said TNB President and CEO Dato' Seri Ir. Baharin Din. "Floating solar farms can complement other renewable energy sources to power the national grid with the potential to boost clean power significantly."
For TNB, it says venturing into floating solar is part of its strategy to accelerate the decarbonization of its power generation business as it seeks to reduce the share of coal from its portfolio. Coal power will be swapped with solar and gas to ensure energy supply security.