By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 11: Sarawak’s floating solar project at the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) reservoir is expected to generate up to 300 megawatts (MW) of energy in its initial phase, potentially making it the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia once completed within the next 18 to 24 months.
According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili said the large-scale project will be developed in collaboration with China Three Gorges International Ltd (CTGI) and Shanghai Electric Power T&D Group Co Ltd.
“We’ve asked them to assist us in studying the development of a solar plant at the Bakun HEP, as the site has a very large water body, and we believe it has strong potential for large-scale solar generation.
“That’s why we’re collaborating with them, along with other partners as well,” he said when met after attending the 18th International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai yesterday (June 10).
The event also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sarawak Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, CTGI, and Shanghai Electric.
Citing a similar project at the Batang Ai HEP which was completed within 18 months, Sharbini noted that Bakun’s project may take slightly longer due to its scale.
“If we succeed in delivering this project, it is expected to generate up to 300MW of energy in its initial phase, which could become the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
“We hope to gradually increase that capacity in the coming years, ultimately positioning Sarawak as a regional leader in floating solar energy,” he added. — DayakDaily
