By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 11: In a milestone for Malaysia’s clean energy ambitions, Planet QEOS Sdn Bhd (Planet QEOS) has signed RM 2.32 billion worth of Heads of Agreement with five strategic partners to launch the Baram DeepTech Energy Programme, paving the way for the nation’s first “firm” solar power plant.
This landmark project in northern Sarawak’s Baram highlands will be the first in Malaysia designed to deliver round-the-clock, dispatchable renewable electricity on par with conventional gas and hydropower plants, marking a critical step toward groundbreaking construction.
The exchange of agreements, held in conjunction with Ministry of Energy and Environment Sustainability’s (MEESTY) Public-Industry Engagement Day and the official launch of Sarawak’s Energy Transition Policy (SET-P), was graced by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The event gathered government, industry, and community leaders to advance Sarawak’s position as a regional clean energy hub and outline pathways toward achieving its 10GW generation capacity by 2030, positioning Sarawak as the “Battery of Asean” and a major exporter of clean electrons to the region.
Representing Planet QEOS were its executive chairman Dino Bidari, chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Gabriel Walter and chief operating officer (COO) Lam Poh Lian.
QEOS Planet’ RM2.32 billion in agreements were signed with five strategic partners including China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau Corporation (CSCEC), ES Sunlogy Berhad (Sunlogy), EFS Group, Founder Group Consortium and Shenzen Hopewind Electric Corporation Limited (Hopewind) , each contributing unique strengths to Baram’s transformation.
CSCEC which is Planet QEOS’ engineering and development partner is the construction giant in China. It will spearhead master-planning, design and fast-track execution of the Baram Special Energy Zone (SEZ). The company is establishing a project office in Baram and will collaborate with local authorities to build roads, utilities and supply chains, transfer skills, and create jobs, ensuring the SEZ catalyses long-term industrial growth and rural prosperity.
A homegrown renewable energy firm, Sunlogy will co-develop a 155MWp solar farm with 310MWh of battery storage in Phase 1 (project value estimated RM580 million). The company will also establish a permanent mechanical and electrical operations hub in Baram to support the solar farm and future facilities, anchoring technical expertise and jobs in the local community.
As agrovoltaic and food security partner of Planet QEOS, EFS Group will co-develop another 155MWp solar and 310MWh battery plant (estimated RM580 million) while leading Baram’s agricultural integration. Drawing on success with large-scale smart farms in Thailand, EFS will implement a 650 hectare agrovoltaic farm beneath the solar panels, cultivating high-value crops like cassava and biotech paddy.
This dual-use approach is projected to create more than 500 rural jobs and yield RM643 million in crop value, directly tackling food security and income for local communities. A new agro research and development, and logistics center in Baram will drive innovation in microbial fertilisers, drone farming and climate-resilient crops—embodying Baram SEZ’s mission of energy and food security.
A consortium led by Founder Group Ltd (NASDAQ-listed) will invest in the largest single project: a 310MWp solar farm with 620MWh of storage (estimated RM 1.16 billion).
Founder Group, together with a French renewable energy partner, brings over 5GW of global solar experience to ensure bankability and technical strength. In parallel, the consortium will develop a 200MW Tier-4 Green Data Centre Park on 350 acres in Baram. This facility—the Sarawak Data Centre Park (SDCP)—is expected to attract more than RM1 billion in foreign direct investment and establish Sarawak’s leadership in green digital infrastructure in Asean.
The data centre cluster will leverage the new solar power for truly sustainable operations, anchoring long-term digital economy growth in the region.
As Planet QEOS’ technology and training partner, China-based Hopewind, which is a global leader in power electronics, joins as the primary inverter and power control system supplier for Baram’s solar plants.
Renowned for its advanced grid-forming inverter technology (the first in the world certified by DNV), Hopewind will ensure the solar-plus-storage system operates with world-class efficiency and grid stability.
Importantly, Hopewind is investing in the community by setting up a Maintenance and Training Excellence Centre in Baram. The centre will train and certify more than 150 local youths and engineers annually in renewable energy O&M, run STEM outreach for thousands of students, and collaborate with local universities on research and development.
This will create over 150 skilled jobs and seed over 500 indirect jobs, making sure Baram’s clean energy infrastructure is maintained by a homegrown Sarawakian workforce. — DayakDaily
