KUCHING, Feb 3: Planet QEOS and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) are interested in investing RM10 billion to co-develop advanced Megawatt peak (MWp) agrovoltaic in Baram, to further boost Sarawak’s green energy initiative and food security.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg was briefed on Friday by both the corporations on the investment and development of a privately funded, technologically advanced 1000 Megawatt hour (MWh) solar plant integrated with sustainable animal feed economics (SAFE) in Baram, Sarawak.
The SAFE agrovoltaic complex is expected to create 1,200 new jobs, including 250 highly skilled engineering jobs in renewable energy, production, agriculture and veterinary while supporting thousands of local farmers and agro-entrepreneur businesses.
The statement jointly issued by Planet QEOS and CMEC said the SAFE agrovoltaic farm will enable the energy farm to generate annually 1430 GWh of energy, 170,000 metric tonnes of carbon neutral animal feed, and 25 million carbon neutral broiler chickens, at fixed, predetermined and sustainable prices for 30 years.
“This novel concept, will ensure that Sarawak markets will have access to both sustainable energy and poultry prices for decades to come.
“Furthermore, the SAFE agrovoltaic, can also enable 24-hour, grid-scale, day-and-night energy supply operations, allowing solar-powered energy to now play a competitive role as a major and stable energy source. It will have the biggest energy storage complex in the world at up to 2000 MWh capacity.
“The implementation of this agrovoltaic project will allow green solar energy to directly substitute for energy generated by natural gas power plants, resulting in Green House Gasses (GHG) reduction of 640,000 mtCO2eq/year or equivalent to removing the emission from 140,000 road vehicles,” said the statement.
Following the project, Baram alone has more than 200,000 MW capacity of solar energy potentials spread over more than 10,000 square kilometer of agriculture land.
“According to 20 years of continuous data compiled by SOLARGIS, a database funded and provided by the World Bank Group, Baram of Sarawak solar irradiance is among the best in Malaysia and the region, receiving 4.8 to 5.2 kWh/m2 global horizontal irradiance (GHI) per day average.”
SAFE agrovoltaic technology and resulting investment commitment by CMEC are the ambitious brainchild and results from the tireless efforts of three local tech entrepreneurs including two Sarawakians to realize the vision of Sarawak’s Premier: Dino Bidari, Dr Gabriel Walter and Lam Poh Lian.
The statement said the project, is in line with Sarawak’s green initiative and Abang Johari’s vision, whose persistent efforts to transform the economy of Sarawak into a green economy with emphasis on green energy generation, modern sustainable agriculture and methodising the distribution of wealth to the population are now recognized globally. — DayakDaily
