Centralised solar park to be built in Hulu Bernam

THE Selangor government is identifying suitable land in Hulu Bernam to build a centralised solar park, a renewable energy project which it hopes to enhance the state’s energy security.

According to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, the state owns land in the area via its subsidiary company Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).

He said the project, which was a collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), was currently still in the discussion stage.

“We don’t have the timeline yet but we expect the details to be ironed out by 2025,” he said during a press conference at TNB headquarters in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

The state government, he added, had in principle given approval to its subsidiary company Worldwide Holdings Bhd to undertake the project.

Earlier, Amirudin, who is also Worldwide Holdings chairman, witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the company and TNB.

Amirudin says the project is currently at discussion stage.

Also present at the event was Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister.

Other guests of honour were TNB chief executive officer and president Datuk Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan and Worldwide Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Datin Paduka Norazlina Zakaria.

The MoU aimed to accelerate the collaboration and implementation of renewable energy projects in Selangor.

These included the developments of large-scale solar plants, battery energy storage and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

TNB and Worldwide Holdings, in a joint statement, said these efforts were part of the National Energy Transition Roadmap.

“The strategic partnership between TNB and Selangor is expected to generate 3,000MW of energy from renewable sources by 2040.

“This is inclusive of the 500MW from the centralised solar park, which will involve TNB’s cooperation with small and medium enterprises, as well as state agencies,” the statement said.

Amirudin said the collaboration was crucial to support Selangor’s growing energy needs in light of its rapid population growth and industrial development.

He said Statistics Department data in 2020 showed that about one-fifth of Malaysia’s population currently reside in Selangor.