PENANG: SJK(C) Beng Teik in Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang became the first school in the state to install solar panel systems on the rooftops of school buildings.
The school signed a supply agreement for renewable energy (SARE) with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and its subsidiaries, TNBX Sdn Bhd and GSPARX Sdn Bhd last week for the initiative.
According to a statement by TNB, once installation is completed in October this year, the school will generate 77.5kW of electricity to partly cover the cost of its electricity bill.
The SARE signed is a tripartite contract between TNB, GSPARX as the registered solar PV investor (RPVI) and SJK(C) Beng Teik as the customer.
It allows SJK(C) Beng Teik to enjoy a lower electricity rate than the gazetted tariff.
The SARE scheme is presently offered by TNBX Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TNB.
SJK(C) Beng Teik can also sell the excess solar energy from the solar PV installation to TNB and get energy credit on a ‘one-on-one’ offset basis to further reduce its electricity bills via the net energy metering (NEM) scheme.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the school, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow commended SJK(C) Beng Teik for the solar installation project which he hoped will be emulated by other schools in Penang.
He also expressed hope that the project would spur green mindset among the 900 pupils in SJK(C) Beng Teik.
Chow said the state government is actively promoting environmental awareness and encouraging renewables mindset among the younger generation.
“We are happy to see TNB supporting Penang’s Green Initiative through SARE scheme,” he said.
Meanwhile, TNB chief retail officer Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan said the scheme is generally offered to local and federal governments as well as commercial and industrial customers to help reduce their electricity costs through renewable energy generation.
“We hope the SARE scheme will be one of the initiatives to ensure sustainable value creation,” he said.
Megat Jalaluddin also disclosed that TNB was exploring collaboration opportunities with several experienced companies with an established footprint in renewable energy markets.
Signing the SARE for TNB was Megat Jalaluddin while GSPARX was represented by its chief operating officer Khirul Nizam Shamsudin together with the headmaster SJK (C) Beng Teik, Tan Lee Eng.
The signing was witnessed by the Penang chief minister, Penang Education Department director Dr. Mahanom Mat Sam, and SJK(C) Beng Teik Secretariat LPS cum Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Penang chairman Dato’ Ooi Eng Hock.
“We hope that the solar PV system will inculcate RE awareness among our students and the general public,” SJK(C) Beng Teik headmaster Tan Lee Eng said.
SARE leverages on TNB’s integrated billing system, whereby customers benefit from the convenience of monitoring their total energy consumption and cost.