SUNGAI PETANI: Tenaga Nasional Bhd's (TNB) wholly-owned subsidiary TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd (TRe) is seriously evaluating other means for solar generation such as agrisolar and floating solar panels.
Managing director Mohd Yusrizal Mohd Yusof said TNB's in-house solution provider, TNB Research Sdn Bhd had conducted several assessments of water surfaces to identify suitable areas for floating solar panels.
He noted that the company is looking to optimise a small portion of water surfaces to generate electricity supply.
"For example, we will not construct something that covers the entire surface of a lake because it would have an adverse impact on the ecosystem underneath.
"Based on the studies that we have conducted, we are looking at utilising a maximum of between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of a lake's surface to start with, and we will also monitor the ecological system to ensure that there would not be any negative impact," he said.
He said this to reporters after his visit to TNB's Large Scale Solar (LSS) project in Bukit Selambau, Kedah on Tuesday.
Currently, TNB has three LSS farms located in Sepang, Selangor and Bukit Selambau, with another LSS farm slated for completion in Bukit Selambau by year-end.
The utility firm also owns three biogas assets via its joint venture with Sime Darby Bhd.
"We are monitoring and planning to construct more solar and wind assets, although there would be relatively less of the latter since wind power is a little weaker in Malaysia.
"In theory, the nearer you are to the equator, the less wind movement because of the stable temperature," said Mohd Yusrizal.
He added that the utilisation of water surfaces would be a better option due to its cooling effect which would boost performance.
"We will embark on this very soon. As a matter of fact, we already have one or two floating solar panel developments, but we are still waiting for the right time," said Mohd Yusrizal.
In terms of costs, he said the cost of construction on water surfaces is higher on average compared to conventional construction on land.
"We are currently exploring our options to ensure that we optimise the water surfaces," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Yusrizal said agrisolar would be able to at least manage the public's concerns about competing for land for agricultural use and power generation.
Agrisolar is a combination of sustainable agricultural concepts and solar photovoltaics.
"We are trying to optimise the options that we have. We have been very clear that we are not going to delve into primary forests, we are going to look at secondary locations such as Bukit Selambau which had been planted with oil palm trees and the owner does not plan to continue with it," he added.
– BERNAMA