SEBERANG PERAI, April 3 — Penang has officially broken ground on a new RM103 million large-scale solar (LSS5) farm in Byram, Nibong Tebal, a project slated to generate 58,296 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy annually starting from 2027.
Officiating the ceremony today, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the 29.99 megawatt-peak (MWp) facility, which could power over 16,000 homes each year, is a strategic initiative to strengthen the state’s position as a global high-tech investment hub.
“For Penang, the ability to prepare stable and green energy is the main magnet in maintaining Penang’s attractiveness as a global high-tech investment hub,” Chow said, adding that the project will also create skilled jobs and improve grid stability in the area.
The LSS5 project is expected to achieve its commercial operation date in July 2027.
Chow said that the Byram solar farm complements other green initiatives in the state, including plans for floating solar installations at the Mengkuang and Teluk Bahang dams.
However, he noted that these floating solar projects have faced setbacks due to a lack of federal guidelines for installations on dams that supply drinking water.
“We hope the federal government and the relevant agencies will resolve this matter so that floating solar farms can be installed in dams nationwide,” he urged.
The chief minister also linked the project to the recently enforced Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA), which requires large industrial and commercial users to implement stricter energy-saving measures.
He said projects like LSS5 are crucial for reducing the state's carbon footprint and will support national targets to improve energy efficiency by up to 22 per cent by 2040.
Chow then commended the collaboration between the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), its subsidiary Solar Voltech Sdn Bhd, and engineering contractor Solarvest.
Speaking separately, PDC chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar said the corporation will also focus on installing rooftop solar panels on government buildings across the state.
