GSPARX, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), has clinched another large-scale solar purchasing agreement, securing a project to install rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in twelve Ministry of Works and Public Works Department (JKR) buildings throughout the country. With a total capacity of 1,221kWp, it is one of the biggest renewable energy projects acquired by GSPARX to date, and the first awarded by a government ministry to the company.

The project will see the installation of solar PV panels in the JKR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, the main building and hall of the Ministry of Works, as well as the JKR Electrical Engineering Branch buildings in ten states: Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Perlis, Terengganu, and Johor.

Over the course of the 21-year contract, the total green energy generated is estimated to be 1,505,801kWh annually, which is capable of offsetting 1,065 metric tonnes of greenhouse gases that is equivalent to:

• the greenhouse gas emissions of 230 cars on the highway,
• the CO₂ absorption of 17,604 tree seedlings over 10 years, or
• the CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion to generate the energy needed to charge 135,778,652 smartphones.

Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan

On top of the huge environmental impact, TNB’s Chief Retail Officer, Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan shared that TNB and GSPARX are committed to complete the solar installation at all 12 buildings in 4-6 months’ time. “Once completed, the project is expected to deliver savings of over RM200,000 from their energy consumption in just the first year alone, and an estimated RM9.27 million across the duration of the 21-year contract.”

This project will be the fourth-largest clinched by GSPARX, which has gradually built a sizeable client portfolio. Its largest clients include Mydin Mall, with a total system size of 8,271kWp across six locations, Malaysia Airlines Berhad with the single largest system size of 2,210kWp in KLIA, Ain Medicare Sdn Bhd in four locations (total 2,037.41kWp), and now JKR and its 1,221kWp size across 12 locations.

It is no surprise that GSPARX has an increasing list of customers. Thanks to the company’s special Zero Capex Solution programme, government, commercial and industrial entities do not need to make any initial payment to install the solar PV panels nor maintain them – the GSPARX team will install as well as provide regular maintenance and repair works for the panels and system for free throughout the 21-year contract period. In exchange, the buildings will enjoy a fixed and lower solar tariff for the next 21 years. There is also an Outright Purchase option where the customer purchases the system outright and enjoy immediate savings.

GSPARX does not only provide solar PV panel installations for commercial, industrial, and government entities – there is also a residential option for Malaysians looking to do their bit for the environment and save money at the same time. Thanks to the Net Energy Metering 3.0 mechanism by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), solar PV panels installed on residential homes can not only directly offset electricity bills, but any additional electrical energy generated will be transferred to the TNB grid and the equivalent tariff rates converted into credits that offsets future bills for up to 12 months.

Elmie Fairul Mashuri

Elmie Fairul Mashuri, Managing Director of GSPARX, explained, “Based on the amount of solar PV panels installed, a customer can offset between 30& to 90% of their regular electricity bills and break even within 5-6 years, after which the electricity generated results in pure savings.”

As the driver of Malaysia’s energy industry, TNB has remains committed to a gradual shift into sustainable energy and its target of a renewable energy (RE) generating capacity of 8,300MW by 2025. Its wholly-owned subsidiary GSPARX allows TNB the agility to move aggressively into the solar energy harvesting space, one of the fastest-growing sectors in RE. Through GSPARX and its other RE initiatives (including hydroelectric and wind), TNB is confident of achieving its sustainable energy goals.

• TAGS:
• Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan
• Elmie Fairul Mashuri
• GSPARX
• Malaysia Airlines Berhad
• Mydin
• Solar Energy
• Solar Technology
• Tenaga Nasional Berhad
• TNB