SolarDuck AS has joined hands with project partners, TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd (TRe) and TNB Research Sdn Bhd (TNBR), wholly owned subsidiaries of Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Hydro Extrusion Norway AS to roll out an offshore floating solar project in Malaysia.
“We are extremely pleased to start our work together with TRe, TNBR and Hydro. For SolarDuck, this means that we are building a footprint in Malaysia, a country in a region with the world’s largest potential for offshore floating solar”, says Koen Burgers, CEO SolarDuck.
SolarDuck will be establishing a 780kW offshore floating solar (OFS) plant. It will be set up off the coast of Tioman Island in Malaysia. The technical and economic feasibility of offshore floating solar in Malaysia will be evaluated. The installation target is 2025.
“The main goal of TNB is to get to net zero while providing a reliable and cost-competitive energy supply without jeopardizing the environment. Offshore floating solar provides an exciting opportunity for achieving this”, stated Zarihi Hashim, Chief New Energy Officer, TNB.
“We are excited to be part of building a new industry for offshore floating solar. Solar energy is an important part of the necessary shift to renewable energy, and aluminium profiles are the perfect fit for such installations being light-weight and requiring no maintenance for several decades”, says Bruno D’hondt, Senior Vice President in Hydro Extrusions.
Southeast Asia confronts the challenge of wind scarcity. At the same time, paucity of land is another headwind for the growth of solar in the region. Offshore floating solar will help address the challenges.
