Premier: Sarawak to tap into floating solar installations potential on hydro dams reservoirs

KUCHING (Oct 23): The water reservoirs at Bakun, Murum, and in the near future, Baleh, will provide huge areas for floating solar installations, said Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said this huge potential of solar resources can be used to pump water and subsequently utilised to generate power during unavailability of the sunlight, thereby providing additional and sustainable energy for Sarawak.

“This not only addresses our water management needs but also supports our goals of sustainability and energy efficiency,” he said in his keynote address at the Borneo International Water and Wastewater Exhibition and Conference (BIWWEC) 2024 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.

He added that these initiatives highlight Sarawak’s proactive approach to preparing its water and wastewater infrastructure for the demands of a growing population and a changing environment.

Abang Johari said renewable energy derived from water at hydropower plants such as Batang Ai, Bakun and Murum provided sustainable use of Sarawak’s water resources to achieve generation mix comprising predominantly renewable sources.

“Future renewable hydropower will also be implemented through cascading power sources with a series of smaller reservoirs which will have minimal impact on the environment and displacement of affected communities.

“The reservoir for the hydropower provides potentially suitable sites for floating solar, which can be used with PHES (pumped hydro energy storage), thereby increasing further renewable energy generation from water resources,” he said.

He informed that a 50MW floating solar farm is currently under construction at Batang Ai Hydropower reservoir, which upon its completion by this year end will become the largest floating solar farm in Malaysia.

“These efforts reflect Sarawak’s dedication to safeguard our environment while ensuring a reliable and sustainable water supply and utilisation for future generations,” he remarked.

During the ceremony, Abang Johari witnessed the exchange of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between several organisations, namely Affin Islamic Bank Berhad and the Malaysian Water Association (Sarawak Branch); Weida Resources (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd and Singapore’s HSL Constructor Pte Ltd; Malaysian Water Association (MWA) and Singapore Water Association; International Water Association (IWA) and MWA; and IWA and Persatuan Perusahaan Air Minum Seluruh Indonesia (Perpamsi).

Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Utility and Telecommunication Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi and his deputies Datuk Liwan Lagang and Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, as well as BIWWEC organising chairperson Rodziah Mohamad.