Bakun floating solar project may take up to 24 months to complete
KUCHING (June 11): The floating solar project at the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) will take 18 to 24 months to complete, said Sarawak Energy Berhad chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili.
A Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report cited Sharbini as saying the Bakun project could take longer to complete compared to a similar project at Batang Ai.
The project will be developed in collaboration with China Three Gorges International Ltd (CTGI) and Shanghai Electric Power T&D Group Co Ltd.
'We've asked them to assist us in studying the development of a solar plant at the Bakun HEP, as the site has a very large water body, and we believe it has strong potential for large-scale solar generation.
'That's why we're collaborating with them, along with other partners as well,' he said after attending the 18th International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai, China on Tuesday.
During the event, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sarawak Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, CTGI, and Shanghai Electric.
According to Sharbini, if the project is successfully delivered, it is expected to generate up to 300 megawatts (MW) of energy in its initial phase.
'(This) could become the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
'We hope to gradually increase that capacity in the coming years, ultimately positioning Sarawak as a regional leader in floating solar energy,' he added.
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