Malaysia’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) has announced a new round of bidding for the development of 2,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power projects. This initiative falls under the Large Scale Solar (LSS) programme, aiming to increase the country’s renewable energy capacity.
According to Petra, the bidding process is divided into two categories. Package A focuses on ground-mounted solar power plants with capacities ranging between 30 MW and 500 MW. This category has a total allocation of 1.5 gigawatts (GW). Package B is designed for floating or water-based solar projects, with capacities ranging from 10 MW to 500 MW and a total allocation of 500 MW.
The approved solar projects from this bidding round are expected to begin operations by 2027. This is part of Malaysia’s broader efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
In addition to the LSS programme, Malaysia has launched other renewable energy projects. One example is the “Rooftop Solar Initiative” in urban areas such as Kuala Lumpur, which focuses on installing small-scale solar systems on commercial buildings. This initiative has already achieved a total installed capacity of 100 MW, helping reduce electricity costs for businesses while contributing to Malaysia’s renewable energy goals.
In rural areas, the “Solar Villages Programme” has brought off-grid solar systems to remote communities, especially in Sabah and Sarawak. This program aims to provide reliable electricity to areas that previously relied on diesel generators or had no power access. As of 2024, it has deployed solar systems with a combined capacity of 50 MW.
Malaysia has also initiated research into hybrid renewable energy systems, such as combining solar power with energy storage solutions or small hydropower systems. These projects are being developed to improve energy reliability in areas with inconsistent grid connections.
