WITH the installation works of the solar photovoltaic (PV) system via supply agreement of renewable energy (SARE) at the Bertam Sports Complex, Jalan Betek Sports Complex and MBSP office in Jalan Betek being completed, these buildings can now operate using the solar energy.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said the project was a collaboration between the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and its subsidiary company, GSPARX.
Jagdeep said the project was implemented following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the three parties in 2019 to fight against climate change by using the solar energy.
“The SARE programme is among the smart initiatives undertaken by the state government towards a sustainable environment by adopting the renewable energy such as the solar system.
“I hope that this programme can be implemented across all the state government’s office buildings not only on the mainland but on the island as well.
“Apart from helping to fight against the climate change, the solar energy, which replaces the conventional energy, can also help to save electricity cost.
“For these three buildings, it is estimated that nearly RM50,000 can be saved in a year,’’ said Jagdeep when he visited the MBSP office in Jalan Betek this morning.
According to Jagdeep, the SARE programme was fully borne by the TNB and GSPARX.
““I was informed that the MBSP office in Jalan Betek was installed with a total of 160 solar panels costing RM400,000.
“Congratulations to the TNB and GSPARX for the good work that you have done,’’ Jagdeep said while urging the private sector to also adopt the usage of solar energy at the buildings.
Meanwhile, MBSP mayor Datuk Rozali Mahmud said the SARE programme uses the Net Energy Metering (NEM ) scheme which allows to turn the excess energy into credit.
“The NEM scheme enables us to receive credit from the TNB for any excess of solar energy that has been generated.
“In line with the Penang2030 vision, the MBSP is targeting to achieve a 15% of energy consumption on the mainland to come from the renewable energy by year 2030.
“This is not only for the buildings under the MBSP but also for all, thus I would like to call upon the private sector to adopt the green energy as well.
“Some private companies such as IKEA and Micron and a few others have already embraced the usage of solar energy. So, I hope more factories and companies will follow suit,’’ said Rozali while thanking the TNB and GSPARX for swiftly completing the project.
Rozali said the upcoming project pertaining to the solar photovoltaic (PV) system installation at the MBSP building in Bandar Perda is currently on the evaluation stage.
“Once we have completed the evaluation for the project, an MoU is set to take place in November and this would be the biggest project involving the solar system installation,’’ said Rozali.
Separately, Jagdeep expressed his relief on the drop in the number of Covid-19 cases in Penang yesterday which recorded a three-digit number.
“Our ultimate goal is to bring down the number of cases to zero digit.
“We have done it before last year where we remained as a green zone state for 104 days. Let us stay committed and do it once more,’’ he added.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix Ahmad Adil Muhamad