Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia’s flagship airport and gateway to the East, has received a photovoltaic makeover. Solar industry giant SunEdison announced the official launch of a 19 MW solar energy installation that will save the airport 2.1 million RM (AU $715,000) each year in energy costs.
SunEdison partnered with Malaysia’s biggest airport operator, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, to install and operate the system. The project combined ground-mount, parking canopy and rooftop solar panel arrays to maximise exposure to the sun while making the most of limited space available – quite a challenge according to Malaysia Airports’ Managing Director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad.
“Rooftops, parking lots and ‘buffer’ areas at airports are traditionally not multi-purpose facilities, but we’ve turned them into a clean energy generation facility. This initiative also demonstrates our support towards the Government’s initiative in introducing renewable energy and also to further reduce carbon footprint.”
A renewable energy target in the nation’s Tenth Malaysia Plan sets a goal of 5.5 percent solar generating capacity by 2015, rising to 11 percent by 2020. Solar developers also benefit from one of Asia’s most generous solar PV feed-in tariff schemes which can range from MYR1.23 to 0.85 (AU $0.44 to 0.31) per kWh, depending on the size of the installation.
“This project reflects SunEdison’s ability to drive growth through unique development opportunities. In working with Malaysia Airports we were able to help them make money from an under-utilized asset they already had — these spaces can now be harnessed to generate clean energy,” said Pashupathy Gopalan, SunEdison President for Asia, the Middle East, South Africa, and Australia.
“The energy savings, combined with the positive environmental contributions from a solar installation of this size, make this a great step forward for the airport industry and a huge benefit for the local community.”
