Thailand's B GRIMM eyes RM4.26bil investment in Malaysia's RE sector
B. Grimm's chairman and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Harald Link, said the decision was prompted by both countries being neighbours and the company having a close friendship in Malaysia over the last 20 years.
He said this would be an expansion for B. Grimm which has already invested around RM200 million in Malaysia's RE sector to date, having entered the market during the COVID-19 period.
"B. Grimm can continue to bring its expertise in solar power plants, industrial power, RE as well as in independent power producers (IPPs) to Malaysia," he told Bernama in an interview recently.
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The interview was held after Link was awarded the Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (SSAP) which carries the title "Datuk Seri" in conjunction with the 66th birthday of the Sultan of Pahang at Balai Mahkota, Istana Abdulaziz on July 28, 2025.
Link said B. Grimm was now looking to strengthen its presence in Malaysia after acquiring 45 per cent stakes in reNIKOLA Holdings Sdn Bhd back in 2021 for RM367 million in cash.
The acquisition of 45 per cent-interest in the enlarged share capital of reNIKOLA Holdings was made through its wholly owned subsidiary, B. Grimm Power Malaysia Sdn Bhd whereas, the remaining 55 per cent in reNikola is owned by reNikola Sdn Bhd.
B. Grimm had previously injected RM152.5 million into reNIKOLA and the company acquired two solar power projects, located in Kuala Muda in Kedah and Machang in Kelantan with a total installed capacity of 90 MegaWatts (MW).
Both Kuala Muda and Machang projects were entered into with a 21-year power purchase agreement with Tenaga Nasional Bhd.
ReNIKOLA Holdings also owns solar power assets in Arau, Perlis, Gebeng and Pekan in Pahang.
It would develop a large-scale solar plant in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah (pending issuance of licence), all totalling 418 MegaWatt-peak on completion.
Elaborating on B. Grimm's expertise, he said "the IPP is very easy for us, whether you build a 140 MW plant or a 1,400 MW plant, it's the same. It's just that the turbine is a bit bigger or smaller, but the complexity is the same".
"However, the industrial power plant is more complex if you deliver to the state or country" for which B. Grimm has the expertise, having made a name regionally and globally.
B. Grimm had also incorporated a company selling spare parts for air conditioners and refrigerators 20 years ago.
But now, B. Grimm is trying to get into the combine cycle gas business in Malaysia and exploring opportunities for gas-fired power projects.
"We have many projects in Thailand and we are the largest supplier of power in 10 special economic zones, and we are also active in three countries, namely Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. We are really good in supplying uninterrupted electricity to the industries," he said.
Among the power plants operated by B. Grimm is a 140-MW co-generation plant in Chon Buri province, located in the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate, which began supplying electricity to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and industries within the estate.
Link said that uninterrupted power supply is crucial for industries, for which B. Grimm has the solution and expertise, operating a distribution network that caters to both medium- and high-voltage power requirements.
Apart from gas-based energy, B. Grimm supplies solar power from rooftops and batteries and despite the perception that Malaysia has limited capacity for wind energy due to geographic and climate factors, he emphasised that extracting power from wind energy is possible.
"We have invested in hydropower, wind power, solar power and gas, and we're doing this in more than 15 countries.
"We were the first private entity to build an offshore wind plant in South Korea. We built it with turbines, with each wind turbine standing between 100 and 150 metres tall, with the generator, blades and gearbox located at the top. The gearbox is used to transfer power," he said.
Link also said that B. Grimm has invested in a company in Germany that eliminates the need for a gearbox, which results in fewer mechanical issues and reduces the risk of breakdowns.
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