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Daily Express
30-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Large scale Tawau solar plant
Published on: Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Published on: Wed, Apr 30, 2025 Text Size: Phoong (centre) officiating the ceremony. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah took another leap towards a sustainable energy future with the official launch of a 7.5MW large-scale solar tracking power plant in Balung, Tawau, Tuesday. A collaboration between Constant Energy, Woodford Solar Energy Holding Sdn Bhd and Gaya Belian Sdn Bhd, it reflects the State's aggressive shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Calling it a key milestone in Sabah's renewable energy agenda, State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe said the solar plant reflects Sabah's firm commitment to a greener, more sustainable future. 'Today marks a significant moment for Tawau,' he said at the inauguration ceremony, recently. 'The completion of this large-scale solar tracking plant is not only a major step forward in our energy transition journey but also a reflection of the Sabah Government's commitment to a cleaner energy future for all Sabahans,' he added. He noted that Sabah's green energy efforts are gaining momentum. In 2024, the State Government approved 15 solar plant projects, totalling 200MW in capacity. By 2026, Sabah aims to achieve 350MW of solar capacity projected to comprise 20 per cent 25 per cent of the State's energy mix. This marks Sabah's shift away from traditional diesel and fossil fuels towards renewable alternatives. 'These green energy projects will not only diversify our energy sources, but also create high-value job opportunities and drive sustainable economic growth. 'Solar energy is not just about powering homes and businesses, it is about empowering Sabah's green economic transformation,' he said. The 7.5MW solar farm in Balung adopts state-of-the-art solar tracking technology, enabling solar panels to adjust in real-time with the movement of the sun, maximising energy output under various weather conditions. 'By deploying solar tracking systems, it significantly improves energy efficiency while ensuring a stable, clean electricity supply. This is not just a technological innovation, it is a strategic investment in our energy future,' he said. Phoong acknowledged that while Sabah is making great strides in the renewable sector, challenges remain, particularly in financing, as large-scale solar projects require substantial capital. 'Securing early-stage investment remains a hurdle for many businesses. However, the Sabah Government is actively collaborating with private investors and financial institutions to facilitate funding and accelerate project implementation. 'These collaborations not only strengthen Sabah's economy but also enhance our global competitiveness in the green energy market,' he said. He said the transition to renewable energy offers wide-reaching benefits, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality, to building a healthier, more resilient environment. 'Green energy is not just about meeting today's needs. It is about safeguarding our environment for future generations, creating a cleaner, more liveable Sabah for our children,' he said. Phoong reaffirmed that Sabah is entering a new chapter in green energy development. He said the government will continue to invest in renewable energy and support the sector through policy incentives, technological innovation and strategic partnerships. 'Sabah's energy vision goes beyond local supply. We aim to become a vital link in the global green energy supply chain. 'Through innovation and collaboration, we are building a greener Sabah and contributing meaningfully to the global energy transition. 'Sabah is a land of natural beauty and the future of Sabah's green energy industry is full of promise. 'The Sabah Government will continue to champion clean energy projects like solar and wind, driving sustainable progress for our people and contributing to a greener world,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sabah launches solar tracking plant in Tawau
Phoong (centre) and guests cutting a ribbon to officiate 7.5MW large-scale solar tracking power plant in Balung, Tawau. TAWAU (Apr 29): Sabah has marked another milestone in its green energy transition with the official launch of a 7.5MW large-scale solar tracking power plant in Balung, Tawau. The facility is a joint venture between Constant Energy, Woodford Solar Energy Holding Sdn Bhd, and Gaya Belian Sdn Bhd. It was officiated by State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe on Monday. Describing the plant as a major step forward in Sabah's renewable energy journey, Phoong said the project demonstrates the state government's strong commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. 'This is a significant moment for Tawau and Sabah. The solar tracking plant marks our shift away from diesel and fossil fuels toward renewable sources that will benefit all Sabahans,' he said, adding that the state's green energy momentum is gaining pace. In 2024 alone, the state government approved 15 solar projects with a total capacity of 200MW. Sabah aims to increase this figure to 350MW by 2026, making up 20% to 25% of its energy mix. 'These initiatives not only diversify our energy sources but also generate high-value jobs and drive sustainable long-term growth,' he said. 'Solar energy is more than just powering homes and industries — it is powering Sabah's economic transformation.' The Balung plant employs cutting-edge solar tracking technology that allows solar panels to follow the sun's path, maximizing energy output under varying weather conditions. 'This system enhances efficiency and ensures a stable, clean electricity supply. It represents both technological advancement and a strategic investment in Sabah's energy future,' Phoong added. He noted that financing remains a significant challenge for large-scale solar projects, especially in their early stages. However, the state government is actively collaborating with private investors and financial institutions to bridge funding gaps and accelerate implementation. 'Securing early-stage investment remains a hurdle for many businesses, but the Sabah government is committed to supporting these projects through strong public-private partnerships,' he said. Phoong emphasized that the move toward renewable energy extends beyond economics and plays a critical role in environmental conservation. 'Green energy helps reduce emissions, improve air quality, and create a healthier environment for future generations. Our efforts today will ensure a cleaner, more liveable Sabah for our children,' he said. Looking ahead, Phoong said Sabah aims to become a key player in the global green energy supply chain through sustained investment, innovation, and strategic partnerships. 'Sabah's energy vision goes beyond meeting local needs. With innovation and collaboration, we are contributing meaningfully to the global energy transition while building a greener Sabah,' he said. Also present at the launch was Franck Constant, founder and CEO of Constant Energy.
The Star
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
7.5MW solar plant launched in Tawau
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has taken another major step in its green energy transition with the official launch of a 7.5MW large-scale solar tracking power plant in Balung, Tawau. The plant, a joint venture between Constant Energy, Woodford Solar Energy Holding Sdn Bhd, and Gaya Belian Sdn Bhd, was officiated by state Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe on Monday (April 28). Describing the facility as a milestone in Sabah's renewable energy drive, Phoong said the project reflects the state government's commitment to building a cleaner, more sustainable future. 'This is a significant moment for Tawau and for Sabah as a whole. This solar tracking plant signals our shift away from diesel and fossil fuels towards renewable sources that will benefit all Sabahans,' he said, adding that the state's green energy momentum continues to grow. In 2024 alone, the state government approved 15 solar projects with a combined capacity of 200MW. Sabah aims to raise this to 350MW by 2026, which would account for 20% to 25% of the state's energy mix. 'These initiatives not only diversify our energy sources but also generate high-value jobs and drive long-term sustainable growth. 'Solar energy is more than just powering homes and industries, it is powering Sabah's economic transformation,' he said. Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe (sixth right, Constant Energy chief executive officer and founder Franck Constant (seventh right), and other guests cutting the ribbon to officially openthe solar power plant in Balung on Monday (Apr 28). The Balung plant uses state-of-the-art solar tracking technology, enabling panels to follow the sun's movement and maximise energy output under various weather conditions. 'This system enhances efficiency and ensures a stable, clean electricity supply. It is both a technological advancement and a strategic investment in Sabah's energy future,' Phoong said. He acknowledged that financing remains a major challenge for large-scale solar projects, particularly during early stages. However, the state government is working closely with private investors and financial institutions to bridge funding gaps and accelerate implementation. 'Securing early-stage investment remains a hurdle for many businesses, but the Sabah Government is committed to facilitating funding through active collaboration with the private sector and financial institutions. 'These partnerships not only strengthen Sabah's economy but also increase our competitiveness in the global green energy sector.' Phoong stressed that the shift to renewable energy goes beyond economics, it also contributes to environmental preservation. 'Green energy helps reduce emissions, improve air quality, and create a healthier environment for future generations. Our efforts today will ensure a cleaner, more liveable Sabah for our children.' Looking ahead, Phoong said Sabah aims to play a key role in the global green energy supply chain through continued investments, innovation, and strategic partnerships. 'Sabah's energy vision goes beyond meeting local needs. Through innovation and collaboration, we are building a greener Sabah while contributing meaningfully to the global energy transition. 'The state is a land of natural beauty, and the future of Sabah's green energy industry is full of promise. The Sabah government will continue to champion clean energy projects like solar and wind, driving sustainable progress for our people and contributing to a greener world,' he said. Also present at the event was Constant Energy founder and chief executive officer Franck Constant.
Daily Express
29-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
7.5MW solar plant powers up in Tawau
Published on: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Published on: Tue, Apr 29, 2025 Text Size: Sabah marked a major milestone in its renewable energy journey with the launch of a 7.5MW solar tracking power plant in Balung, here. Officiated by Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Phoong Jin Zhe, the project is a collaboration between Constant Energy, Woodford Solar Energy Holding, and Gaya Belian. Phoong hailed the plant as a symbol of Sabah's commitment to a greener future, noting that solar will make up 20 to 25 percent of the state's energy mix by 2026. He said the state approved 15 solar projects in 2024, adding up to 200MW in capacity. The plant features solar tracking technology, boosting efficiency by adjusting panels with the sun's movement. Phoong acknowledged financing remains a challenge for large-scale solar, but stressed that public-private collaboration is driving progress. He reaffirmed the government's push for policy support, innovation, and investment to position Sabah as a green energy leader in the region and beyond. * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
