Amcorp solar power plant largest in Malaysia
Amcorp Properties Berhad (AMPROP)’s latest green energy venture, the Amcorp Gemas 10.25MW Solar Power Plant located in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, said to be the largest single site solar power plant in Malaysia has successfully commissioned and is running on full capacity.
The Amcorp Gemas 10.25MW Solar Power Plant in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan
The commissioning of the Plant is in line with the Company’s announcement on 3 June 2013 stating that it had, via its wholly owned subsidiaries, namely Gubahan Ceria Sdn Bhd (GCSB) and Cemara Angsana Sdn Bhd (CASB), respectively signed the Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreements (REPPA) with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) on 31 May 2013 for the supply and delivery of 10.25MW renewable energy from solar photovoltaic (PV) collectively produced by these subsidiaries, for a feed-in-tariff concession period of 21 years. The estimated value of the REPPA is approximately RM11 million per year and is expected to contribute positively to the future earnings of the AMPROP Group.
The Amcorp Gemas 10.25MW Solar Power Plant, comprising of GCSB’s 4.5MW power unit together with CASB’s respective 4.5MW and 1.25MW power units, is favoured for its prime location site as it is situated within close proximity to TNB’s Gemas Power Management Unit (PMU). This has brought considerable benefits to AMPROP as there were significant cost savings on its interconnection expenses between the Plant and TNB’s Gemas PMU.
Significant savings on interconnection as Amcorp Gemas 10.25MW Solar Power Plant is located next to Gemas PMU
GCSB’s 4.5MW power unit and CASB’s 4.5MW and 1.25MW power units were granted their Initial Operation Commencement in December 2013 by TNB. The Initial Operation Commencement Approval essentially allows the solar farm to commence its testing, commissioning and reliability test runs of its operations.
Following the successful completion of the test runs, both GCSB and CASB’s power units were pronounced to be running on full capacity and upon final submission of relevant documentation to Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia, the two power units were granted the final Feed-In-Tariff (FiT) Approvals by SEDA, which marks the Official Commercial Operation of the Amcorp Gemas 10.25MW Solar Power Plant. The FiT Approvals, in essence, allow GCSB and CASB the right to operate the Amcorp Gemas 10.25MW Solar Power Plant, produce electricity and sell it at the premium FiT rate of return of RM0.874/kwh.
With the expectation that the Malaysian economy will grow over the concession period, electricity demand for the nation is likewise estimated to increase concurrently. The growth in electricity demand is heavily influenced by the strong pulling force from the industrial sector (mainly from the manufacturing sector) and the service sector which contributes to the largest share of the country’s GDP forecast. In tandem with the increased demand, energy generation in Malaysia is projected to grow over the outlook period at an average annual rate of 2.8%, doubling from 105.1TWh in 2009 to 217TWh in 2035. The impending reduction of fossil fuel subsidies, depleting resources, limited alternative power sources and greater environment awareness have ignited a shift in energy reliance towards renewable energy. In line with this shift, the Amcorp Gemas 10.25MW Solar Power Plant will not only be able to create greater value and wealth to the AMPROP Group, but also lend support to the Malaysian Government’s efforts to promote green technology within the country.
