Malaysia, like many other nations around the world, recognises the pressing need to address the issue of climate change.
In line with the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and limit the impacts of climate change, the Malaysian government has made a significant commitment and pledged to achieve unconditional target of greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction against GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
It is also aligned with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, highlighting Malaysia’s commitment to work with the international community to create a more sustainable future for all.
To reach this aim in the next seven years, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) will introduce emission reduction targets for specific significant industries, including energy.
The ministry also aims for renewable energy to make up 31 percent of our national energy mix in the next two years.
Integrating renewable energy into our national energy mix is a crucial step towards achieving sustainable and equitable development in Malaysia and an integral part of the sustainability ambitions of the Malaysia Madani concept, which our Prime Minister mooted.
Floating solar power in Cyberjaya
As Cyberjaya’s Tech Hub Developer, Cyberview recently entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a consortium led by Worldwide Holdings Bhd, widely recognised as a leader in environmental management services, to explore the opportunities in promoting new and renewable energy.
Our collaboration is unique in that it will explore the development of a floating solar power plant in Cyberjaya, which will benefit from the combined expertise of Cyberview and the consortium. Together, we will explore the feasibility of this innovative project and share our knowledge and resources to make it a reality.
We will continue to explore other opportunities under the Corporate Green Power Programme, introduced by the Energy Commission last November.
Floating solar plants are considered more efficient than traditional ground-mounted solar plants. In addition, they can be installed on bodies of water that are not being used for other purposes, such as reservoirs and lakes. This means they do not compete with other land uses, such as agriculture or development, and can provide energy without requiring additional land.
At the same time, SolarisFloat, a European company, believes this technology would increase energy production by up to 40 percent.
For the residents of Cyberjaya, there are advantages to developing a floating solar power farm in our lake. A carefully designed floating solar farm would reduce the threat of climate change to lakes, such as evaporation.
Furthermore, it could further reduce wind speed and solar radiation by 10 percent across the entire lake. This could offset an entire decade of warming from climate change.
The Intersection of Renewable Energy and ESG
Cyberview is committed to continually introducing sustainability measures within Cyberjaya to elevate its image as a sustainable, low-carbon smart city. However, this is a long, constantly evolving journey, and there is much more to do.
During the launch event of our collaboration with Roda Emas Industries Sdn Bhd and the Go To-U charging stations at RekaScape, NRECC minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad mentioned that “going green” is not just about electric vehicles (EV) but also looking into how energy charging the cars are generated.
Renewable energy projects such as this floating solar power plant address Nik Nazmi’s concerns and allow us to explore further opportunities to move the city towards further renewable energy projects.
For Cyberview, the floating solar power plant is in line with our recently launched Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Framework and 5-year plan, which includes the development of a low-carbon smart city as a key pillar.
Our action plans to achieve this include reducing total carbon emissions intensity by 5 percent annually, with the carbon emissions in 2022 as a baseline. Other efforts involve looking into building materials with recycled content and 100 percent waste segregation at the source.
We are confident that our efforts align with the Malaysia Madani concept. However, it is important to note that such sustainability frameworks are critical to achieving our national goals and are increasingly sought after by today’s socially responsible investors.
A survey by the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants and PWC last September showed that ESG considerations are now the top priority in investment decision-making.
By integrating ESG factors into our efforts, we contribute to sustainable development and strengthen Cyberjaya’s reputation and attractiveness to investors who prioritise ESG considerations.
From Profits to Purpose
As we see unpredictable weather causing worse floods affecting the nation and rising sea levels, efforts are being taken in the country to mitigate disasters and increase awareness towards a sustainable future.
Even within our collaborative ecosystem in Cyberjaya, our stakeholders, businesses, and communities are seriously considering the national climate change agenda.
Last year, we partnered with Yinson Greentech to develop a Smart Mobility ecosystem and implement related technologies, including vehicle electrification, autonomous vehicles, mobility as a service, and intelligent transport systems, using Cyberjaya as a service sandbox.
Kumpool, now exploring opportunities with Prasarana Nasional to service LRT and MRT stations, used Cyberjaya as a testbed for their mobility as a service model.
Meanwhile, Vantage is building sustainable data centres to reduce emissions, and Urban Farm Tech is looking into creating healthy, self-sustaining cities through urban farming, incorporating indoor farming and aquaponics in the Collaboration Campus.
The city has also embraced the sustainability agenda with solar panels on parking lot roofs, a community recycling centre, and the embracing of green buildings through the Platinum Rated Green Building Index certification earned by our Raja Haji Fi Sabilillah Mosque.
In fact, the city is designed to be future proofed in terms of sustainable urban development. Cyberview through its subsidiary, Pendinginan Megajana Sdn Bhd (Megajana) has been adopting centralised cooling across Cyberjaya through chilled water since 1999. Today, 46 buildings in Cyberjaya are being cooled through Megajana’s 2 district cooling plants. With the chilled water solution, the city is currently able to reduce approximately 7,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, as compared to traditional cooling.
With all these efforts already in play, Cyberview is always looking for collaborators with action plans for Cyberjaya, subsequently making Malaysia a more vibrant, innovative, and sustainable nation.
We encourage organisations to come and visit our global tech hub and let’s start discussing how your action plans can work in a sandbox environment within our low-carbon smart city, Cyberjaya.
By Dr Mohd Hafiz Ibrahim, Acting Managing Director, Cyberview
