Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has launched Malaysia’s first grid-connected Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a capacity of 100 megawatts (MW) and 400 megawatt-hours (MWh) at the PMU 132/33kV Santong BESS facility in Dungun, Terengganu.
It is aimed at strengthening electricity supply stability and supporting the country’s renewable energy transition.
The project, officiated by Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, forms part of TNB’s efforts to reinforce the national grid infrastructure under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Ir. Ts. Shamsul Ahmad said the facility acts as a large-scale “energy bank” capable of storing electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as large-scale solar farms and hydro hybrid floating solar systems before releasing it back into the grid when needed.
He said the system uses liquid-cooled technology and grid-forming capabilities to support larger-scale renewable energy integration while responding rapidly to supply and demand imbalances, particularly during peak periods or system disruptions.
According to TNB, the BESS Santong facility can support electricity demand equivalent to around 40,000 households in the East Coast, depending on consumption patterns.
The company added that the project was completed within 309 days from commencement to commissioning, reflecting faster deployment of energy infrastructure projects.
TNB said digital and analytics-driven systems are also being used to forecast electricity demand, optimise power distribution and conduct real-time asset monitoring to improve grid efficiency and flexibility as renewable energy adoption expands nationwide.
