SEDA Identifies Solar, Hydro, Bioenergy As Key Drivers Of Perak’s Energy Transition

IPOH, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- Perak has already established a substantial renewable energy (RE) base and possesses clear potential for further expansion, said Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) chief executive officer Datuk Hamzah Hussin.

While presenting a detailed overview of the state’s potential and outlining its key priorities for the next five years at Green Tech Perak 2025, Hamzah said SEDA has awarded 260.36 megawatts (MW) of projects in Perak under the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Programme as of October this year, with the largest capacity coming from small hydro (161.49 MW), followed by biogas (47.079 MW) and biomass (27.5 MW).

“A recent SEDA study also identified approximately 78.85 MW of additional viable small hydro potential along suitable rivers in Perak, reaffirming its status as a hydro-rich state.

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“For the Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme, Perak has been awarded 207.46 MW of quota, with most of the uptake (112.49 MW) coming from the NEM3.0 Net Offset Virtual Aggregation (NOVA) category, primarily driven by commercial and industrial users,” he said as a panellist at the “Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) for Industrial Advantage” forum here today.

Hamzah said SEDA recommends that Perak prioritise hydro and small hydro over the next five years, as this aligns directly with the Perak Sejahtera 2030 goal of expanding mini hydro projects, especially to supply clean and reliable energy to communities not fully connected to the main grid.

“The state should continue to support industrial and commercial solar because the demand pattern is already strong under the NOVA programme. Even when the Accelerated Transition Action Programme (ATAP) replaces NEM, factories and businesses in Perak’s industrial corridors will remain major buyers of rooftop solar and green electricity,” he added.

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In addition, Hamzah said there is room to grow bioenergy (biogas and biomass), which is supported by Perak’s agriculture and agro-industry profile, and which can complement the state’s energy mix.

He noted that the pre-feasibility findings by the Minerals and Geoscience Department Malaysia in 2016 indicated a geothermal potential of approximately 162 MW in Ulu Slim, Perak, which is also well-positioned to attract green manufacturing in solar components and battery systems.

Hamzah said SEDA’s strategic focus areas for the next three to five years include efforts to scale up rooftop solar growth by ensuring stable and predictable policy frameworks, supported by more digitalised and user-friendly processes.

SEDA will also expand community-energy programmes to widen public participation through community-based models and shared participation structures.

“A major focus is to strengthen data governance and reporting to track RE performance accurately, support evidence-based decision-making, and improve transparency.

“In parallel, SEDA will support emerging technologies, including battery storage, modern bioenergy systems, and hydrogen pilot projects. Finally, SEDA aims to build a competent green workforce through structured green-jobs pathways and targeted micro-credential programmes, alongside efforts to enhance state-federal alignment to standardise processes and reduce administrative bottlenecks,” he said.

In his concluding remarks, Hamzah said Perak has clear strengths it can build on, especially in solar and hydro projects.

“With coordinated action between the state, federal agencies, investors and industries, Perak can position itself as a leading hub for RE development and help drive Malaysia’s broader transition toward a cleaner, more resilient and more competitive energy future,” he said.

-- BERNAMA