UKM, ACE STRENGTHEN STRATEGIC COLLABORATION IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Institut Penyelidikan Tenaga Suria (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has forged a strategic collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) to strengthen the network of research, innovation and energy policy development in the region, particularly in the fields of renewable energy and sustainable energy transition.

SERI director Prof Dr Norasikin Ahmad Ludin said the cooperation not only strengthens UKM's position as the leader in energy research in the region, but also expands its role in translating innovations to solutions, which have a real impact on the ASEAN community and energy policies.

"Through this collaboration, UKM now only carries out academic research but also plays a role in developing technological solutions and evidence-based policy to support the implementation of the clean energy agenda and achieve net zero emissions in ASEAN by 2050,” she said in a statement today.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the collaboration was signed by UKM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Sufian Jusoh and ACE executive director Datuk Razib Dawood at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.

This is the first time that UKM has inked a written agreement with ACE, although cooperation between the two parties has long been established in several energy-related events before.

According to Norasikin, the collaboration focuses on strengthening the promotion and dissemination of the research results, which can contribute to the development of regional energy policies.

It also encompasses energy-related training, organising conferences and seminars, as well as student and researcher mobility opportunities to expand academic networks and share expertise in the Southeast Asian region.

She said UKM will focus on research in the field of renewable energy, such as new generation solar technology, hybrid energy models, as well as regional energy policy analysis that could support the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC).

"This collaboration provides a great opportunity for researchers to directly contribute towards the development of high-impact energy policies, as well as turn research innovation results into real solutions to energy challenges in the region," he said.

Norasikin said ACE, as the main coordinator of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and regional energy policy reference body, plays a crucial role in applying research conducted by UKM to translate it into real impact through policy intervention, investment strategies and strengthening energy capabilities across ASEAN.

-- BERNAMA