US keen to make Malaysia solar PV hub
Thứ sáu, 19/10/2012 - 10:31
"More multinational companies including from US and Taiwan have also come to Malaysia to invest in this area," he told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Petronas' First Solar PV Installation here today.
KUALA LUMPUR: Companies from the United States are keen to make Malaysia the Asean hub for the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, said Minister of Energy, Green. He said during his meeting with the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) earlier this morning, the members of AMCHAM had spoken of the potential they saw for the industry in Malaysia.
"More multinational companies including from US and Taiwan have also come to Malaysia to invest in this area," he told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Petronas' First Solar PV Installation here today.
Other than having a good climate for the solar industry, the success of investments made in Malaysia and the country's efficient production facilities were also cited by AMCHAM members as factors that would help grow the industry.
"The members also asked the government to help companies involved in the industry to maintain their status here," he said, adding that based on records, many US companies had already made investments in the local solar PV industry.
Earlier in his speech, Peter Chin said Malaysia had attracted more than RM14 billion in solar PV foreign direct investments until 2010, translating into an estimated 10,000 job-creation by end of 2011.
"The implementation of the feed-in-tariff on Dec 1, 2011 was a major policy instrument that has boosted the development of renewable energy in the country, particularly in solar PV," he added.
Meanwhile, the solar PV system installed on the roof-top of Suria KLCC shopping mall is part of Petronas' Solar PV project piloted in collaboration with Mitsubishi Corp to develop its capability in PV technology management and assess technology performance.
It is the largest single installation of solar PV on a shopping mall rooftop in Southeast Asia and has six different technologies installed at a single location in the country with the potential to harness the most energy from the sun.
The installation of the solar system which started in April 2011 was fully commissioned in February this year and is now supplying of about 30 per cent of Suria KLCC's power requirements.--BERNAMA.
By LM