Jan 30 2014
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the operator and manager of Malaysia's 39 airports, and SunEdison, a leading solar technology manufacturer and provider of solar energy services, today announced the launch of Malaysia's first airport solar power system at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The 19 MW (megawatt) DC (direct current) installation — the largest in Malaysia as of interconnection — combines ground-mount, parking canopy and roof-top systems to maximize electricity savings and return on investment while minimizing the use of space.
SunEdison and MAHB Announce First Malaysian Solar Installation at KLI. (PRNewsFoto/SunEdison)
The solar power installation is expected to save the airport approximately 2.1 million RM (~US$627,000) annually based on current energy costs.
Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Malaysia Airports' Managing Director, said, "Malaysia has an ideal climate for solar power and therefore we are taking steps to generate clean energy which will be beneficial to everyone in Malaysia. We are working with SunEdison to ensure our efforts produce the results we expect."
SunEdison faced a significant challenge — generating the maximum return on investment for Malaysia Airports while working with the limited space available in the airport. The solution was to install ground-mount, parking canopy and roof-top systems on airport land that was not suitable for other revenue-generating activity. Parking canopies combine the benefits of covered parking with the economic benefit of generating electricity at an economical and predictable price. Utilizing airport roof-top space and the land surrounding the airport allows electricity to be generated at the point of consumption, removing the need for costly transmission lines.
"Rooftops, parking lots and 'buffer' areas at airports are traditionally not multi-purpose facilities, but we've turned them into a clean energy generation facility," said Tan Sri Bashir. "This initiative also demonstrates our support towards the Government's initiative in introducing renewable energy and also to further reduce carbon footprint."
"This project reflects SunEdison's ability to drive growth through unique development opportunities. In working with Malaysia Airports we were able to help them make money from an under-utilized asset they already had — these spaces can now be harnessed to generate clean energy," said Pashupathy Gopalan, SunEdison President for Asia, the Middle East, South Africa, and Australia. "The energy savings, combined with the positive environmental contributions from a solar installation of this size, make this a great step forward for the airport industry and a huge benefit for the local community."
The SunEdison Renewable Operation Center (ROC) will provide 24/7 solar system management and monitoring services to ensure the installation continues to perform as expected over the system's lifetime.
"The completion of this project is very exciting for everyone involved," said Gopalan. "Projects like this reflect our focus on growing the industry and SunEdison, and with the excellent feed-in tariff program in Malaysia we look forward to helping additional airports in Malaysia — and around the world — use solar to save money."
About Malaysia Airports
Malaysia Airports manages and operates 39 airports in Malaysia: 5 international, 16 domestic and 18 Short Take-Off and Landing Ports (STOL Ports). On November 30, 1999, Malaysia Airports became the first airport company to be listed in Asia.
KL International Airport (KLIA), its flagship airport was thrice voted as the Best Airport (15-25 million passengers per annum) in the 2005 AETRA awards, 2006 ACI-ASQ awards and 2007 ACI-ASQ awards while the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT-KLIA) was named CAPA Low Cost Airport of the Year at the CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence 2006. KLIA has also taken a big stride in the realisation of becoming a global integrated hub by launching the Next Generation Hub concept, an initiative aiming to position the ultra-modern airport as a complete hub for all.
Malaysia Airports has been awarded by Enterprise Asia with the prestigious Community Engagement Award in the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards (AREA) 2009 Malaysia, in recognition of Malaysia Airports' commitment towards the betterment of the surrounding community which they operate in. It was also the recipient of Airport Investment Company of the Year award in the 2010 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Aerospace & Defense Award.
About SunEdison
SunEdison is a global leader in semiconductor and solar technology. SunEdison's semiconductor business has been a pioneer in the design and development of silicon wafer technologies for over 50 years. With R&D and manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia, SunEdison enables the next generation of high performance semiconductor devices. SunEdison's solar business develops, finances, installs and operates distributed power plants, delivering predictably priced solar energy and services for its commercial, government and utility customers. SunEdison's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SUNE."
As of June 30, 2013, SunEdison has interconnected over 1.1 Gigawatts of solar energy. For more information about SunEdison, please visit www.sunedison.com.