Sarawak’s Bakun Dam to Launch Giant Floating Solar Farm by 2027
Sarawak's ambitious renewable energy targets are to gain traction with the imminent opening of a gigantic floating solar farm on the reservoir of the Bakun hydroelectric dam. The initial phase, to be completed within 18 to 24 months, is to produce power of up to 300MW. Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) sees the project as having the potential to become Southeast Asia's largest of its kind.
Collaborative Efforts to Drive Innovation
The project moved a long way forward recently when Sarawak's Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Three Gorges International Ltd (CTGI) and Shanghai Electric Power T&D Group Co Ltd at the International Solar Photovoltaic and Smart Energy Conference in Shanghai. The MoU sets up a framework for collaborative studies to investigate the development of floating solar capacity at Bakun, potentially scale up to 1,000MW.
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A Vision for Southeast Asia's Renewable Energy Future
As one of Southeast Asia's tallest and largest dams, Bakun's reservoir measures 695 sq km, which poses a promising site for the solar farm. SEB, which purchased the Bakun dam in 2017 for RM2.5 billion, has already incorporated the dam into Sarawak's renewable energy scheme.
We are committed to making a difference with our investments in renewable energy. The successful roll-out of a floating solar farm in Bakun is ready to complement Sarawak's overall renewable energy plan, with the target to have 1,500MW of solar power by 2030.
In addition to the Bakun project, SEB is also considering similar projects at Murum dam and other hydroelectric schemes, bringing Sarawak nearer to its goal of being ASEAN's renewable energy hub. The project fits into the vision of the state as a regional renewable energy hub for cross-border trade in energy as well as creating energy security.
