KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd
(TNB) is actively operationalising its roadmap to achieve 70% renewable energy (RE) capacity by 2050, chief sustainability officer Leo Pui Yong says.
This commitment is manifested, among others, through a robust pipeline, including a 2.5-GW hydro hybrid floating solar initiative and a 500MW solar farm development.
As of 2025, RE accounted for approximately 26.5% of TNB’s total generation capacity, with a total installed green capacity of 4,303MW.
“To anchor these efforts, TNB’s carbon management plan focuses on optimising current generation assets to ensure every MW carries a lower emissions footprint, reinforcing a practical and immediate pathway towards sustainability,” she said at the Sustainability Week Asia 2026 held recently.
While expanding generation capacity is crucial, grid readiness remains the ultimate enabler.
“Under the incentive-based regulation framework, the current regulatory period four (RP4) allocates RM43bil for grid investments, which is more than double the previous cycle.”
This unprecedented capital commitment underscores TNB’s resolve to build a smarter grid capable of managing increased renewable penetration.
To further secure this infrastructure, TNB is launching a battery energy storage system (Bess) pilot to mitigate intermittency and enhance overall grid stability.
TNB’s energy evolution also serves as a regional anchor, Leo said. Existing cross-border links already facilitate security of supply, with 1,000MW of connectivity to Singapore and 380MW to Thailand.
In a major step toward the Asean Power Grid (APG), TNB has operationalised ENEGEM (Energy Exchange Malaysia). This platform facilitates up to 50MW of cross-border green electricity trading, transforming regional integration into a functional and agile ecosystem.
TNB has been actively contributing to the APG, as evidenced by cross-border connectivity projects such as the Vietnam-Malaysia-Singapore, Malaysia-Indonesia, and Malaysia-Sarawak interconnections.
The transmission of RE to Singapore from Laos via Thailand and Malaysia three years ago marked a milestone in the region’s cross-border electricity trade.
It should be noted that the APG is a regional initiative aimed at integrating the electricity networks of South-East Asian countries to enhance energy security, optimise resource sharing, and support the transition to sustainable energy across the region.
The initiative facilitates multilateral power trading and strengthens cross-border interconnectivity among Asean member states.
As global demand evolves, particularly with the growth of data centre investments, speed of delivery is now as essential as sustainability, Leo said, adding that through the Green Lane pathway, TNB is streamlining infrastructure timelines to enable power delivery within a 12-month window.
“This responsiveness reflects close collaboration with customers to meet rapidly growing large-scale energy demand. From policy clarity to infrastructure readiness, Malaysia’s energy transition is moving decisively from a state of ambition to a state of execution,” she said. — Bernama
