Shifting from diesel to solar energy

One of the fishing boats in Mersing that is equipped with solar photovoltaic panels to replace the traditional diesel generator set, which fishermen relied on for lights and communication when out at sea.

UNIVERSITI Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has launched a project to replace diesel engines on fishing boats with solar panels as a way of introducing a more environmentally-friendly source of energy.

UTM School of Electrical Engineering senior lecturer Dr Syed Norazizul Syed Nasir said the first pilot project was introduced in April last year and operational until today.