Saving money and the planet: Solar panels installed around UPM. — Bernama
SERDANG: More public universities have shown interest in setting up solar panels on their campuses since the rise of electricity tariffs recently, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) minister said that aside from cost savings, the universities would also benefit from the energy transition in terms of research.
“Universities are now looking into transitioning to renewable energy, on how to use the solar panels.
“This leads to positive impacts, not only to save energy costs but also contribute to their research (on renewable energy),” he said at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) here.
Earlier, Nik Nazmi graced the launching event of the UPM Photovoltaic (PV) Rooftop Solar Project, a collaboration between the university and Tenaga Nasional Berhad through its subsidiary GSPARX Sdn Bhd.
The minister said the energy transition initiative at UPM was the biggest among public universities, with energy generation reaching 16 megawatts.
“The university has taken a comprehensive approach, the largest initiative among public universities by (setting up solar panels) on rooftops, parking lots, and the latest one floating,” he added.
UPM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said the rooftop solar PV in the university has generated saving returns worth over RM2.47mil as of September.
“The installation of solar panels at UPM can reduce 14,655 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
It is equivalent to the release of smoke from 3,187 vehicles per year or the absorption of carbon dioxide by 242,320 trees over 10 years,” he said.
