New energy solution: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (right), visiting an exhibition booth at the Penang Green Summit 2025 held at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s plan to generate electricity from its reservoirs has hit a snag after the Department of Environment’s (DOE) objection to the installation of floating solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays in reservoirs that supply drinking water.
State infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said DOE currently allowed floating PV systems only on water bodies for non-potable use.
Speaking at the Penang Green Summit 2025 here yesterday, he urged the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry and DOE to review the policy and issue clear guidelines on the installation of PV panels over drinking-water sources.
Zairil said Penang was exploring floating-solar technology as part of its goal to derive 10% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, in view of limited suitable land.
Penang Water Supply Corporation had begun assessing several reservoirs for solar PV, and hoped federal agencies would introduce new standards that balance safety with environmental protection and clean-energy generation, noting that floating solar PV panels over drinking water supply infrastructure can be seen in other countries.
“If Singapore and many other countries could use their reservoirs, Malaysia should be able to do the same,” he said, adding that the move would help Penang cut reliance on conventionally-generated power.
The state was also studying the feasibility of floating solar on sea, though there are challenges such as waves, tides and currents.
“Discussions are underway with several partners to test the technology’s suitability in Penang.
“We are surrounded by water, and we should make full use of it as part of our sustainable energy mix,” he said, adding that floating PV systems would also help power the upcoming 283.28ha Green Tech Park on Penang’s Silicon Island, which the state has pledged to run entirely on renewable energy.
He said solar PV would be the main energy source through rooftop installations, off-site procurement, and where suitable, from floating systems, adding that Penang’s green-energy transition required joint effort from the government, private sector, academia and community.
Environmental law researcher Assoc Prof Dr Abd Rani MN of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Malaysia’s renewable energy laws had yet to catch up with floating PV.
In a 2024 paper, he wrote that there were still no clear guidelines on using water surfaces for power generation, with issues such as water rights, safety, and environmental assessments spread across multiple agencies.
Malaysia already has small-scale floating PV projects on reservoirs owned by Tenaga Nasional Bhd, such as a pilot project at Kenyir Dam in Terengganu, and Sarawak Energy’s 50MW installation at Batang Ai.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s PV expert, Dr Mohd Zamir Pakhuruddin, said floating PV could alter aquatic ecosystems by reducing sunlight, affecting plant and microalgae growth.
However, he said the same shading could help control algal blooms and improve water quality in certain reservoirs.
“Floating systems can cut evaporation by up to 90%, and this helps with water security in dry areas,” he said.
Zamir added that the cooling effect of water beneath the panels could boost power generation compared with land-based systems, but warned that materials used must not leach chemicals into the water.
Site-specific studies, he said, were needed to understand how such installations affect sediments and aquatic life.
