KUCHING: The Batang Ai floating solar project has been hailed as a model for renewable energy development, showcasing how hydropower and solar can complement each other to deliver sustainable and reliable electricity.
International Hydropower Association board member, Erik Solheim, who visited the site recently, described the project as inspiring and a glimpse into the future of clean energy.
“The combination of hydropower and floating solar is a perfect mix. When the sun isn’t shining, hydropower acts as the battery; when river flow is low, solar power compensates,” he said during a plenary session at the ‘Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum’ (SAREF) 4.0 today.
Solheim commended Sarawak Energy’s ambition of developing 1.5 gigawatts of floating solar and 3.5 gigawatts of hydropower by 2030, calling the plans remarkable.
He stressed that the world is entering a new era of development, one no longer reliant on coal, oil and gas.
“Today, solar is the cheapest energy in the world. Ecology and economy are no longer in conflict – we can achieve both,” he said.
Citing global examples, Solheim noted that China added 100 gigawatts of solar capacity in just one month earlier this year – more than Japan and India have installed in their entire histories.
India’s Gujarat state, meanwhile, is targeting 100 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030.
From these developments, he highlighted three key lessons: the importance of political leadership, engaging local communities to share in the benefits, and managing geopolitics to ensure projects create jobs locally.
“This is the formula for a green future, and Sarawak is well-placed to be part of it,” Solheim said.
