BERNAMA
22/4/2021
KUALA LUMPUR: Intel’s Malaysian operations are now harnessing solar energy to help power its six buildings at its Kulim and Penang sites.
This is thanks to a new 3.2 megawatt (MW) solar installation completed in January this year.
In a statement, Intel said the project is its largest solar farm outside of the US.
The installation is achieving 4.1MW in total installed capacity, which is provided by Nefin, a renewable energy developer.
The completion of this project contributes about 15% of Intel’s global on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) electric power capacity. It will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 3,800 tonnes.
“Our continued investments in alternative energy is a key pillar of Intel’s continued commitment to operate our manufacturing facilities with the lowest impact to the environment.
“The use of renewable power generated on-site at Intel Malaysia is a critical part of our … RISE 2030 goals of achieving 100% renewable power,” said Robin Martin, Intel Malaysia’s corporate vice-president and general manager of assembly test manufacturing and managing director.
RISE 2030 builds on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set in 2015 by the United Nations general assembly and is intended to be achieved by 2030.
The new solar farm panels at Intel Malaysia cover an area equivalent to 900 car park spaces and an additional 50,208 sq ft on the buildings’ rooftops, generating 6,000MWh of electricity annually.
The buildings’ electricity demand during peak hours is replaced partially by solar power.
The energy supply from solar sources also helps diversify and introduce renewable energy into the energy supply mix, which was predominantly powered by natural gas and coal sources.
In line with the World Earth Day theme of “Restore Our Earth”, Intel reaffirmed its commitment to conserve energy and expand its renewable energy projects and energy-efficient technologies in technology design and operations in combating climate change.
It has already deployed several solar thermal systems for the supply of domestic hot water to all its branches in Malaysia to eliminate its dependence on conventional fuel sources and will continue the expansion of clean and green energy sources to reduce emissions.
