Coara Marang's Ability To Turn Flood-prone Area Into LSS Farm An Amazing Feat - PETRA

MARANG, May 27 (Bernama) -- The act of "braving" a flood-prone area to develop the Coara Marang Large Scale Solar (LSS) farm is not only amazing, but its ability to supply electricity to an estimated over 10,000 households daily is also extraordinary.

Even though the 242.8-hectare (600-acre) site in Merchang is identified as an annual flood-risk area, it didn't deter Coara Marang Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between IB Vogt and Coara Solar Sdn Bhd, from establishing a solar farm. They achieved this by implementing innovations without sacrificing sustainability principles or destroying the original environmental conditions.

Naim Roni, 35, the Asset Manager of LSS Coara Marang, stated that the solar farm's development emphasized a "green culture" concept from the outset, including the use of land with low market value.

"We want to try new things in terms of the green energy concept, including optimizing land that doesn't have high market value. This project indirectly increases the value of the land while generating clean green energy," he said.

Naim made these remarks to reporters after a visit to the solar farm during the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) East Zone Squad Tour program, which ran for two days from May 24-25 in Kelantan and Terengganu recently.

Furthermore, Naim explained that due to the annual flood risk, the solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting structure is five meters high, which is slightly different from other solar farms where the typical height is one to two meters from the ground.

"In Malaysia, this PV structure is the tallest at five meters, designed to ensure that when flood season arrives, there are no safety issues like electrical shock or damage to our equipment.

"In addition, these modules are installed with a single-axis tracker system that allows the PV to move with the sun for optimal generation," he said.

He added that the solar farm also operates 24 hours a day with two daily shifts and is supported by a fully prepared maintenance team during the monsoon season.

The LSS Coara Marang, which was launched on October 26, 2022, involved a cost of RM400 million and construction of the solar farm began in February 2021 before achieving commercial operation on September 17, 2022.

Meanwhile, PETRA Secretary-General Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, when met at the solar farm, said that the development and operation of large-scale solar plants like LSS Coara Marang are in line with the government's targets under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which prioritizes the shift to clean and renewable energy.

"Malaysia aims to increase the renewable energy mix in the national electricity system to 40 percent by 2035 and 70 percent by 2050," he said.

Mad Zaidi noted that as one of the most technologically advanced and efficient solar farms, LSS Coara Marang plays a crucial role in contributing to these targets.

He added that besides helping to reduce carbon emissions, the project also serves as a model for disaster-resilient solar plant designs suitable for development in high-risk flood areas, thereby strengthening the resilience of the nation's energy sector.

Consequently, Mad Zaidi encouraged companies entering this new energy transition industry to continuously innovate and adapt in their efforts to empower green technology for environmental sustainability and human life.

-- BERNAMA