TNB: Stronger, Smarter Grid Driving Malaysia’s Clean Energy Transition

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s transition to clean energy will only succeed with a power grid that is stronger, smarter and capable of supporting significantly higher levels of renewable energy (RE), Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) chief strategy and ventures officer Ir Dr Mohd Fadzil Mohd Siam said.

In his address at the Clean Energy Transition Asia (CETA) summit held here recently, he emphasised that system readiness is the foundation of a credible and investable transition.

“A key emphasis was the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly as monsoon patterns and extreme weather intensify across the region,” he said.

He said that strengthening critical assets and reinforcing grid resilience are essential to safeguard reliability, protect communities and maintain long-term investor confidence in Malaysia’s energy system.

In his presentation at CETA attended by over 100 global energy leaders, investors and policymakers, he also highlighted the increasing relevance of emerging technologies such as hydrogen, battery energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. 

These technologies, he said, will play a central role in enhancing system flexibility, smoothing renewable intermittency and enabling Malaysia to scale its transition at the speed required.

He concluded the session with a call for deeper collaboration across industry players, financiers, policymakers and technology partners. 

Mohd Fadzil also stressed that accelerating the transition will require shared investment, coordinated planning and strong policy–industry alignment to ensure outcomes that are just, inclusive and sustainable for all Malaysians.

With stronger systems and a shared commitment across the energy ecosystem, Malaysia is well positioned to shape a more resilient, interconnected and future-ready energy landscape for the region, he said.

Malaysia reportedly aims to have 31 per cent RE capacity by 2025 and 40 per cent by 2035, eventually hitting 70 per cent by 2050 as outlined in the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).

Integrating intermittent sources like solar and wind power requires a more flexible and stable grid. TNB, the national power company, has launched the "Grid of the Future" (GoTF) strategy to digitalise and modernise its infrastructure. 

This involves significant investments, with significant investments for upgrades, including smart grid technologies and capacity expansion.

-- BERNAMA