Malaysia is presently unique amongst non-OECD countries in that its domestic PV market development priorities are clearly focused on the grid-connected, building integrated sector.

Malaysia’s electricity demand is increasing at the rate of 6 to 8 % per annum, while peak demand is forecast to increase by over 50 % during the next five years to 22 GW in 2010. Building Integrated PV (BIPV) is seen as part of a future-focused strategy to decouple the nation’s energy demand from reliance on coal and gas. It also presents an opportunity for Malaysia to establish a region-leading and export-ready PV industry.

The five year, 25 million USD Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaics (MBIPV) project commenced in July 2005 with a view towards reducing the cost and establishing the necessary mechanisms to create sustainable opportunities for BIPV in the Malaysian market. In particular, the national government is targeting a 20 % reduction in BIPV installed costs by 2010 compared to 2004.

The programme is encouragingly holistic in its approach, addressing widespread consumer education and awareness raising – particularly through aesthetic integration of PV into prominent buildings – as well as policy, planning and financial capacity building, accredited installer training and support for appropriate R&D.

Within the MBIPV, the Suria 1 000 project will see an additional 1 MW of BIPV installed by 2010, half in the residential and half in the commercial sectors, via a bidding process to identify the most cost-effective installations. MBIPV is seen as a precursor to integration of BIPV within the 10th Malaysia plan (from 2011 to 2015) and a driver to achieve 30 % annual BIPV growth domestically post project.

Information

• Ahmad Hadri Haris
  E-mail: bipv@ptm.org.my

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