Malaysia-based utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has launched a 100 kW floating solar pilot project at Kenyir Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest man-made lake, with ambitions to scale up to 2.2 GW of capacity. The Hybrid Hydro Floating Solar (HHFS) initiative aims to demonstrate how up to 10 per cent of the lake’s surface—equivalent to 3,690 hectares—could be used for solar energy generation without ecological disruption.
The pilot, spanning 1,085 square metres and housing 220 solar PV modules, is part of a broader 2.5GW hybrid solar-hydro plan. TNB’s strategy combines daytime solar generation with hydroelectric energy storage to stabilise the grid and meet fluctuating demand.
TNB Genco Sdn Bhd, in partnership with state investor Terengganu Incorporation, is leading the pilot. The project also supports green hydrogen production in Kertih, in collaboration with Petronas.
Malaysia’s government is backing floating solar as part of its clean energy push. In early 2025, it issued tenders for 2 GW of large-scale solar projects, including 500 MW specifically for floating PV. Previously, Cypark Resources Berhad commissioned a 100 MW hybrid solar plant, including 35 MW of floating PV, in Terengganu.
