Baku:First paragraph of the news story. According to BERNAMA News Agency, five grid-connected photovoltaic solar installation projects at government buildings have been finished earlier than planned. These projects have achieved a combined installed capacity of 779.86 kilowatts, as announced by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

Two of these projects were completed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs premises, while the remaining three were at the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage. This initiative aims to enhance the use of clean energy in government buildings, reduce operational costs, and promote sustainable management of public assets.

The Public Works Department has also installed photovoltaic and off-grid solar systems in 46 federal government buildings, 283 rural schools across Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia, four Royal Malaysia Police border posts, and an Orang Asli village. These projects could potentially save up to RM115 million annually in energy costs compared to conventional electricity supplies.

The solar installation programme for government buildings, led by the Ministry of Economy, received a budget of RM57.6 million, targeting an initial capacity of nine megawatts in Peninsular Malaysia. By last September, eight projects covering 23 buildings with a capacity of 5.8 megawatts had completed their Defects Liability Period, while seven projects involving 11 buildings with 2.09 megawatts capacity were still within this period.

Furthermore, three projects involving 11 buildings with a capacity of 1.29 megawatts are under construction, and one project involving a single building with a capacity of 0.5 megawatts is at the procurement stage. Once all systems are fully operational, the programme is expected to generate approximately 13,200 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, potentially saving around RM5.5 million a year on government electricity bills.