Abu dhabi: Round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy (RE) solutions could support growing power needs of Malaysia's data centres, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). IRENA director of engineering Dr Ibraheem Almansouri said the concept is highly relevant for sectors that depend on uninterrupted power, such as data centres, because no specific RTC project has been announced so far.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Ibraheem highlighted that RTC solutions can enable data centre facilities to be located more flexibly, leveraging lower-cost RE while maintaining reliability. These solutions refer to a continuous 24-hour supply of clean electricity achieved through a combination of solar and wind power, energy storage, and smart grid management. Dr Ibraheem also noted Malaysia's strategic importance for IRENA due to its growing electricity demand, strong industrial base, and rising need for reliable and affordable power supply.
Malaysia's data centre market is reportedly on track to become one of Asia-Pacific's largest, with total capacity expected to more than quadruple beyond 2026. This demand is driven by cloud computing and data storage, with artificial intelligence (AI)-related workloads expected to accelerate growth further.
Dr Ibraheem mentioned that IRENA has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) and memoranda of understanding in Malaysia and is participating in competitive auctions with local developers. The agency is deploying large-scale RE projects, including gigawatt-level initiatives, to support economic growth, sustainability objectives, and reliable power supply. Notably, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company's (Masdar) first Malaysian project, announced in December, involves a PPA to develop a 200-megawatt (MW) floating solar photovoltaic (PV) project at Chereh Dam in Pahang. This facility is expected to become Southeast Asia's largest floating solar project when operational.
Dr Ibraheem emphasized that the main challenge in adopting RTC solutions in Malaysia lies in institutional readiness, particularly among grid operators and planners. He pointed out that successful RTC projects require strong alignment across the ecosystem, including coordination between developers, procurers, and national stakeholders. This collective effort and shared vision are essential for the implementation of RTC projects across the energy value chain.