KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 22): Tenaga Nasional Bhd's (TNB) said its second large-scale solar (LSS) project, a 30MW plant in Bukit Selambau, Kedah, commenced operations on Sept 8.

In a statement, TNB said the plant, equipped with 134,880 solar photovoltaic panels with 14 inverters, commenced operations 114 days ahead of its targeted date of Dec 31.

The construction of LSS Bukit Selambau took 21 months, including the almost two-month suspension due to the Movement Control Order (MCO), it said.

TNB president and CEO Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the commissioning of the plant, despite the hurdles brought by the Covid-19 outbreak, demonstrates the utility giant's experience and expertise in renewable energy's (RE) development.

"The early commissioning of LSS Bukit Selambau is a testament to TNB's commitment towards delivering sustainable energy for the nation, as well as its capabilities to execute such large-scale RE projects.

"Together with the recently announced acquisition of majority control of Vortex Solar in the UK, this positions TNB as the leading domestic and among the top RE players in the region and globally," he said.

The commissioning of the Bukit Selambau plant, together with the first LSS plant in Sepang, brings TNB's domestic LSS generation capacity to 80MWac.

Both plants were developed by TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TNB, and the asset management, operations and investment company arm of the group that spearheads RE projects and assets in Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia.

TNB's share price was up 18 sen or 1.65% at RM11.08 as at 3pm, giving a market capitalisation of RM63.2 billion.