Kota Kinabalu: The 15-megawatt alternating current (MWac) Kolombong large-scale solar plant began commercial operations on Oct 17, 40 days ahead of its scheduled Nov 26 date, marking a milestone in Sabah’s clean energy transition.
The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) said the plant, developed and owned by TG Solar Sdn Bhd under the Teck Guan Group, was the first large-scale solar project to complete its planning, implementation and commissioning cycle under the commission’s regulatory oversight through the LSS-Sabah 2024 programme.
With an installed capacity of 22.5 megawatt-peak (MWp) and an export capacity of 15MWac, the plant is expected to supply about 33.4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually to Sabah’s grid, equivalent to the needs of more than 9,000 homes.
ECoS Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ir Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid said the early completion marked significant progress in renewable energy development in Sabah.
“The commercial operation of the Kolombong solar plant marks an important step towards increasing renewable energy’s contribution to Sabah’s electricity supply.
“Achieving this milestone 40 days ahead of schedule reflects the commitment and coordination of the developer, contractor, government departments, the utility and the teams involved,” he said.
He said the project was awarded through ECoS’ competitive bidding exercise for the Large Scale Solar (LSS) programme in 2024.
Its successful delivery demonstrated the effectiveness of competitive bidding in facilitating renewable energy development and highlighted the capabilities of local developers to deliver large-scale energy projects, he added.
ECoS would continue supporting responsible renewable energy development that balances reliability, affordability and sustainability, in line with the Sabah Energy Road Map 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040), he said.
Located on about 36.1 acres along Jalan Cenderakasih, off Jalan Lintas, the plant combines ground-mounted and rooftop solar installations featuring 30,000 bifacial solar modules.
Electricity generated by the plant is supplied to Sabah Electricity under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), through a 33-kilovolt interconnection at the Kolombong Main Intake Substation.
GV Borneo Sdn Bhd served as the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contractor, supported by local consultants and site personnel.
The plant first exported solar energy to the grid on Sept 8 before commencing commercial operations on Oct 17.
The project is expected to diversify Sabah’s electricity generation mix, strengthen energy security and increase renewable energy generation within Kota Kinabalu.
ECoS, as the state’s energy regulator, will continue overseeing renewable energy projects to ensure compliance with licensing conditions, technical standards and grid requirements while safeguarding consumers’ interests.
