Intel builds largest solar farm outside US
22 Apr 2021
Intel has built the largest farm at its Penang facilities, which is also its largest outside the US.
The solar farm, completed in January this year, is designed to power the company’s six-buildings across its Kulim and Penang campus, with a new 3.2 megawatt (MW) capability.
The installation is achieving 4.1MW in total installed capacity which is provided by NEFIN, a renewable energy developer.
According to Intel, the construction work began in 2020 during the global pandemic which presented it with many challenges, but nonetheless the solar system was put into operation in January this year. The completion of this project contributes about 15 per cent of Intel’s global, on-site solar PV electric power capacity. It will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 3,800 tons.
“Our continued investments in alternative energy is a key pillar of Intel’s continued commitment to operating our manufacturing facilities with the lowest impact to the environment,” said Intel Malaysia’s corporate vice-president and general manager of Assembly Test Manufacturing and managing director.
“The use of renewable power generated on-site at Intel Malaysia is a critical part of Intel’s efforts as a responsible corporate citizen to doing better by our planet, and as part of our RISE 2030 goals of achieving 100 per cent renewable power,” he said.
The new solar farm panels at Intel Malaysia cover an area roughly equivalent to approximately 900 carpark spaces and an additional 50,208 square feet on buildings’ rooftops, generating approximately 6000MWh of electricity annually.
The campus buildings’ electricity demand during peak hours is replaced partially by solar sources. The energy supply from solar sources also helps diversify and introduce renewable energy mix into the campus energy supply mix, which was predominantly powered by natural gas and coal sources.
Source: NST
