PROTON's solar energy effort wins big energy prize

KUALA LUMPUR: PROTON's groundbreaking solar power project in Tanjong Malim, featuring the largest bi-facial solar panel parking lot in Malaysia, has garnered the Renewable Energy award in the on-grid segment at the National Energy Awards (NEA) 2023.

Launched two years prior, this green initiative has surpassed PROTON's original environmental sustainability ambitions.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof officiated the NEA ceremony on March 8th, which acknowledges organizations committed to sustainable energy practices, in line with Malaysia's goal for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The ceremony, led by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, includes various categories, with winners and runners-up receiving RM40,000 and RM15,000, respectively.

Since its commissioning in May 2021, the solar project has significantly reduced CO2 emissions by 32,406 tonnes, far exceeding the initial annual goal of 11,536 tonnes. This reduction is comparable to the environmental contribution of planting around 893,000 trees, providing substantial benefits to the community and ecosystem in Tanjung Malim.

The adoption of renewable energy has not only contributed to a 11% reduction in electricity costs for the facility in 2023, saving over RM10 million since its inception, but has also reinforced PROTON's commitment to fostering a greener and cleaner operational environment.

Pekat Group and MFP Solar constructed and commissioned the 23.4-acre solar panel facility, which provides shelter for 2,880 new cars awaiting distribution.

Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of PROTON, highlighted the company's leadership in environmental protection and encouraged the wider automotive industry to embrace renewable energy.

Since 2015, PROTON has been focused on reducing its carbon footprint through various green initiatives, leading to significant savings and emission reductions.

With a 10-year Energy Roadmap in place, PROTON aims to further expand its green projects, aligning with the national goal of reducing carbon emissions by 45% in 2025 and 60% in 2035.

Dr. Li emphasized that this award underlines PROTON's dedication to environmental stewardship and its ongoing efforts to promote sustainable practices within the company and across the country, aiming for a carbon-neutral Malaysia by 2050.

Shifting focus back to its core mission, Proton is steering towards enhancing its contribution to carbon neutrality by launching two electric vehicles (EVs) within the next couple of years, with one set to debut quite soon, as mentioned by CEO Li Chunrong.

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) has also shared its positive outlook, highlighting the government's anticipation for Proton to roll out a national electric vehicle by 2025, a vision supported by Deputy MITI Minister Liew Chin Tong in parliament.

The intriguing aspect for Proton lies in determining the nature of these upcoming EVs - whether they will be electric variants of models currently in the market or if they will be adaptations of vehicles from Geely's existing range. Given Geely’s diverse lineup, the Geometry models emerge as potential candidates for adaptation.

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