KAWAN Food Bhd, Malaysia’s largest manufacturer of frozen Asian food delicacies for the global market, has made one of its wisest decisions ever in its 61-year corporate history by investing RM7.28 mil to put in place a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at its headquarters in Pulau Indah Selangor Halal Hub.
Having registered strong earnings with a surge of online orders for frozen food both from local and global markets at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 1Q 2020, the group decided ‘to re-invest’ its earnings for long-term energy savings.
“One of our key moves was to invest in a solar solution which was recently completed in 1Q 2021 with projected savings worth RM1 mil a year,” commented Kawan Food Manufacturing Sdn Bhd senior factory manager Andy Yeap.
“Our high energy consumption would benefit greatly from reductions in operating cost with solar in the long run.”
Kawan Food’s investment includes an energy performance management system (EPMS) called SOURCE by Plus Xnergy Holding Sdn Bhd (total clean energy solutions company) which leverages artificial intelligence of things (AIoT).
Plus Xnergy manages a building’s energy demand, ultimately translated into better business decisions to optimise energy savings.
“It is vital to be aware of spending, especially during the pandemic. Through SOURCE, we can effectively monitor our energy usage through this digital platform,” Yeap pointed out.
“Furthermore, this investment reduces carbon emissions, in line with global warming prevention and contributes positively toward corporate social responsibility and sustainability.”
Meanwhile, Plus Xnergy group CEO Ko Chuan Zhen said a solar investment may not be an immediate decision as many businesses are struggling to stay profitable amid economic and financial devastations brought about by the unabating COVID-19 infection rate.
“(Nevertheless) we foresee rapid job creation within the emerging clean energy sector as more industries recognise the rate of return with solar,” envisages Ko who urges the authorities to extend the Net Energy Metering (NEM3.0) NOVA scheme upwards to a range of 1,000MW (megawatt)-3,000MW to encourage new interest and meet present demand.
Despite the pandemic, the NEM3.0 NOVA scheme which is an initiative to increase solar adoption for the commercial and industrial sectors has already seen a 100% uptake just three months after its launch in April 2021.
“Many have made use of the NEM NOVA whose swift uptake demonstrates popularity among local businesses,” added Ko. – July 7, 2021
