LSS4 attracts strong interest
PETALING JAYA: The fourth large-scale solar (LSS4) project awards have attracted strong interest, with a total of 138 bids, going by documents sighted on the Energy Commission’s (EC) website.
Industry sources said that the awards would be announced soon, possibly as early as next week.
Bids have come in as low as 13.99 sen per kWh (per kilowatt-hour), going by the documents on the EC site. However, industry experts said that bids lower than 20 sen per kWh may face difficulties in running their plants profitably.
Some bidders may be relying on falling costs of solar panels but as recent reports have indicated, this is uncertain as demand for solar panels globally are skyrocketing.
LSS4, also known as LSS by Malaysian Electricity Industry to Attract RE Investment or LSS@MEnTARI, is offering a total of 1,000MW of solar power generation through a bidding process.
File pic shows a Plus Solar project,
It is open to wholly-owned local companies or with at least 75% local shareholding for companies listed on Bursa Malaysia.
Parties awarded LSS4 projects are mandated to have their plants up and running by the end of 2023. Each plant is meant to have a minimum term of 21 years of operation.
Two types of packages are being offered. Capacities of 10MW and 30MW are to generate 500MW, while the balance 500MW would be done through capacity blocks of between 30MW and 50MW each.
Going by documents uploaded on the EC’s website, bids for LSS4’s first package have come in from 17.86 per kWh to 26.1 sen per kWh. There have been 45 bids for this package.
As for the second package (where the awards will range from 30MW and 50MW each for a total of 500MW) bids received ranged from as low as 13. 99 sen per kWh to 23.88 per kWh. There were a total of 93 bidders for the 30MW to 50MW package. Of the 93 bidders, 50 offered prices below 20 cents per kWh. Of these, a bid of 13.99 cents per kWh was the lowest.
Plus Solar Systems co-founder and chief executive officer Ko Chuan Zhen believed that the government will not delay LSS4 much longer as it sees the awards as another means to stimulating the economy and to further its green energy goals.
“The LSS4 announcement is highly anticipated. The EC expects the LSS4@MEnTARI programme to unlock RM4bil worth of investments and create an estimated 12,000 new jobs, ” he said.
UOB Kay Hian Securities predicts that LSS4 results will be known on March 21.
Hong Leong Investment Bank Research (HLIB Research) says the upcoming LSS4 tender result is expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2021, with a potential of 27 winners.
“The ownership and operation of renewable energy (RE) is far less complicated and less capital intensive as compared to conventional coal or gas or hydropower plants, allowing increasingly new entrants and competition into the market, ” it adds.
The research house points out that in LSS3, through which a total of 500MW of awards were dished out, none of the major Independent power producers in the country was successful in winning any awards.
Meanwhile, the adoption of ESG (environmental, social and governance) best practices and rising energy prices have accelerated the momentum of solar power over the last few years.
It is worth noting that Tenaga Nasional Bhd has pledged not to invest anymore in greenfield coal-fired power plants.
Plus Solar’s Ko says Malaysia is blessed with strong year-round long sunshine hours, making solar adoption the most efficient form of all clean energies.
“In addition, solar is now the cheapest form of new electricity in countries like ours.
“The cost of solar has fallen by 90% over the last two decades and is forecast to fall by a further 15% - 25% by 2030.
“All these factors combined are great but only through impactful action and strong execution can Malaysia achieve its clean energy targets, ” Ko says.
Investors’ interest in RE-linked companies remains strong despite pullback in the broader market.
Several listed companies such as Cypark Resources, Solarvest Holdings Bhd, Uzma Bhd, TNB, Malakoff Corp Bhd, Kumpulan Powernet Bhd (KPower), Samaiden Group Bhd and Mega First Corp Bhd have reportedly submitted bids for LSS4.
https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2021/03/08/lss4-attracts-strong-interest
