Kuala Lumpur: The Government received between RM12 billion to RM14 billion in foreign direct investments last year in the photovoltaic (PV) industry alone, further boosting the country's green technology promotion.Malaysia Energy Centre National Project Leader Ahmad Hadri Haris said the four investing companies were First Solar, Q-Cells, Sunpower and Tokuyama, of which the first two started operations this year.
PV is the field of technology and research related to application of solar cells for energy by converting solar energy (sunlight including ultra violet radiation) directly into electricity.
Due to the growing demand for clean sources of energy, the manufacture of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has expanded dramatically in recent years.
"Two companies have yet to start operations. When fully operational, it could create some 10,000 high-level jobs," he told reporters after a roundtable talk on green technology and green economy here Wednesday.
The business roundtable conference was jointly organised by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia, Shell Malaysia and the Edge Business Weekly.
Ahmad Hadri said solar energy industry, although a fast-growing industry in Malaysia, has to grapple with a small market size in Malaysia, prompting solar energy producers to export their output abroad.
He said many companies have yet to work on adopting solar technology due to insufficient funds.
PV has grown by a new record high of 75 per cent, reaching a worldwide production volume of 7,500 megawatt peak (MWp), booming into a RM115 billion business.
Business analysts have forecast the global market volume to increase to RM180 billion in 2010.
Ahmad Hadri, one of the panelists in the roundtable session earlier, said there was a huge demand for solar energy systems in Malaysia, which was evident by the increasing numbers of solar-powered companies in the country.
"Eventhough the industry is still small compared with developed countries, we are well ahead compared with several neighbouring countries in South East Asia," he said.
Although a small industry in the country, he said, it has the potential to contribute up to four per cent to the country's gross domestic product by 2020 with revenue exceeding RM500 billion.
Only 100 buildings were solar-powered energy in the country which was still a very small number, he said.
To promote the usage of renewable energy as well as creating a bigger market in Malaysia, he said the government is in the midst of preparing the Renewable Energy Act, which is expected to be included in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).
This will be a comprehensive policy not only for PV industry but also biomass, solid waste as well as mini hydro-electric plants in line with government's move to empower green technology, he said.
Malaysia Energy Centre is a not-for-profit company administered by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water Malaysia to function as a one-stop centre and implementing agency on national energy related matters.- Bernama
