Able Energy Sdn Bhd is a company based in Malaysia providing professional services for the design and build of renewable energy installations, specializing in solar photovoltaic (“PV”) systems.

We help you navigate through the complex web that includes your requirements, your limitations, the engineering designs, and your local legal and regulatory requirements, to enable you to realize your project.

A renewable energy installation has different objectives and benefits, but may include:

1. A revenue generating or utility cost-saving system;

2. Reduced carbon emissions for reporting and possible carbon taxation;

3. Optimal utilization of otherwise unused space, to protect building and equipment; and

4. Future-proofing against utility price hikes.

Solar PV systems have been in common use for more than 60 years. The technology has been used for space flight to power satellites and the International Space Station, for terrestrial applications to power streetlights and homes in rural and urban areas, and as utility scale power plants. Solar PV systems provide a constant and predictable power supply, and should not be considered “alternative” energy.

Building Applied & Integrated Photovoltaics

We have designed and built hybrid systems as small as 2.0kWp on government quarters, to grid-connected systems as large as 2MWp on factory rooftops.

We’re constantly reminding our customers that there are no set system sizes, and everything is custom designed based on the proposed roof or land layout, and the preferred equipment.. Solar PV technologies are modular and scalable and we can design as small or as large as our customers would like - as long as there’s enough space and budget permits.

Large Scale Solar Power Plants

We were fortunate to have worked on the largest ground mounted solar PV power plant at its time of construction during Malaysia’s Feed-in-Tariff program. At present, we have built a total of 10MWp of systems larger than 1MWp. However, we have been shortlisted for projects in Australia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka for systems ranging from 50MWp to 300MWp. These are floating and ground mounted systems, and we hope to close some of these successfully pending delays caused by the pandemic.

Depending on the location, wind can often by used in tandem with solar PV power generation, providing for constant power generation capabilities when there is a lack of sun.

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

HAWT are the more common turbines used for large scale power production. We have been involved with a 50MW power plant in Sindh province, Pakistan, with one of our local partners.

With cut-in wind speeds of a minimum of 3-4 m/s, and needed sustained wind-speeds of a minimum of 7 m/s, such turbines are not always sustainable in the tropics, but every location has its own unique environmental characteristics. However, any interested in installing any type of renewable energy installation should undertake a feasibility study to determine whether or not the technology is suitable for the specific proposed location.

Vertical Axis Wind Turnines

In order to cater for lower wind-speeds, we examined VAWT, and even installed one at our office in Puchong, Malaysia;. Although the ground-level location would not have been ideal for a HAWT, we proved that VAWT can function in a densely populated urban area with turbulent wind conditions.

Although they have smaller power generation capacities, VAWT can be suitable for areas with lower wind speeds, and for smaller communities without a high energy demand.

“The future is green energy, sustainability, renewable energy.”

- Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California (2003-2011)

California has consistently led environmental protection progress in the United States of America since 1864.

One of the driving interests in biofuels is the replacement of conventional hydrocarbons for the use as fuels in transportation, as transportation of goods and people accounts for almost 25% of the world’s energy consumption. As such, we have explored jatropha curcas, algae biofuels, and hydrogen fuel cells.

Algae Biomass and Biofuels

As power generation specialists, we have designed a modular 5MWac biomass power plant using algae biofuels. This plant can be increased by multiples of 5MWac, with each module requiring approximately 7.5ac / 3ha of land which includes the algae growth tanks. Depending on local incentives in your country, this renewable energy power plant may be able to secure a government guaranteed Power Purchase Agreement to sell energy at a fixed revenue per unit for a fixed period of time.

However, the option exists to forego the power plants, and the modular plant can produce approximately 8.6 million liters of biodiesel per annum. This diesel can be used in any Diesel engine when blended with mineral diesel, or it can be used unblended, thereby effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Looking at other things that nature provides in bounties, hydrogen is the most abundant chemical substance in the universe. As such, we started looking at hydrogen fuel cells in 2010-2011, before deciding to put those projects on hold. In early 2021, we believe the technology has come a way further, and we’re examining potential projects in Australia at producing hydrogen using solar photovoltaic power, thus reducing the carbon emissions content in the production and operations cycles.

Our team has vast experience with hydroelectric power plants, having designed and built power plants in Malaysia, and recommending designs for maintenance workshops of hydroelectric power plants in the Philippines, and having designs under consideration in Laos and Sri Lanka.

Small Hydroelectric Power Generators (a.k.a. mini hydro)

Hydroelectric power systems transform the kinetic energy in the water’s flow into mechanical energy using a hydraulic turbine. Small scale hydroelectric power systems are common in perennial rivers and hilly terrain where there is sufficient flow (i.e. volume) and head (i.e. height, which affects pressure and thus power generation capabilities). They usually require some infrastructure work and efforts must be taken to ensure that there isn’t significant environmental damage to the surrounding area.

Large scale hydroelectric power plants above 30MW are often not counted towards a country’s renewable energy target. Although the source of energy, the running water, is not used reduced or consumed in the power generation process, one must consider the environmental impact on water flow, catchment areas, and regional flora and fauna. So the energy might be considered renewable, but it is not environmentally sustainable due to the negative impact on biodiversity and the high carbon emissions released during the construction process.

As such, it is a political tool to view large scale hydroelectric power plants above 10-30MW as being non-renewable sources of power generation, although it would be more accurate to state that they are non-sustainable sources of renewable power generation.

Even though we specialize in designing and building renewable energy installations, we remind our clients that for maximum cost-savings that they should always undertake energy conservation and efficiency measures first, as these are low cost options with little to no capital investments. These solutions range from simple practices to upgrading lights, pumps, and HVAC systems to more energy efficient designs.

Our biggest experiment in building energy management came with the construction of our office in Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia - The Castello Energy Centre. We designed and built the building in 2006, with the following features:

- south facing solar photovoltaic system on the rooftop, with clearance underneath for maintenance and airflow;

- double walls with air gap for insulation to reduce thermal heat gain;

- calcium silicate bricks on western wall to reduce heat retention;

- single storey ventilated basement parking for airflow under main building structure;

- tinted windows which allowed for natural sunlight into the lobby; and

- high ceilings with strategically placed exhaust fans to allow hot air to be ventilated.

The result was a fully occupied office building which consumed about 40% less electricity than other commercial buildings with equivalent floorspace.

Ground mounted solar photovoltaic power plant on a closed landfill

6,000 kWp installed

Completed 2012

A ground mounted system using concrete plinths, so there wouldn’t be a risk penetrating the landfill cap.

Building Integrated PV  (“BIPV”) as solar carports

1,500 kWp installed

Completed 2013

An elevated ground mounted system with string inverters mounted on the structures, utilizing space wisely.

Build Applied PV (“BAPV”) as roof-leasing contract under FiT

1,010 kWp installed

Completed 2014

These are common jobs, mounting solar PV to roof-tops to allow for revenue generation or cost-savings exercises.

Building Integrated PV as covered agricultural plot

1,000 kWp installed

Completed 2015

This elevated structure allows for agricultural activities underneath, and used a central inverter for easy monitoring.

© 2021 Able Energy Sdn Bhd (540852-P). All Rights Reserved.