KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s inaugural MyBeST bidding round for four large-scale, grid-connected battery storage projects in Peninsular Malaysia has generated considerable interest. Over 20 industry players submitted more than 30 bids by the end of July, according to sources familiar with the initiative.
Launched in May, the MyBeST programme aims to install four battery assets, each with a storage capacity of 100 MW/400 MWh. These systems are intended to capture solar-generated electricity during the day and release it back into the grid during peak demand periods.
Prominent energy players involved in the bidding include firms linked to Tenaga Nasional Bhd, YTL Power International Bhd, and Malakoff Corp Bhd. Other contenders include renewable energy entrants such as Gamuda Bhd (which entered the sector in 2022), Petronas Gas Bhd, its clean energy arm Gentari, and Mega First Corp Bhd, which is developing its first large-scale solar farm. Among these, Tenaga is widely regarded as a front-runner, bolstered by its existing project of similar scale in Dungun, Terengganu.
Additional participants comprise BM Greentech Bhd and Seal Incorporated Bhd through its affiliate MSR Green Energy Sdn Bhd. MSRGE is currently overseeing Sabah’s first large-scale battery storage installation in Lahad Datu—a project also sized at 100 MW/400 MWh, valued at RM644.6 million, and expected to complete this year. Solar-focused companies such as Solarvest Holdings Bhd, Samaiden Group Bhd, and Pekat Group Bhd are joining as engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) partners.
Shortlisting of winners is anticipated as early as October, with full operations slated to begin in 2027. Each project is estimated to cost between RM270 million and RM300 million, depending on the battery technology and construction factors.
Under the Request for Proposal (RFP), battery systems must be fully operational by no later than April 30, 2027, and maintain at least 75% of their health—or dispatchable energy of 300 MWh—by their 15th year in service. Each unit must be capable of discharging at up to 100 MW for a maximum of four hours at a time. Manufacturers must also meet BloombergNEF’s Tier 1 criteria, a bankability benchmark assessing firms’ credibility in financing and delivering large-scale energy storage and solar projects.
Distinct from solar developments that earn fixed tariffs based on electricity delivered, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) operators under this model will receive payment in two streams: one for storage capacity—paid regardless of utilization—and another for service, based on actual energy supplied to the grid. This dual-fee structure resembles traditional power purchase agreements used by fossil fuel power plants.
The initiative arrives at a strategic moment, as Malaysia’s solar generation capacity is expected to climb by more than 6 GW in the coming years, supplementing the existing 4 GW of large-scale and rooftop solar installations. Currently, solar output peaks at around 3.78 GW at midday—almost 18% of the Peninsula’s peak demand of 21.05 GW—much of which remains untapped due to insufficient storage for use during high-demand evening hours.
Source: TheEdge
