To a Bright Future for Malaysia - mbipv project

SPECIAL FEATURE
A window of opportunity
To a Bright Future for Malaysia
Mr Goon from TT Vision (Penang, Malaysia) presenting a success story
how to establish a local company in the global PV business.
PENANG, probably best known as “Silicon Valley East” because
of its strong showing in the semi-conductor industry, hosted
on 15 June 2009 the first seminar on Photovoltaics (in short
PV) in the Northern Corridor. In today’s times where Malaysia
continues to move away from low-value assembly to high
value-added manufacturing and research and development,
the seminar was a perfect opportunity for the local industry
to explore new business opportunities along the booming
value chain in Photovoltaics and get information on the latest
market and industry development, and the impact of the
financial crisis.
PV technology is well known since the early ’50s and
generates environmentally begin electricity when exposed
to the sunlight. The PV modules can be manufactured from
crystalline silicon, similar to the use in semiconductor industry
or thin film technology, similar to flat screen panels for home
entertainment or computer systems.
The seminar was organised by Pusat Tenaga Malaysia
(PTM) and the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water
(MEGTW), and was supported by SEMI (the global semiconductor
industry association), Malaysian Industrial
Development Authority (MIDA) and Northern Corridor
Implementation Authority (NCIA). The seminar attracted over
450 participants and the Grand Ballroom at the Equatorial was
packed to the last place with excited listeners from various
backgrounds and industry sectors. The event was branded “A
Window to the Future”, and indeed, a series of internationally
distinguished speakers provided comprehensive insights for
future business opportunities and how to enter the PV
industry.
Photovoltaic technology is projected to supply seven per
cent of the world’s energy hunger by 2030 and create a new
industry far exceeding today’s global automotive industry.
Yes, the future for Photovoltaic looks bright, global leading
banks forecast a yearly growth of 25 to 35 per cent a year until
2020 and new jobs created exceeding five million globally. It
is perfect time for local stakeholders to enter the burgeoning
industry and establish along the PV value chain. For the
industry, the race for grid parity – when conventional
electricity cost is at par with Photovoltaic produced electricity
cost – is on. As soon as grid-parity is achieved, the market will
sky rocket and create an exploding industry serving main
markets, for example utility power plants and residential PV
power applications, and many more.
However, in the next few years, because of the financial
crisis and resulting overcapacity, it is crucial to understand
the market and technology development and your industry’s
capabilities before entering the PV business.
Through the Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaics
Various photovoltaic modules.
36

SPECIAL FEATURE
Utility PV power plant in the Philippines.
(MBIPV) Project (www.mbipv.net.my), Malaysia is building the
right infrastructure to create a sustainable PV market, and
assist to establish a strong local PV industry. To achieve these
goals, MBIPV Project is continuously working with local
stakeholders to develop new business opportunities and
enhance local manufacturing capabilities.
Malaysia is competitive, an attribute that many global
companies cite again and again as a reason for locating and
expanding here. With its well-educated university graduates
and skilled employees from the semiconductor and electronic
industry, Malaysia offers a conducive environment for local
manufacturing and has already attracted four global PV
players (Q-Cells AG, Sunpower Corporation, Tokuyama
Corporation, First Solar Inc) to manufacture locally.
With the strong commitment from the Government of
Malaysia to pursue green technologies, Malaysia is poised to
play an increasingly important role in the global
manufacturing of PV products benefitting the local industry.
Already over forty local industry players are active along
the PV value chain or offer services to global PV enterprises
located in Malaysia or overseas. MBIPV project assists the local
industry in exploring new business opportunities or to
diversify the existing business. There are excellent
opportunities to build the capacity, gather latest market
information and enjoy networking are our events organized
by PTM and MEGTW. The first seminar on Photovoltaics in
Penang was very successful and triggered also the interest
for other such events like the upcoming National PV
Conference 2009 on 17 November 2009.
NATIONAL PHOTOVOLTAIC CONFERENCE (NPVC) 2009
The National PV Conference (NPVC) is by far, the single largest
PV conference held in Malaysia each year. Organised by Pusat
Tenaga Malaysia and supported by Ministry of Energy, Green
Technology and Water, United Nations Development
Programme and Global Environment Facility, the inaugural
conference began in August 2008. The conference aimed at
bringing awareness to develop PV market and industry in
Malaysia. The conference provided opportunities for
companies and individuals to learn from internationally
renowned PV experts in policies and industries, and
networking opportunities with local and international PV
players. In 2008, the conference attracted nearly 800
participants and 27 exhibitors.
In 2009, the National PV Conference 2009 will be held on
17th November 2009 at Putrajaya Marriott Hotel. The focus
for this year will be on drivers of PV markets. Among the
notable speakers are Dr Hermann Scheer, a Social Democrat
38

SPECIAL FEATURE
TOP: Conference participants. LEFT: Photovoltaic cells.
BOTTOM: Setia Ecopark project.
of the German Parliamentarian who is a strong advocator and
initiator for the feed-in tariff, Mr Robert Vinje, Managing
Director of Sunpower Fab 3, Mr Uwe Bauer, Managing Director
of Q-Cells Asia Ltd, Mr Antonio Berni on achieving from vision
to reality for MASDAR initiative and Mr Max G ldi from Huber-
Suhner, world leader in connectivity solutions. PV industry
Associations will be represented by Dr Murray Cameron
(Europe), Mr Tetsuzo Kobayashi (Japan), Dr Joeng-Shein Chen
(Taiwan) and Ms Christy Herig (Utility - USA). Q-Cells AG and
Sunpower Corporation are establishing their manufacturing
plants in Selangor and Melaka respectively.
2008 has been a year of economic crisis for many countries
and consolidation for businesses regardless of industries
while 2009 is seen as a year where Governments applied
stimulus packages to revive the economies of their countries.
Many industries believed that the valley of business cycle is
starting to peak following these stimulus packages. In the PV
industry, valleys are not necessary bad times. It is a time for
innovative companies to expedite their R&D to release new
PV products which are more efficient and cost-effective. It is
also a time to separate the wheat from the chaff; the good
companies from the bad and the committed from the noncommitted
ones. During the National PV Conference 2009,
industry speakers will share their views on 2009 and PV
business outlook for 2010.
Importantly, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Datuk Seri
Najib Tun Razak has been invited to unveil at the conference
the new national stimulus package for Renewable Energies
as commitment to the new Ministry of Green Technology in
his portfolio. The Minister of Energy, Green Technology and
Water, YB Datuk Peter Chin will accompany the Prime Minister
and give his welcoming remarks.
Companies in PV business are most welcome to exhibit
their products and services at the National PV Conference
2009. To register as participant and/or exhibitor for the
National PV Conference 2009, you can download the
registration form from www.mbipv.net.my/NPVC2009.html ■
CONTRIBUTED BY
Daniel Ruoss , International
Consultant, MBIPV Project, Pusat Tenaga Malaysia and Weinee
Chen , Technical Advisor of
MBIPV Project, Pusat Tenaga Malaysia.
For more information, visit www.mbipv.net.my
38