By: Nurul Ezzaty Mohd Azhari
Photo By: Mohammad Izrul Abdul Jabar
SERDANG, May 10 - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) received the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) certificate for the largest herbal Agrivoltaic cultivation for natural cooling mechanism today.
UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, said the UPM Agrivoltaic project houses 25,000 units of high-potential Misai Kucing herb grown directly at the solar farm in Puchong, using solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.
“The research focused on optimising the use of space and helping to cool the panels to increase the effectiveness of energy generation directed to the Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) grid.
"I urge researchers to not only focus on Misai Kucing herb but also to plant other herbs in the future," he said.
The project was led by Ir. Dr. Mohammad Effendy Ya’acob, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Process and Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UPM. He said the project is one of the largest planting projects using solar farms in Malaysia.
“Our country is experiencing a shortage of agricultural land where much of the land has been converted into developments.
"This large scale project is in line with UPM direction to be a leading Green Campus as well as to strengthen its position in the UI Green Metrics among universities around the world," he said.
In addition to the 25,000 Misai Kucing, several other types of trees were being studied for growth suitability under solar panels.
Meanwhile, an MoU signing ceremony was also held for the large-scale Agrivoltaic solar project with the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) and Tesdec Green Energy Sdn Bhd.
Also present at the event were the Deputy Secretary-General (Energy) of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSA), Mohamad Razif Abdul Mubin, Member of Parliament (Setiu), Shaharizulkarnain Abdul Kadir, and other members of the University Management Committee. - UPM
