Intel’s new Malaysia solar farm will be its largest outside the US

Intel’s Malaysia operations will be using solar energy to help power its six-buildings across its Kulim and Penang campus, making it Intel’s largest solar farm outside of the U.S.

The construction work began in 2020 during the global pandemic and faced many challenges, but was finally put into operation in January 2021.

The solar installation at the Intel chip and assembly test manufacturing facility at Kulim Hi Tech Park in Malaysia

The installation reaches 4.1MW in total installed capacity which is provided by NEFIN, a renewable energy developer.

The completion of this project contributes about 15% of Intel’s global, on-site solar PV electric power capacity. It will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 3,800 tons. 

The new solar farm panels at Intel Malaysia cover an area roughly equivalent to approximately 900 carpark spaces and an additional 50,208 square feet on buildings’ rooftops, generating approximately 6000MWh of electricity annually.

The campus buildings’ electricity demand during peak hours is replaced partially by solar sources. The energy supply from solar sources also helps diversify and introduce renewable energy mix into the campus energy supply mix, which was predominantly powered by natural gas and coal sources. 

“The use of renewable power generated on-site at Intel Malaysia is a critical part of Intel’s efforts as a responsible corporate citizen to doing better by our planet, and as part of our RISE 2030 goals of achieving 100% renewable power,” said Robin Martin, Corporate Vice-President and General Manager of Assembly Test Manufacturing and Managing Director of Intel Malaysia.