The establishment of this Center of Excellence is aimed at pragmatically enhancing research activities and also providing expert advisory services through training and consultancy or commercialization related to solar energy systems, which can be utilized as a result of the development and operation of UiTM Solar Power Plant Station in Gambang, Pahang (50MW LSSPV Gambang) and also in Pasir Gudang with 25MW LSSPV. The 50MW LSSPV Gambang and 25MW LSSPV Pasir Gudang have started fully operational on 5th April 2019 and 2nd December 2020 to supply electricity to the TNB National Grid System, respectively.
The Solar Research Institute (SRI) is focusing on several main areas that have been identified in line with the key priorities of energy industry such as those at the ASEAN Centre of Energy (ACE). Notably, the Southeast Asia (S.E. Asia) regional energy strategy consolidation project (including Malaysia) is an initiative undertaken by ACE under the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) program. The establishment of this centre of excellence is also in line with the direction of the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), Malaysia to leverage the university’s expertise that will be useful and benefit to the community and industry.