The Centre for Environment and Green Technology (CEGT) parked under the UTAR Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) successfully organised a seminar titled “Design of Grid Connected Solar System” by Plus Solar System Sdn Bhd on 23 November 2017 at its Kampar Campus.
Attended by more than 100 students, the seminar was delivered by Co-founder and Executive Director of Plus Solar Systems Sdn Bhd and Leaf Energy Sdn Bhd Ko Chuan Zhen and his team.
Aimed to discuss the latest opportunities in the field of advancing Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Technology, the seminar covered topics including the overview and introduction to solar PV system and its components, overview of global development of solar PV system, the past and future of solar PV system in Malaysia, installation of grid-connected solar PV system, the designs of solar PV system, the technology involved in different solar panels, the testing and commissioning after installation process and the exposure to industrial practice.
The seminar was also focused on the technical aspects of solar PV system in the industry. Ko explained, “The technical aspects mostly focused on the design and the sizing of solar PV system. The PV module and its inverter specification played a key role. The performance of a PV system is determined based on the system losses factor, the power ratio, the energy yield as well as its performance ratio. Lastly, the overall system will be evaluated under solar PV system testing procedure by Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (SEDA) Malaysia.”
Ko enthused, “I harboured a passion for solar energy since my university days, as I believe clean renewable energy is the best way forward for mankind. My career decision firmed up further when I came across a magazine on green investment trends during my student exchange days in Taiwan. After graduating, I quickly found work as a solar systems engineer, but after four years of working in a Japanese company and then a German one, I wanted to be more than just a worker cog in the machine that pushes the solar industry forward. I wanted to have a place in the driver seat too. More so after Malaysia finally warmed up to solar energy and passed the Renewable Energy Act – which paved the way for the creation of the feed-in tariff policy – and the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Act, both in 2011, to raise investments in renewable energy sources. However, as business expanded, we also realised that there was a huge gap between the local education syllabus and the demands of the green energy sector. Hence, we established Plus Solar Academy.”
He explained, “Plus Solar Academy is a free educational workshop targeting university and high school students to give the young minds exposure to the solar energy sector via solar farm visits, introduction to engineering calculations and designs. The key to nurturing the industry’s future talents, I believe, lies not just in catching youths’ interest, but also inspiring and nurturing their passion for green energy.”
He added, “Plus Solar Academy is basically tailored to bridge current-best-in class practice with education institutions’ solar PV syllabus. Under this project, Plus Solar would take in up to 20 students a year as interns on a three-month training focusing on solar PV system. I believe, through this, we can transfer the knowledge from experienced engineers to students. Plus Solar has also opened its doors to MBA students doing research.”
The seminar attracted active discussions between academics, students and team members of Plus Solar Systems Sdn Bhd. The seminar ended with a souvenir presentation to Ko and his team by CEGT Chairperson Prof Ir Dr Ong Kok Seng.
Plus Solar Systems Sdn Bhd (+SOLAR) is a leading service provider in the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system integration industry which aims to contribute their industrial experience to education to bridge the gap between the local education syllabus and the industrial demands of the clean energy.
Prof Ong presenting a token of appreciation to Ko (far right)
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