TNB’s Santong BESS, with 100MW/400MWh capacity, is Malaysia’s first battery system connected to the national grid, boosting stability and renewable energy integration.
DUNGUN: The Santong Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, with a capacity of 100 megawatt (MW)/400 MW-hour (MWh), developed by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), is the first BESS system in the country to be connected to the national grid.
TNB chairman Tan Sri Abdul Razak Abdul Majid said the strategic facility located at the main intake substation (PMU) 132/33 kilovolt (kV) BESS Santong is expected to strengthen the stability and reliability of the nation’s electricity supply, especially on the East Coast.
He said that the system also supports more extensive integration of renewable energy (RE).
“BESS Santong plays an important role in ensuring grid stability through its rapid response capability to the imbalance of electricity supply and demand,” he said while speaking at the launch ceremony of the Santong BESS here today.
The launch was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
BESS Santong was developed on a 1.2-hectare site and began operations on April 16.
Abdul Razak said the BESS system also uses liquid-cooling technology and grid-forming capabilities, enabling the integration of renewable energy on a larger scale while improving the operational efficiency of the national grid.
“BESS Santong functions as a smart energy bank that stores electricity from renewable energy sources such as large-scale solar farms and hybrid hydro-floating solar systems before being fed back into the grid when needed.
“Through this capability, the system can balance the fluctuations in electricity supply and demand in real-time, especially during peak times or system disruptions, thereby reducing pressure on the grid and enhancing the stability of the electricity supply,” he said.
Abdul Razak added that the system can support electricity needs equivalent to approximately 40,000 households on the East Coast, depending on current usage patterns.
He said that the strategic project was completed within 309 days from the start date to the commencement of operations, thereby proving TNB’s capability to implement energy infrastructure projects efficiently and swiftly.
“The analytical and digital approach in forecasting energy demand, optimising supply distribution, and real-time asset monitoring also strengthens the operational efficiency of the national grid.
“The development of the Santong BESS aligns with the aspirations of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) in strengthening grid infrastructure to support the broader integration of renewable energy and enhance the resilience of the national energy system,” he said.
Meanwhile, TNB chief executive officer Datuk Shamsul Ahmad said that BESS Santong plays an important role in ensuring grid system stability through its rapid response capability to address supply-and-demand imbalances.
“The system supports peak load management and the integration of solar energy on a larger scale through grid-forming capabilities,” he said.
