GEORGE TOWN – The multi-level bicycle ramp next to Queensbay Mall in Bayan Baru will become the first such facility to be fully installed with a solar-powered rooftop following funding worth RM1.2 million from the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Deputy Minister Datuk Ismail Abdul Muttalib said that the funding was part of the commitment from the federal government for local governments to utilise alternative energy sources in line with the nation’s green policy.
The bicycle ramp has been built and managed by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
There are 574 local government entities in the country with MBPP being among the oldest.
Ismail told a press conference yesterday that the solar panels will be installed on the rooftop of the sheltered ramp, and can power the facility, popular with recreational cyclists, during the night.
In time, the power generated by the panels can also be shared with other MBPP social amenities in the area, he added.
He said that there is a need for local governments to migrate to renewable energy sources in view of the need to cope with climate change and reduce the dependence on conventional power generation, which contributes to the emission of carbon dioxide.
The solar panels project, however, is subject to the completion of negotiations with the National Energy Commission which regulates the process, he added.
A delighted MBPP president and Penang Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said that the panels, once completed, can generate up to 400 kilowatts daily, equivalent to a double-storey house with 70 light bulbs installed.
This process can save energy costs for MBPP and help the council rationalise its power use, Yew said.
If MBPP expands on this initiative, it can even become a net exporter of energy and it can help distribute its excess power to other facilities that may need it, said Yew. – The Vibes, February 14, 2022
