{
  "id": 713911,
  "title": "Malaysia's multi-billion BESS race",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/malaysias-multi-billion-bess-race",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T00:00:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2026/08/1510044/malaysias-multi-billion-bess-race"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's renewable energy (RE) sector is set to expand as battery energy storage systems (BESS) become integral to the country's energy infrastructure. In response to the need for grid stability, the government is mandating BESS for major solar power projects across the nation. The Energy Commission recently opened the first competitive bidding process for utility-scale BESS, offering 400 MW/1,600 MWh across four projects, each targeting commercial operation by this year. This significant move establishes BESS as a core component of Malaysia's power system, rather than a private-sector add-on.\n\nData centres, which consume substantial amounts of electricity, are attracting significant investments in Malaysia and are driving the demand for reliable, uninterrupted power. Traditional backup solutions have relied on diesel generators, but BESS offers a more efficient alternative. A data centre can combine grid power, solar energy, and BESS, with the battery providing almost instantaneous response to grid failures or fluctuations, and additional uses when there is no outage.\n\nAnalysts predict a billion-ringgit market for battery storage in Malaysia, driven by the growth of renewable energy programmes such as the large-scale solar 6 (LSS6) and corporate renewable energy supply scheme (CRESS). PUC Bhd, a digital services company, is investing in the sector through the acquisition of H BESS Sdn Bhd, a firm specializing in BESS solutions. This acquisition, valued at RM6.75 million, will allow PUC to enter the sector without building capabilities from scratch, benefiting from H BESS's existing operating platform and production capacity.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Renewable energy (RE) construction flows in Malaysia are expected to pick up in the coming months, with battery energy storage systems (BESS) being the next phase of growth.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}