Hydroelectric dams generate a clean, sustainable power supply but cause the destruction of submerged habitats. The surface of the dam cannot be used as it is not open to the public all the time. Last week Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) announced they will start a floating solar farm project on three of their hydro dams.
TNB's Hydro Hybrid Floating Solar Project (HHFS) aims to generate up to 2500 MW of solar electricity. It is based on the floating solar farm test of the Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station located in Manjung, Perak under the National Energy Transition Plan (NETR). The HHFS project will start at Chenderoh Hydro Dam which generates 30MW followed by Temenggor Hydro Dam and Kenyir Dam.
It will be implemented by TNB Genco which is a subsidiary of TNB itself. Among the positive effects of building a solar farm on the surface of the dam water is that it saves land use, preserves natural habitats and reduces water evaporation. At the same time it also helps reduce pollution and supports biodiversity with minimal disturbance to the aquatic ecosystem.