Founder Group Secures US$1.37 Million Contract for 1.78 MW Rooftop Solar Project in Malaysia

Founder Energy Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Founder Group Limited, has secured a turnkey EPCC contract to develop a 1.78 MW-peak rooftop solar PV system for a shrimp farming and processing facility in Ayer Hitam, Kedah, Malaysia. The contract is valued at approximately RM5.58 million (US$1.37 million).

The project marks Founder Group’s second major clean energy contract serving Malaysia’s aquaculture sector, following its earlier shrimp farm project in Terengganu. It also represents the company’s first project combining an integrated shrimp farming operation with a processing facility, expanding its application of distributed solar energy across energy-intensive agricultural activities.

The rooftop solar system is designed with a 25-year operational life, providing clean electricity directly to the facility while helping reduce reliance on conventional grid power and supporting the broader decarbonisation objectives of Malaysia’s commercial and agricultural sectors.

Malaysia’s renewable energy market is undergoing rapid structural development, supported by national policy initiatives under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which targets renewable energy accounting for 70% of installed power generation capacity by 2050. New market mechanisms, including the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), Solar ATAP, and the upcoming Large Scale Solar 6 (LSS6) framework, are expected to further accelerate renewable energy investment.

The LSS6 programme alone is expected to attract between RM13 billion and RM15 billion (US$3.2 billion–US$3.7 billion) in investment, highlighting the scale of Malaysia’s upcoming solar deployment. At the same time, changes in electricity tariffs and fluctuations in fuel adjustment mechanisms are encouraging energy-intensive businesses to explore distributed solar solutions as a way to improve energy cost visibility and reduce exposure to power price volatility.

The aquaculture sector represents a particularly relevant application for distributed solar. According to Malaysia’s Department of Fisheries, domestic aquaculture production exceeded 500,000 metric tons in 2023, with an estimated value of approximately US$1 billion. Under the National Agro-Food Policy 2.0, the government aims to increase aquaculture output to 40% of total fisheries production by 2030, potentially driving additional electricity demand across farming and processing facilities.

Aquaculture operations typically require continuous electricity supplies for critical equipment, including pond aeration systems and processing facilities. Electricity and fuel are therefore among the most significant controllable operating expenses after feed. Regional studies cited in the company’s announcement indicate that rooftop solar can substantially reduce electricity costs for aquaculture operations, while solar-powered aeration systems can also deliver significant savings in grid electricity consumption.

Under the new contract, Founder Energy will be responsible for the complete engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning scope. This includes structural integrity assessments and coordination with Malaysia’s national utility, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), to complete grid interconnection. The project will also comply with the FM Global standard.

Beyond turnkey project delivery, Founder Group is also expanding its long-term asset management capabilities through its proprietary AI-powered operations and maintenance platform. The system incorporates automated diagnostics, predictive maintenance algorithms and drone-assisted visual and thermal inspections to identify equipment anomalies and module defects.

The company says these technologies are designed to support continuous system availability, minimize performance degradation and maintain reliable energy output for commercial facilities operating around the clock. This capability is particularly relevant to aquaculture businesses, where uninterrupted electricity supply can directly affect production continuity and operational performance.

Founder Group CEO Lee Seng Chi said the second aquaculture contract demonstrates that the company’s solar technology and project model can be replicated across the sector. He emphasized that energy is a core operational factor for aquaculture businesses, where high and continuous electricity demand can directly influence production yields and business continuity.

The company sees solar deployment as a way for aquaculture operators to stabilize energy costs, reduce exposure to tariff fluctuations and support long-term decarbonisation. Founder Group believes the project could provide a scalable model for applying renewable energy solutions to traditional food production industries across Malaysia and other markets in the region.

Founder Group Limited describes itself as a pure-play, end-to-end EPCC provider for solar PV facilities in Malaysia, with a focus on both large-scale solar and commercial and industrial (C&I) solar projects. The company aims to provide solar installation solutions while supporting the wider adoption of renewable energy and carbon reduction.

The latest contract therefore strengthens Founder Group’s position in Malaysia’s C&I solar market while demonstrating the growing potential for rooftop PV to support energy-intensive agricultural operations. As Malaysia continues to expand renewable energy deployment, distributed solar could play an increasingly important role in helping businesses manage energy costs while progressing toward their sustainability targets.