Transport Minister Applauds ERL’s Renewable Energy Initiative

Photo credit: Bernama

Transport Minister Anthony Loke praised EXPRESS Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL) for its sustainability initiatives aimed at promoting public transportation usage and environmental protection in accordance with the government's National Transport Policy (NTP) 2019-2030.

The minister also urged the Transport Ministry (MoT) to generate more renewable energy (RE) in the public transportation sector, particularly in the rail sector.

The first phase of the project entails the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of Bandar Tasik Selatan and Salak Tinggi Stations, as well as at the Salak Tinggi ERL Depot. The solar energy systems at Bandar Tasik Selatan Station and Salak Tinggi Station are fully functioning and were soft-launched on Nov 17, 2022, and March 23, 2023, respectively.

Photo credit: Bernama

Solar panels installed at the three sites are expected to save RM140,000 per year. In its second phase, ERL intends to increase RE usage by installing solar panels at its Traction Power Sub-Station (TPSS) in Serdang. The TPSS solar panel installation is expected to generate nearly 1.5 gigatonnes of electricity and save RM108,000 per year, enough to power 100 million LED bulbs, 9,090 Nissan Leaf cars, or 750,000 homes. With the installation, the solar energy generated at the TPSS can supply 10% of the power required by the ERL train. In a related matter, Loke stated that Malaysia still has a long way to go to meet the government's target of increasing rail-based ridership modal share from 25% to 40% by 2030. "The government is focusing on improving service quality, network, and railway infrastructure to encourage the use of public transportation while also reducing road congestion."

"A dependable, affordable, integrated transportation network with easily accessible and convenient transfers is critical to increasing ridership." "Continuous improvements that add convenience for travellers must also be pursued," Loke said. Meanwhile, ERL CEO Noormah Mohd Noor stated that the RE programme was completed in collaboration with YTL Corp Bhd. She went on to say that with the project's completion, ERL will be the first rail and public transportation operator in Malaysia to harvest solar energy for direct use on its premises. "The collaboration with YTL Power International Bhd is that they install the solar panels with their capital expenditure, do the operation and maintenance of the solar, and do the operation and maintenance of the solar." And we give them a 25-year extension. “We actually get the benefit of the savings,” she said. In addition to the RE program, Noormah stated that ERL launched the "MRT to Airport Campaign" in conjunction with the launch of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Putrajaya Line Phase 2 to raise awareness of a more convenient and environmentally friendly way to travel to the airport using the MRT and KLIA Transit. This is in line with the previously launched ERL's "GO LO-CO, Awareness Campaign" in 2009, which encouraged more people to travel to the airport by train. "Green travellers who took the KLIA Express train could help save nearly 45,000 tonnes of CO emissions per year (equivalent to removing 5.3 million cars from the road)," she said.