Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) continues to make history by securing two distinguished accolades at the National Energy Awards (NEA 2025), held at the Grand Ballroom, Hilton Kuala Lumpur. UPM was crowned Champion of the Special Award for Higher Education Institutions and earned Second Place in Category 3: Renewable Energy, in recognition of its landmark initiative— SURIA16.

The prestigious ceremony was officiated by YAB Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), and served as a platform to honour industry leaders committed to sustainable energy practices.

These awards celebrate the success of the mega project titled “Advancing Renewable Energy and Sustainability Through SURIA16”, which involves the installation of a 16.18 MWp Rooftop Solar PV system across UPM’s campus. The initiative was implemented through the Supply Agreement for Renewable Energy (SARE) in collaboration with GSPARX Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

The project also features the Large Scale Integrated Hydroponic-Aquavoltaic Systems (IHAS), known as “Floating Solar & Walkway @ Eng UPM”, developed at the Faculty of Engineering as a platform for research and talent development. This innovative system was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBoR) at the end of last year.

SURIA16 is driven by the SURIA Task Force, led by Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab Kadir, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. The project has become a national symbol of sustainable energy innovation, with significant impact on both environmental stewardship and educational advancement.

🌱 Key Achievements of SURIA16:
- Estimated RM114 million in electricity cost savings over 25 years
- Annual reduction of 14,655 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions
- Equivalent to the emissions of 3,187 vehicles or the carbon absorption of 242,320 trees over a decade

This initiative fully supports Malaysia’s national agenda, including:
- The National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR)
- The Malaysia Renewable Energy Roadmap (MyRER) 2035
- TNB’s Sustainability Pathway towards net-zero emissions by 2050

UPM Vice-Chancellor, Dato' Prof. Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, affirmed that this collaborative project will further solidify UPM’s position as Malaysia’s most sustainable university, a title it has held for 12 consecutive years under the UI-GreenMetric World University Ranking.

The Faculty of Engineering hopes that this prestigious recognition will elevate the university’s reputation as a national leader in green innovation and sustainable development. Congratulations to the entire UPM community for their unwavering commitment to advancing the university’s aspirations as a pioneer in green technology. 🌿⚡

Date of Input: 29/09/2025 | Updated: 13/10/2025 | puteriamirah