by AUFA MARDHIAH / Pic by TMR FILE

TENAGA Nasional Bhd (TNB) is partnering Microsoft Corp to collaborate on discovering and validating potential opportunities through a series of projects over a period of two years, to accelerate digital transformation to support the country’s energy transition.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in conjunction with the launch of the company’s annual digital conference, ICT Conference 2022, on Sept 13, 2022.

The conference was officiated by TNB chief global business solutions officer Ahmad Hushairi Ibrahim on behalf of TNB president and CEO Datuk Ir Baharin Din.

Baharin’s speech through Ahmad Hushairi said the MoU will allow both parties to explore modernising the digital foundations for TNB with the intent of adopting external use cases that could transform the core business to support the group’s strategic pillars.

“Digitalisation is an important element of TNB’s Grid of the Future strategic pillar, which is a critical enabler in delivering the nation’s energy transition, and to fast track TNB’s own sustainability aspiration of achieving net zero emissions by 2050,” he said.

TNB’s Grid of the Future is predicted to be the next generation of smart, automated and digitally-enabled grids to ensure maximum efficiency and reliability of power supply.

The smart grid will also be equipped with self-healing capabilities to minimise supply disruptions and is also expected to support bidirectional power sources from prosumers’ own distributed energy sources and renewable energy.

The change to a smarter and more digital grid will see TNB implement key digital projects such as smart energy management systems, advanced distribution management systems, smart asset performance systems, as well as expanding coverage for substation tracking and monitoring using Internet of Things and geospatial technology.

Previously, TNB welcomed various local and international technology vendors and service providers in delivering its digital projects and initiatives.

“To accelerate the digital transformation of the company, we believe in establishing strategic partnerships with trusted technology partners that could assist in offering advice, guidance and expertise in the field of digital technology.

“To accelerate digitalisation for Grid of the Future and Winning the Customer, several key digitalisation implementations are identified for Regulatory Period 3 in which TNB is committed to investing RM2.5 billion to RM2.7 billion over the next three years.

“This is in line with TNB’s continuous support of government-led initiatives in driving the energy transition in Malaysia, creating more economic value through GDP growth and new job opportunities within the energy sector while ensuring the company remains in a position for positive business growth and achieving its net zero aspiration by 2050,” the company said.

In addition, TNB’s residential customers will also experience the effects of digitalisation through the deployment of smart metres which provide them with better visibility of energy usage, as well as control of their electricity usage through TNB digital channels such as the myTNB app and myTNB self-service portal.

Furthermore, the MoU also covers digital skills and development initiatives for TNB staff where technical and digital competencies in using Microsoft tools and cloud services of varying complexity will be provided for both IT and non-IT roles within the company.

The MoU was signed by TNB chief information officer Azlan Ahmad and Microsoft Malaysia MD K Raman, witnessed by Microsoft Asia Pacific president Andrea Della Mattea.