Next Solar Destination in South East Asia: Opportunities for Global PV Market and post-COVID Scenarios

Prof. Sulaiman Shaari

has been involved in photovoltaic (PV) system applications development and talent cultivation for many years and is a leading figure in this field in Malaysia and the region. He represented Malaysia at international activities such as: IEA PVPS; IEC; and APEC EWG 14 2015A project. He has been giving services to the government and industry in research, consultancy and expert advice in various forms, including local and international companies. He has been the chief trainer-examiner for several PV systems training programmes in Malaysia and ASEAN, and has provided expert services on: PV systems design, training, evaluation, tender documents, proposals and post-project evaluations for grid- connected (GC) and off-grid (OG) PV systems. Sulaiman is chairman of the national group for Malaysian Standards (MS) on PV as well member of the Technical Committee on Renewable Energy. For his contributions, he was given an award by the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA) 2015 and an award from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MOSTI), Malaysia 2013. He has been regularly engaged as evaluator and referee for the country’s energy and PV related project proposals and funding, energy audits, organizing seminars/workshops, judging of competitions and reviewing technical journal papers.

Sulaiman has won several excellent service awards as well as medals for PV related products in international exhibitions, written, presented and published many books on solar PV technology and physics, journals, conferences, etc. He is now Secretary General of the APVIA from 2019-2021 and is Vice-President II of the MPIA since 2017. He now teaches as a Professor at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Dr. Hoyyen Chan

Hoyyen is a Senior Officer at the ASEAN Centre for Energy. She has been a technical review expert to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 2015. Earlier, she was a research fellow at the Solar Energy Research Institute, National University of Malaysia. Her past research studies were technology-based and community engagements projects that involved entrepreneurs and indigenous people.  She was awarded the Australia-APEC Women in Research Fellowship in 2016. She was also the writer of Task Force on Carbon-Free Energy Roadmap for Malaysia (2015-2025) for the Academy of Science Malaysia. She also contributed to regional curriculum development programmes on renewable energy and climate change under the initiatives of USAID and the United Nations University.

Mr Chin Soo Mau

is the President of the Malaysian Photovoltaic Industry Association (MPIA)  for the term 2019/2020.  He was also the President for 2017/2018, the Vice-President from 2013-2016 and has been an active member since 2010.

He has been involved in the solar PV business for many years and his knowledge and field experience have prompted the Malaysian Government to tap his expertise in policy-related planning such as:  Member of the Working Group on Malaysia Solar Roadmap (MSR) 2016-2030, Member of the Technical Committee of Malaysian Standards on Renewable Energy (TC RE), Resource Person of the Energy Storage System (ESS) Project for Malaysia.

Mr Chin holds a Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering, United Kingdom, Competent Certificates of both Grid-Connected and Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems Designer, Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) registered Service Provider and International Sustainable Power Quality-accredited PV Systems Design Competency Certificates.

He is the Group Managing Director of PEKAT Group of Companies that holds Pekat Solar Sdn Bhd, Pekat Engineering Sdn Bhd and Pekat E&LP Sdn Bhd.

Theresa C. Capellan

Chairman, Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA)

In the Philippines, it began in 2006 with the help of a woman who used solar energy to light 10,000 homes in the remote areas of the country.

Like many, she didn’t start out in the career she would later be famous for.

She completed her degree in Behavioral Sciences at a Catholic –run Maryknoll College in 1978,  then completed her Master in International Development at Harvard University some ten years after.  She was a member of the Miriam College faculty in 1996 to 1998, where she taught International Economics in the International Studies Department.

In 1990, fresh from her Harvard studies,  she was appointed by President Cory Aquino as the youngest and first woman to serve as Assistant Secretary in the Philippine Department of Agriculture. She got promoted as Undersecretary in 2002, under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal, and held the position for four years.

She transferred from agriculture to energy when she was appointed as Chief of Party for the rural electrification program of the USAID-funded AMORE.  From 2006 to 2009, she worked with communities in Muslim Mindanao helping villages in Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao to secure electricity using solar and hydropower. Through her efforts, children were able to study at night, mothers can better care for their infants, and neighbors got to celebrate moon festivals.   

In 2010, she joined SunEdison USA – the biggest solar developer company – as Country Advisor for the Philippines. That same year, she gathered the leaders of solar companies and founded the Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA), a not-for-profit industry association. She pushed the implementation of non-fiscal incentives for renewables especially the Net Metering Rules of 2013 which granted homes significant credits for producing clean energy on their rooftops as well as the feed-in-tariff program. Currently, PSPA is a recognized dialogue partner of the Department of Energy for policy development in renewable energy.

In 2013, she launched her own solar company – SunAsia Enegy Inc – and was responsible for developing the 3^rd largest solar power plant in the Philippines.  Located in Toledo City, in the province of Cebu, her company, together with CITICORE, created as much as 5,000 jobs during the construction of the solar plant. In addition,  their partnership was responsible for investing some 120million dollars in the City.

 She received the Most Outstanding Scientist Award in Singapore in 2016,  and was recognized in Shanghai as the 2018 World’s Top Developer for Solar and Storage.  

Today, she continues to work in the renewable energy space as Chief Executive Officer of SunAsia Energy  and Chairperson of the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy  Alliance. She travels around the world to speak in international conferences and educate people about the Philippines’ business climate for renewable energy. She never tires from her advocacy work in solar energy, always promoting clean energy and how it helps people’s lives and save the planet from climare change.

Mr. Sofwan Farisyi Farhan

Chief Executive Officer PT Radiant Utama Interinsco Tbk, an Indonesian public listed company in Energy business sector.

Established in 1975, Radiant Group’s business amidst the booming era of Oil and Gas exploration and exploitation activities in Indonesia. The business of company has been growing successfully with operation area covering almost all parts of Indonesia.

In 2005, the company kicked off cooperation with an UEA’s based company to provide our clients with turn-key supply and the operation of Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU). Our MOPU “Maleo Producer” platform become the focal point to established an integrated operation maintenance and development of Offshore Production and Process Facilities, among other Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO), Fixed Processing Unit (FPU) and Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO).

As part of development strategies, the company decided to enter wider spectrum of Energy business specifically in New and Renewable Energy (NRE) industry. Starting with being awarded the Geothermal concession in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra. Now we also established as a EPC contractor for Solar Photovoltaic System, Biomass, and Waste to Energy Plant.

Some part of our project list for solar photovoltaic systems as follows.

• Danone Project (industrial) 770 kWp
• Sumba Island Offgrid (Utility) 160 kWp
• Universities 200 kWp
• Solar Home system at isolated island, 20 kWp
• Residential home more than 2 MW

Our geothermal project already delivered 45 MW and will be increased to be 240 MW.

I also have one patent from Government of Indonesia for dual power and dual cell system, named “Sofwan House”, using Solar Cell and Hydrogen Cell, working together with University of Indonesia.

Dr Nguyen Thi Anh Phuong

CEO of Tona Syntegra Solar, a JV between the Vietnamese-based Tona Construction Corporation and the Swiss-German based Syntegra Solar Gmbh. Concurrently, she serves in the Boards of Hochiminh City University of Technology (HCMUT) for developing international education since 2006, while remains as a senior lecturer in the fields of MIS, and Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Credentials, appointments and affiliations:

• Entrepreneurship & Business Development: Co-Founder & CEO of Tona Syntegra Solar JVC (since 2017); Co-Founder of Tona Investment Corporation (since 2013), Country Business Director of Emerson Network Power (2006 -2008)
• Academia: Ph.D., Energy Policy (University of Technology Sydney, Australia.); MBA in Management Information System (FH Hannover, Germany.); B.S., International Business (Foreign Trade University, Viet Nam); Visiting Fellow in Software Engineer (Canergie Mellon University, U.S.A)
• University Lecturing (Since 2006): Lecturer of Management Information System, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Hochiminh City University of Technology (HCMUT)
• International Education Development, Management & Leadership: Former Deputy Director (2009-2019): Office for International Study Programs, HCMUT; Former Program Director & Developer (2006-2019): Executive MBA-MCI, a joint program between University of Applied Science and Arts North Western Switzerland and HCMUT
• Social Community: Founder of TRE Foundation, the main sponsor and developer of Solar-Lab program to build 500 Solar Labs for schools during 2020-2025.

Vipul Gulati

Chief Operating Officer (COO) at FirstView Media Ventures Pvt Ltd which is one of Asia’s Biggest & Leading Clean Energy Media with operations currently in APAC, SAARC and MENA region. He has credentials of organizing close to 500 World Class Conferences, Business Meets, Certified Trainings, Awards, Industry Publications etc in the Clean Energy Sector. Some of the media brands under his purview include SolarQuarter, EMobility+, WindInsider and EnergyStorage Pro . He oversees and leads complete business operations, partnership & expansion strategies for the firm in India, SAARC & South East Asia. He has been associated with the firm for over 10+ Years and with his knowledge of business regulations, sales strategies, market trends, and finance advancement he is committed to deliver company goals.

Dr.  Andhika  Prastawa

 works  at  the  Agency  for  the  Assessment  and Application of Technology (BPPT), Government of Indonesia since 1989, he is former  Director  at  Energy  Conversion  and  Conservation  Technology  Center (2010 – 2012), Head of National Laboratory for Energy Conversion Technology (2014 – 2018) of BPPT, and Senior Research Engineer in Electricity, serving as a Program Director in the Smartgrid Technology Assessment and Application Program. Currently he is a Principal Research Engineer, and Director of Center for the Assessment of Industrial Technology in Manufacturing, Telematics, and Electronic, BPPT.

He was graduated from Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia, in 1989, with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. His Master degree was completed at Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia US, in 1998. Dr. Prastawa earned his Doctor of Engineering Science degree from Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia, in 2014. Dr. Prastawa also actively engages with various professional organization and societies. He serves as Chairman of Indonesia Solar Energy Association, a member of Expert Council of Indonesian Renewable Energy Society, Head of Technology Compartment Indonesian Smartgrid Initiative, and Vice Chairman for Technology of Electrical Engineering Division,  Indonesian Institute of Engineers (PII). He is a registered Professional Engineer of PII, ASEAN Engineer Registered, and Professional member of IEEE.

Dr. Prastawa has involved in various technology assessment and application projects, particularly in new and renewable energy field, including microhydro, solar energy, wind power, ocean marine energy, and nuclear power plant. He also had several engagements as Energy Specialist for GEF Projects with UNDP and UNIDO Jakarta Office in 2004-2006. His area of interest and expertise is in

technology and policies of renewable energy system, power system, and energy conservation.