Local higher education institutions need to produce more experts in green technology

LOCAL higher education institutions (HEIs) need to play a bigger role in producing experts in the field of renewable energy.

Managing Director of Gading Kencana Sdn. Bhd., Datuk Ir Guntor Tobeng said that currently, although there are many engineers produced by public and private universities throughout the country, too few have specific skills in the green energy sector.

He said that the green energy industry has great prospects and will be one of the main energy sources in the next 10 years.

Therefore, he said, it needs support from all aspects including skilled manpower that needs to be supplied by our local hinger institutions.

“We on the industry side really hope that more local higher education institutions play a bigger role in the field of green technology or renewable energy so that we do not depend on outside expertise,” he said in a statement.

At present, he said, in ensuring the energy needs in this field, the industry has to take its own initiative to ensure that they have sufficient skilled manpower.

According to Guntor, who was appointed as the Faculty Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Faculty of Engineering and Electrical Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), this includes providing training and reskilling to graduates who are hired.

“We ensure that there is an AI-based human capital development program through retraining and reskilling methods.

“That is why we hope that local IPT administrators open their eyes and see the renewable energy sector as one of the main industries that they need to pay attention to,” he said.

For example, he said, Gading Kencana is currently working with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn in integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology based on deep learning in the management of their solar farms.

He said that through the strategic collaboration with UTHM, Gading Kencana is developing a local forecasting model that is suitable for Malaysia’s tropical climate that uses AI algorithms to analyze weather data and farm performance in real time.

“This allows for continuous optimization of energy generation.

“Deep learning is an advanced branch of AI that is capable of processing complex data such as temperature, humidity, solar radiation and operational performance to identify patterns and make accurate predictions of energy output under various weather conditions,” he said. – SM