Keyfield International first installs solar system for its 500-person workboat. (Photo: Keyfield International)
To meet corporate carbon reduction goals, Malaysia's ship service company Keyfield International has completed the installation of a solar photovoltaic system on its largest work barge, setting a national record for the scale of the equipment and marking a new milestone in Malaysia's maritime industry's sustainable development.
Keyfield featured in the Malaysian Book of Records
Keyfield International announced in a statement that its workboat, Keyfield Wisdom, which can accommodate 500 people, has begun utilizing solar power and a battery storage system, with a total capacity of approximately 121.2kWp (kilowatt peak). This initiative has reduced reliance on the vessel's onboard generators, leading to a decrease in carbon emissions, although specific reductions were not disclosed.
The statement also noted that the project has been officially recorded in the Malaysian Book of Records, certifying Keyfield Wisdom as the Malaysian offshore vessel with the most solar panels and storage systems. The Malaysian Book of Records is renowned for documenting extraordinary achievements by Malaysians, akin to the Guinness World Records.
Mohd Erwan Ahmad, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Keyfield Group, stated that the solar photovoltaic project is part of the company's strategy to enhance energy efficiency and meet the sustainability needs of its customers, helping them reduce operational costs.
Oil and gas industry strives for energy transition
Founded in 2013, Keyfield International primarily provides ship leasing services and onboard services such as accommodation, catering, and laundry, with key clients in the oil and gas sector, including Petronas, Sarawak Shell, and Sabah Shell Petroleum.
Keyfield International provides vessel rental services, catering to Malaysia's oil and gas industry. (Photo: Keyfield International)
Keyfield Group has indicated in financial reports that it will continue to expand its solar photovoltaic initiatives across other vessels, highlighting the industry's trend towards carbon reduction. Oil and gas companies, such as Petronas' renewable energy arm Gentari Renewables, are also actively reducing emissions, including a partnership with green energy firm Solarvest to install solar panels at over 300 petrol stations across Malaysia.
Shell is similarly advancing solar panel installations at its petrol stations in Malaysia, with plans for full deployment by 2027, estimated to reduce carbon emissions by 5,035 tons per year. Additionally, Shell's unmanned gas production platform, Timi, located in Sarawak, has been using a hybrid power system of solar and wind energy since 2023, progressively transitioning toward net-zero energy.
Source: The Edge Malaysia, Shell
