Penang Chief Minister to Open R.A.C.E to Zero 2026 Penang Edition as State Drives Semiconductor Supply-Chain Decarbonisation

PENANG, MALAYSIA — The Malaysian Photovoltaic and Sustainable Energy Industry Association (MPSEA), together with co-organiser The C0_Lab, will bring the R.A.C.E to Zero 2026 Regional Series to Penang on 13 August 2026 at the Eastin Hotel, Penang. The one-day conference, exhibition and networking summit will be officiated by YAB Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang, as Guest of Honour, underscoring the state government's commitment to positioning Penang as ASEAN's first net-zero manufacturing hub.

A DECISIVE MOMENT FOR PENANG'S MANUFACTURING BASE

Penang sits at the heart of Malaysia's semiconductor and electrical & electronics (E&E) industry — a sector that generated RM477 billion in exports and anchors the nation's high-value manufacturing economy. That competitiveness is now under direct pressure from decarbonisation. Global anchor customers including Apple, Intel and Samsung increasingly require verified Scope 2 emissions reductions across their supply chains, while the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and international due-diligence laws are turning clean energy from an option into a condition of market access.

The urgency is sharpened by policy. The Penang Energy Framework, launched in late 2024, sets binding renewable energy and building-efficiency targets for 2030 — including a mandatory 75% rooftop-solar coverage requirement for new commercial and industrial buildings, Building Energy Intensity standards, and clear RE procurement expectations. Aligned with Penang2030, the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the 13th Malaysia Plan, the compliance clock has started. R.A.C.E to Zero Penang exists to help manufacturers, developers, financiers and policymakers move from awareness to action before that clock runs out.

CHIEF MINISTER TO DETAIL PENANG'S CLEAN-ENERGY POLICY DIRECTION

In his Guest-of-Honour keynote, the Chief Minister will set out what compliance under the Penang Energy Framework looks like in practice — from mandatory rooftop-solar requirements and building-efficiency standards to how the state integrates with national climate goals. His address gives industry the regulatory clarity it needs to plan investment with confidence.

HEADLINE ANNOUNCEMENT: MPSEA × 3M SIGN SAFETY MOU FOR THE SOLAR INDUSTRY

A centrepiece of the programme is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MPSEA and 3M. The collaboration will develop Work-at-Height (WAH) Guidelines and safety training modules for the solar industry — addressing one of the fastest-growing safety frontiers as rooftop and elevated solar deployment accelerates across Malaysia's constrained industrial footprint. By pairing MPSEA's industry reach with 3M's global expertise in fall-protection and worker safety, the partnership aims to raise installation-safety standards sector-wide and build a more competent, protected solar workforce. The MOU will be signed by Ir. Justin Sim, D.S.M, President of MPSEA, and Mr. YoungBae Park, Asia Division Leader of 3M.

A PROGRAMME LED BY POLICY, INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERS

Beyond the Chief Minister, the Penang edition convenes a cross-section of decision-makers shaping the state's energy transition. Ir. Justin Sim, President of MPSEA, opens the summit by framing Penang's clean-energy imperative as the "Silicon Valley of the East." YB Zairil Khir Johari, State Executive Councillor for Infrastructure and Transport, addresses the green industrial corridor and infrastructure underpinning Penang2030. Dr Ng Shin Wei, Strategic Advisor to the Penang Green Council, moderates a panel on supply-chain decarbonisation and CBAM readiness. Closing remarks will be delivered by Samuel Soon, Organising Chairman of R.A.C.E to Zero, sending delegates home with a 90-day commitments wall. Practical workshops from the Penang Green Council and DME Solutions walk manufacturers through the Penang Green Industry Programme (PGIP) and green-building pathways to net zero.

SPONSORS SHOWCASING THE LATEST RENEWABLE-ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

Running alongside the conference, a full-day Sponsor Showcase & Exhibition will put the latest clean-energy solutions in front of Penang's industrial buyers — spanning rooftop and floating solar, battery energy storage (BESS), hybrid inverters, virtual PPAs and decarbonisation technologies. Presenting sponsors include Solarvest Holdings Berhad on maximising generation across Penang's land-scarce industrial zones; FoxESS on hybrid-inverter and microinverter architecture for vibration-sensitive fabs; and ATMOCE on BESS and grid-flexibility solutions for energy-intensive semiconductor operations. The exhibition gives EPCs, developers, corporate energy buyers and facility managers direct access to the technologies and expertise needed to meet the Framework's targets.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: 13 August 2026 Venue: Eastin Hotel, Penang Admission: Free

Register: www.racetozero.asia Supported by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA).

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

R.A.C.E TO ZERO 2026 PENANG EDITION