Sungrow Commissions Malaysia’s First Grid-Forming 100 MW/400 MWh BESS for TNB

Sungrow has commissioned the 100 MW/400 MWh Santong Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Terengganu, marking Malaysia’s first grid-forming, grid-connected battery energy storage project and a significant step in strengthening the country’s power grid and renewable energy integration.

The project, owned and developed by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), is designed to enhance grid resilience, improve system stability, and support the increasing integration of renewable energy into Malaysia’s national electricity network.

Sungrow supplied a fully integrated energy storage solution comprising 90 units of its PowerTitan 2.0 liquid-cooled energy storage systems along with its Facility Energy Management System (FEMS) to enable intelligent energy dispatch and flexible grid support.

The Santong BESS is designed to achieve a round-trip efficiency (RTE) of 88% during its first year of operation and supports both grid-following and grid-forming operating modes to improve grid reliability.

The system incorporates advanced grid-support capabilities, including Fast Frequency Response (FFR), rapid active power ramping, voltage and reactive power control, and grid-forming functionality that provides autonomous voltage and frequency support. It also features station-level black start capability, enabling the battery system to restore grid operations following a complete power outage without requiring an external voltage or frequency reference.

According to Sungrow, the project was delivered under an accelerated execution schedule with support from its local service, project delivery, and research and development teams. The company said the deployment contributed to the development of Malaysia’s early grid-forming standards and achieved one of the country’s fastest battery energy storage grid-connection timelines.

Sungrow added that the project set a new record for the fastest BESS delivery in Malaysia and successfully completed a 100 MW full-power discharge test. The project also received recognition from Malaysia’s Energy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for its contribution to the country’s energy transition.

Commenting on the project, Tan Sri Abdul Razak Abdul Majid, Chairman of TNB, said the Santong BESS represents an important milestone in strengthening Malaysia’s power system and accelerating renewable energy integration. He added that the battery system’s rapid response capability enhances grid reliability while supporting electricity demand equivalent to approximately 40,000 households across Malaysia’s East Coast.

The commissioning of the Santong BESS reinforces Malaysia’s efforts to modernize its electricity infrastructure and expand the deployment of utility-scale energy storage as part of its clean energy transition.