The Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), an agency of the Ministry of Environment and Water, marked the World Energy Efficiency Day 2025 by hosting a leadership roundtable focused on “Harnessing AI to Drive Energy Efficiency Progress.”
The international day to raise awareness about reducing energy consumption is held every 5 March.
The event brought together representatives from the National Energy Efficiency Collaboration (NEEC) and its expanded network of “Energy Efficiency Champions” to explore transformative strategies for energy efficiency progress.
Founded in 2023, NEEC includes industry leaders such as ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Atlas Copco (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Daikin Malaysia Sales & Service Sdn Bhd, Business Sweden and Schaeffler (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd which joined the initiative last year. By pooling their expertise, the collaboration aims to create a framework to galvanize the adoption of technologies that deliver value in terms of energy savings and emissions reductions.
Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid, CEO of NAIO sharing about the Malaysian AI aspiration. (Image credit: MGTC)
Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid, chief executive officer of the National AI Office (NAIO), opened the roundtable by outlining the current landscape of AI in Malaysia, detailing the national AI strategy and key sectors primed for AI adoption, as well as NAIO’s role in positioning Malaysia as an AI hub.
Saiful Adib Abdul Munaff, acting group chief executive officer at MGTC said the energy sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Malaysia, accounting for 79.2% in total.
“As such, addressing this sector presents a huge opportunity to reduce GHG emissions in our country. The intersection of technology and sustainability is crucial.
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a transformational factor for the energy sector, with the potential to increase innovation, improve efficiency and safety, and accelerate the energy transition,” he said.
R Narayanan, group senior vice president and head of Motion Business Asia at ABB Malaysia. (Image credit: MGTC)
R Narayanan, group senior vice president and head of Motion Business Asia at ABB Malaysia shared, ““We are at the cusp of an unprecedented era of technological advancement driven by AI which presents opportunities for robust growth and innovation.
“However, to fully leverage AI’s potential, it is essential for stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, technology developers, financial institutions, academia and civil society, to engage in meaningful discussions that align our environmental and economic priorities with the use of AI.”
Khalid Shaikh (centre), general manager of Atlas Copco Malaysia and Singapore. (Image credit: MGTC)
“This dialogue is timely given the exponential rise of AI. It allows discussions on innovations and practical applications of AI in driving energy efficiency, as well as the necessary conditions for engagement, including government-industry cooperation. Collaborations with knowledge experts not only allow us to identify the risks and opportunities but also lay the groundwork for a robust AI ecosystem in Malaysia,” added Khalid Shaikh, general manager at Atlas Copco Malaysia and Singapore.
Elina Jani, chief executive officer of GreenTech Ideaslab Sdn Bhd delivering the opening remarks at the leadership roundtable on energy efficiency and AI. (Image credit: MGTC)
Participants acknowledged the substantial potential for advancing AI adoption in energy management but identified several barriers, including the need for high-quality, structured data, a skills gap in the workforce, reliability and security concerns, and the necessity for tailored regulatory frameworks.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) 2024 was enacted to regulate the efficient consumption and conservation of energy in Malaysia.
The Act aims to improve energy efficiency across various sectors, reduce waste of energy, and support the country’s environmental goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. It applies to large energy consumers, specific buildings, and energy using products, setting out the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders to ensure compliance with energy efficiency standards.
Roundtable participants with audiences at the back, gaining a broader understanding of the topic in focus. (Image credit: MGTC)
“Deploying AI where it matters most can be a game-changer,” noted Chan Hon Leong, general manager of marketing & service at Daikin Malaysia. “For HVAC systems in buildings, AI enabled technologies can be deployed to forecast energy demand based on a wide range of variables such as weather patterns and occupancy levels leading to minimized waste, improved efficiency, and reduced costs.”
Kelvin Chong, managing director of Schaeffler Malaysia. (Image credit: MGTC)
Kelvin Chong, managing director at Schaeffler Malaysia, added that the integration of AI with IoT devices can optimize asset performance and maintenance costs through real-time data analysis, predictive maintenance, scheduling and enhanced decision-making.
“This minimizes unplanned downtime and improves maintenance allocation, resulting in substantial cost savings, increased operational uptime, and overall efficiency,” he said.
Ludvig Hermansson, trade commissioner of Business Sweden in Malaysia. (Image credit: MGTC)
Ludvig Hermansson, trade commissioner of Business Sweden in Malaysia concluded the roundtable by elaborating on the importance of understanding the connection between AI and energy efficiency in industries
“For AI to effectively contribute to decarbonization, a collaborative and coordinated approach is necessary. This involves sharing universally applicable solutions, knowledge exchange, funding mechanisms, workforce upskilling, and policy formulation. Business Sweden is honored to collaborate with like-minded stakeholder such as MGTC on scaling up energy efficiency adoption and exploring the potential of AI-led innovations in Malaysia’s journey to net zero.”
Participants pose for a group photo after a successful leadership roundtable on energy efficiency and AI hosted by MGCT. (Image credit: MGTC)
Source: Yamcha Time