Chinese energy storage manufacturer Sungrow has commissioned the 100 MW/400 MWh Santong Battery Energy Storage System in Terengganu, Malaysia, marking the country’s first grid-forming, grid-connected battery storage project. The facility, owned and developed by Tenaga Nasional Berhad, is designed to stabilize the East Coast grid and support Malaysia’s growing share of renewable generation.
Key Facts At A Glance
- Project name: Santong Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
- Location: Terengganu, on Malaysia’s east coast
- Capacity: 100 megawatts / 400 megawatt-hours
- Owner and developer: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB)
- Technology supplier: Sungrow, using 90 units of its PowerTitan 2.0 liquid-cooled storage systems
- Target round-trip efficiency: 88 percent in its first year of operation
- Commissioning milestone: completed a 100 MW full-power discharge test
- Reported capacity equivalent: electricity demand of approximately 40,000 East Coast households
Sungrow announced the commissioning on July 7, 2026, describing the Santong facility as Malaysia’s first battery storage project capable of both grid-following and grid-forming operation. Grid-following systems synchronize their output to signals already present on the grid, while grid-forming systems can independently establish voltage and frequency, a capability historically associated with large rotating generators rather than batteries.
Technical Capabilities
Sungrow said the system incorporates fast frequency response, rapid active power ramping, and voltage and reactive power control, alongside grid-forming functionality that provides autonomous voltage and frequency support. The company added that the installation includes station-level black start capability, allowing the battery system to help restore grid operations following a complete outage without relying on an external voltage or frequency reference. The 90 PowerTitan 2.0 units are paired with Sungrow’s Facility Energy Management System, which the company said enables dispatch for peak shaving, frequency regulation, and backup power during grid disturbances.
Delivery Timeline And Recognition
Sungrow said the project was delivered under an accelerated schedule involving its local service, project delivery, and research and development teams, and that it achieved one of Malaysia’s fastest battery storage grid-connection timelines to date. The commissioning, including the full-power discharge test, drew recognition from Malaysia’s Energy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
TNB Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Razak Abdul Majid said the Santong BESS represents an important milestone in strengthening Malaysia’s power system and accelerating renewable energy integration, adding that its rapid response capability enhances grid reliability while supporting electricity demand equivalent to roughly 40,000 households across the East Coast.
Context
The project arrives as TNB pursues a broader grid modernization push, including a government-backed capital program to upgrade national infrastructure and accommodate rising demand from data centers and renewable generation. Terengganu, on Malaysia’s east coast, is a region where grid stability has historically been a concern during periods of high demand and severe weather.