May 21, 2013

Engaging the Younger Generation Through Eco Education in Malaysia

Panasonic Malaysia is proud to be technical partners with AEON Environmental Foundation Japan through its Malaysian representation of AEON Malaysia (AEON). In collaboration with the Ministry of Energy Malaysia, Green Technology and Water Malaysia (KeTTHA) as well as the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE); AEON will be donating ten Panasonic Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems to ten schools in Malaysia. Partnering AEON, Panasonic will provide comprehensive energy solutions support for the Solar PV Systems.

Here's Yen Nee, our local Panasonic News Portal reporter at the handover ceremony.

At the handover ceremony held in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Damansara Jaya, Selangor, the Chairman of AEON Environmental Foundation, Mr. Takuya Okada, officially announced the contribution which was witnessed by the Ministers from the respective ministries as well as the Mr. Yosuke Matsunaga, Managing Director of Panasonic Malaysia.

Takuya Okada, Chairman& Founder of AEON Environmental Foundation, officiating the handover with Dato' Wan Khazanah Ismail, Deputy Secretary General of Ministry of Education

The Solar PV Systems donation kicks start with two schools in central Malaysia - Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Damansara Jaya and Sekolah Menengah Maxwell, with eight other local schools in the different states benefitting from this eco education initiative within the year.

This collaboration symbolises the importance of a public-private partnership in inculcating eco awareness amongst our youths, the future leaders of the world.

The 48 HIT^® (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer) PV Modules were supplied from the Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Panasonic's first fully integrated solar manufacturing base, producing wafers, cells and modules. Compared to conventional solar modules, HIT® has a higher energy efficiency of 22%, thus providing an estimated 18.8 megawatt hours of energy output for the schools. Panasonic will provide structural and design endorsements at every single stage of implementation. In addition, the company will also set up an eco education corner in the ten schools to raise awareness on the importance of renewable energy in achieving environmental sustainability and allow them to better understand how the Panasonic Solar PV System works.

Children can learn about renewable energy at the Eco Education Corner
In the middle, Tateshi Nishigaki, Country Head of Eco Solutions, Panasonic Malaysia explains the features of Panasonic Solar PV installed to Takuya Okada and Datuk Loo Took Gee. On the far right, Yosuke Matsunaga, Managing Director of Panasonic Malaysia overlooks the discussion.

This project was first initiated in Japan back in 2009 at Junior High Schools in an effort to actively promote the benefits of solar energy power generation systems in providing an alternative source of energy. It aims to inculcate the need for environmental preservation in the younger generation. Panasonic Asia will start similar initiatives to other schools in the neighbouring Asian countries.