Walou renewable energy project wins at the National Energy Awards 2026

The Walou Micro Hydro-Solar Hybrid Project, delivered through a partnership between TONIBUNG, Matahio Energy, and the community of Kampung Walou, won the Renewable Energy – On-Grid (Local) category at the National Energy Awards 2026.

August 11, 2026:- The recognition celebrates more than a renewable-energy installation. It recognises a community-based solution that will provide reliable electricity, strengthen local capacity, and create opportunities for the people of Kampung Walou in Ranau, Sabah.

Located approximately 25 kilometres from the nearest main road, Kampung Walou is home to a Dusun community that had long faced unreliable access to electricity. Earlier micro-hydro initiatives provided some power, but fluctuations in water supply, particularly during dry periods, meant that the system could not consistently meet the community’s needs.

In 2024, indigenous-led non-profit TONIBUNG Matahio Energy and the village’s technical committee began working together to develop a more resilient solution.

Combining technology with local knowledge

The resulting hybrid system brings together an upgraded 3kW micro-hydro turbine, 20kWp of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, 40kWh of battery storage and smart inverters with digital monitoring. Starlink satellite connectivity supports remote monitoring of the system while also giving the community access to the internet. New transmission lines and galvanised iron poles were installed as part of the project. Dewan Matahio was also constructed to house key equipment and provide the village with a central community space.

Today, the system supplies electricity to 22 households and a church, benefiting around 150 residents.

Reliable electricity has made a tangible difference to everyday life. Families can operate refrigerators and freezers, helping them preserve food, reduce spoilage and strengthen household food security. Children have light to study after dark, while the community is less dependent on costly private diesel generators.

By eliminating this diesel use, the project is estimated to avoid approximately 7,300 litres of diesel use and 19.6 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Building a system that can endure

From the outset, the project was designed around the principle that infrastructure alone would not be enough.

Members of the community were involved throughout its development and trained to operate and maintain the system. The Kampung Walou Renewable Energy Committee now oversees its day-to-day management, supported by a locally agreed electricity tariff that helps fund maintenance, repairs and the community operator.

This local ownership is central to the project’s long-term sustainability. It gives the community both the practical knowledge and the financial mechanism required to care for the system rather than remaining dependent on outside assistance.

Dewan Matahio has also become a catalyst for wider community development. In addition to housing the project’s equipment, it provides a venue for the monthly Tamu Walou, training sessions, meetings, visiting medical services and other community activities.

The project demonstrates how access to energy can support wider social and economic progress when solutions are developed with communities rather than simply delivered to them.

Recognition for a shared achievement

The National Energy Awards, organised by Malaysia’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, recognise organisations and projects advancing sustainable energy practices across the country. The award for the Walou Micro Hydro-Solar Hybrid Project is a significant recognition of TONIBUNG’s experience in developing community-based renewable-energy systems and the commitment of the people of Kampung Walou.

For Matahio, it also reinforces the value of partnerships that combine technical capability, local knowledge and shared responsibility.

We extend our congratulations to TONIBUNG, the Kampung Walou Renewable Energy Committee and the entire community. We also acknowledge everyone who contributed their time, skills and trust to bringing the project to life.

Walou offers a practical blueprint for locally anchored renewable energy: one in which technology supports community leadership, and reliable power creates the foundation for greater opportunity.

It is an example of building energy that lasts, and of Progressive Energy in action.