The global energy transition has been mostly focused on carbon-intensive industries to manage rising emissions. But other key areas for decarbonisation have flown under the radar, including the education sector. As net-zero ambitions accelerate, the role of campuses in achieving a sustainable future is becoming too significant to overlook.

Around the world, educational institutions are now embracing clean and renewable energy in response to growing climate challenges as well as the need for resource efficiency. What’s more, schools and universities also play a fundamental role as critical promoters of innovation, science, and technology.

A growing number of campuses are joining the fight against climate change with the support of leading energy providers and their sustainability partners. Serving as both educational hubs and innovation platforms, these institutions are transforming into living laboratories where knowledge and purpose come together to drive a net-zero future.

The university as a testbed for clean energy solutions

Like any other organisation, educational institutions contribute to carbon emissions through their day-to-day operations, from buildings, transportation, waste, etc. Indeed, data from over 500 institutions revealed they emitted more than 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent into the atmosphere in 2020/21.

A growing number of universities and education institutions around the world have pledged to become completely carbon neutral by 2050

Many institutions still rely heavily on electricity generated from fossil fuels, which leaves them exposed to higher utility costs and rising pressure on budgets. Recognising this challenge, a growing number of universities and education institutions around the world have pledged to become completely carbon neutral by 2050.

Beyond just cutting carbon, campuses are turning their grounds into testbeds where clean energy technologies can be piloted in low-risk, high-learning environments. The University of Birmingham, UK for instance became the first university to install over 23,000 Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, projected to reduce emissions by nearly 3,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

In the US, UC San Diego utilises its own DERConnect system, as part of a $42 million grant from the National Science Foundation, which is a campus-scale testbed that connects and controls real distributed energy resources in real time from campus buildings, solar panels, EV chargers, as well as lights so researchers can safely test and improve how future electric grids operate for a smarter energy management. Osaka Metropolitan University’s new Innovation Academy Smart Energy Building in Japan optimises solar energy use and storage with artificial intelligence (AI).

Students are no longer just learning about sustainability in theory, but experience it daily, witnessing how clean energy powers their lecture halls, labs and libraries. This lived experience not only strengthens climate literacy, but also inspires students to envision how such innovations can be scaled beyond campus walls into society at large.

Powering Malaysia’s next-generation sustainable campuses

Malaysia is home to over 20 public universities, alongside a growing number of private institutions, collectively hosting thousands of students, lecturers, and staff every year. While sustainability is widely discussed, local implementation requires real, scalable solutions, and solar energy is proving to be one of the most impactful paths forward.

Established in 2018, GSPARX is a wholly owned subsidiary of TNB that specialises in high-quality rooftop solar offerings. After building a strong footprint in the residential, commercial, and industrial markets in recent years, GSPARX is now supporting local universities in adopting solar solutions.

By leveraging TNB’s Zero Capital Expenditure (ZeroCapex) solar model, GSPARX enables universities to adopt solar energy with no upfront financial investment. TNB fully finances, installs, and maintains the solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, with universities paying only for the electricity generated at a lower fixed tariff than grid electricity.

This effort is made possible through the NEM Government Ministries and Entities (NEM GoMEn) programme, currently in the third phase of execution, is a subsection of the net energy metering (NEM) scheme to support the green initiatives of government entities. The NEM scheme enables energy produced by solar PV installations to be consumed first and for any excess energy to be exported back to TNB. It allows for significant savings on energy costs for government entities, with a 12-month credit rollover, and the rapid development of the initiative highlights the fast adoption rate of renewable energy in Malaysia.

To date, this model has empowered 14 universities across Malaysia to generate ~73.87 million kWh annually, resulting in yearly savings of RM 7 million.  This includes a flagship project to install solar PVs at 16 sites within Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)’s Serdang campus, making it the largest national solar installation for a public learning institution.

UPM’s 16.18 MWp system features rooftop PVs, solar carparks, and floating solar arrays. Similarly, another project at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) saw the installation of a 6.9 MWp system spanning 25 buildings within the campus, including rooftops, walkways, and parking structures.

The savings achieved by the universities allowed them to reallocate funds to core areas like R&D and sustainability, amplifying their positive impact on education and climate resilience. The environmental benefits are equally compelling, achieving a carbon reduction of 54,700 metric tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to planting 900,000 trees each year.

Catalysing sustainability education and innovation ecosystems

Beyond cutting carbon and costs, the real transformation taking place across campuses is much deeper: it’s about shaping mindsets and inspiring systemic change. Sustainability culture is strengthened when students live, study, and work in an environment powered by clean energy, making green practices an everyday reality.

Universities partnering with GSPARX have started embedding solar PV system data into coursework and projects, simultaneously turning infrastructure into an educational asset.  The use of real-time monitoring dashboards for instance allows students to perform energy analytics and engage with real-world data in meaningful ways.

With more campuses exploring advanced technologies like battery storage and microgrids, they will serve as sandboxes to test ideas before national deployment. On-campus renewable infrastructure will expand research opportunities in emerging fields like grid optimisation, battery performance, and AI-powered forecasting.

This education-innovation synergy bridges Malaysia’s energy transition goals with its future talent pipeline, ensuring long-term energy resilience. To this end, GSPARX is also collaborating with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, focusing on solar system maintenance and green workforce training.

This broadens access to clean energy opportunities and ensures an inclusive transition to a low-carbon economy. Together, these developments signal how campuses are evolving from passive energy consumers into active contributors to Malaysia’s green, sustainable economy and innovation landscape.

Future-ready campuses to lead Malaysia’s net-zero transition

The growing solar movement across campuses is more than just an infrastructure upgrade, it signals the education sector as a strong supporter of clean energy transition in their readiness to shift towards sustainability. As such, TNB and GSPARX have charted an ambitious yet practical roadmap, with a goal to establish a nationwide network of net-zero campuses by 2040, a decade ahead of TNB’s net-zero 2050 goal.

By embracing clean energy, future-ready campuses are catalysing a cultural and technological shift that sets the stage for a resilient, low-carbon future. Ultimately, they will not only help Malaysia meet its climate targets, but cultivate a new generation of clean energy leaders.